Rules Of The Boat

The following rules must be adhered to by all users of the boats.

There must be a designated Master and a designated Group Leader for each boat.

The Master of the boat must stay with the party whilst they are on the boat and the boat is underway.

No attempt must be made to move the boat from an inside mooring position at Sea Cadets without supervision as detailed in the Mooring Instructions.

Engine Checks must be undertaken before the engine is started.

The Gas Lockers must be unlocked when the engine is running.

The life buoys must be in place before any members of the party board the boat.

All other daily checks (using check list) must be completed each day. Any issues must be reported immediately and noted on the daily log.

The boat has a capacity of 12 Members of the Party and 3 Crew Members. The 3 crew members must be clearly identifiable, and therefore must wear the RED life Jackets. All other individuals on the boat must wear the BLACK or BLUE life jackets. Under no circumstances may anyone who does not form part of the crew be permitted to wear one of the RED life jackets. The Master must ensure that there are no more than 15 people on the boat at any time, including when moored at the berth.

All members of the party and the crew must wear life jackets at all times when using the boat, unless they are inside the boat. Life jackets must be worn by all members of the party on both the front and rear decks, and on the canal / riverside. With the exception of the Master, the life jackets that are worn must be those provided by the Wakefield District Scouts Narrowboat Committee, and no others. The Master may choose to wear a personal life jacket, subject to such being RED and conforming to Scout Association requirements (FS 120603).

The boat’s registered mooring is at the Sea Cadets HQ, Thornes Lane Wharf, Wakefield, WF1 5QW. It will normally be moored here unless river conditions dictate otherwise in which case hirers will be notified of its location.

No passengers may join the boat at the Sea Cadets HQ; only the crew are permitted to join the boat here. The suggested pickup point is at the Basin at Fall Ings. Please ensure that a leader or other adult is with the waiting group and ensure that consideration is given to the residents of the boats nearby.

While narrow boating is a safe activity, you should be aware that the consumption of alcohol can adversely affect an individual and increases the level of risk to themselves and others. As such the rules for the hire of the boat state that no alcohol is to be taken on board or consumed during use of the boat where the hiring group includes anyone under the age of 18 years.

For all ‘adult only’ groups, alcohol may only be consumed on board after the boat has been moored for the night, and then only in a responsible manner. The Scout Association’s fact sheet “Alcohol and Scouting” gives further guidance.

The boat is entirely No Smoking. This includes the front and rear decks. Anyone wishing to smoke must leave the boat entirely. (FS320005)

There is to be no-one sleeping in the gangway, as this prevents easy egress from the boat.

No member of the party should be allowed to walk along the gunnels of the boat nor to be on the roof of the boat unless at the direction of the Master for the essential operation of the boat.

Users are allowed 10 engine hours a day. Anything over this usage will be charged at £5 per hour to be paid by groups after their journey. Under no circumstances may the boat be used for more than 18 consecutive hours.

Under no circumstances should hirers attempt to refuel the boat. You will have enough fuel for your trip. In the unlikely event it does need refuelling you must contact a member of the committee using the contact numbers provided and arrangements will be made to meet you with fuel.

The boat must only be ‘under way’ during the hours of daylight.

The Group Leader must ensure that all adults who are on the boat, other than when

moored at the beginning and end of any trip must have a current DBS certificate.

A maximum of 3 people including the Master are permitted on the rear deck at any one time.

No pets are permitted on the boat.

You are not permitted to use the Standedge Tunnel in our boats without the prior permission of the Narrowboat Committee, which reserves the right to decline such a request on operational or any other grounds seen to be appropriate by the committee.

All incidents involving the boats and any damage caused to them must be reported to the Narrowboat Committee as soon as possible and within 48 hours of occurrence. Full details of those committee members that can be called in an emergency, and their respective contact numbers, are prominently displayed on the boats. An incident report form, if requested by the Narrowboat chairman, must be completed within 7 days.

In the event that a lock or other part of the waterways infrastructure (e.g. swing bridges, guillotine bridges etc) fails to operate normally, then this should be reported to a member of the Narrowboat Committee immediately using the call-out procedure. Dependent on the nature of the issue the committee will make the decision whether to report it to CRT (Canal & River Trust) for resolution.
Under no circumstances whatsoever should the boats be used to push, nudge or ram lock gates or bridge structures in an attempt to open them. Such action is highly likely tocause injury to persons on the boats and in the vicinity, and cause damage to lock / bridge equipment and the boats themselves

As in all Scouting activities it is important that a regular head count is made to ensure that none of the party has gone missing/overboard. The adult members of the party should carry out this procedure and report their findings to the Master.

Where any permit holder is found not to have followed any of these rules, the Committee reserve the right to require that they are re-assessed before using the boat again.

Finally; narrowboating should be relaxing and enjoyable for all. So keep your speed down to prevent erosion of the canal and riverbanks and discomfort to other boaters, and respect those fishing.