Here are boating resources and information by London Boaters. Members may comment on matters presented here, and add items to the London Boaters directory.

Boaters Pets - If found please return Sticky

London Boaters Pets Reunited poster

If you find a PET by the waterway, it may belong on a BOAT close by!

Please check here first before ever taking them away!!

Boaters - Please display this message in your windows to help people remember to check first before ever taking away our pets! Download and print it here

London Boaters Directory Sticky

Photo of a boater

Members are encouraged to add services that they would recommend - just visit this link and enter the details in the form provided.

Safety and Security Sticky

Photo of a safety sign

Keeping ourselves safe and our homes secure is an issue for boaters, as for people in all walks of life. However, there are certain things that boaters can do as a community to minimise the risk of crime and support each other when a crime does take place.

REMEMBER: If you are a victim of crime, try to warn other boaters in the local area. Above all, talk to your neighbours!

ALWAYS tell the police if you are the victim of crime. The more that crime is reported, the more resources will be put into the prevention of crime on the canals and rivers.

London drydocks, slipways, crane-outs

Photo of Enfield Dry Dock

The original and probably most up-to-date version of this list can be found at Tims London Waterways Photos and has photos of many of the slipways, cranes and docks mentioned.

Crane Out/Hardstanding

Kecksy’s Farm – River Lee
Andy Kecksy 07707025522
https://www.facebook.com/Kecksys/

Making a 12-volt strip light run on LEDs instead

We adapted our old 12-volt strip light unit to instead use an array of 12-volt LEDs, to benefit from considerably lower power consumption and more importantly never needing to buy or replace a bulb ever again! As an electronics hobbyist who is not a professional but who already does their own boat DC electrics, projects like this are totally achievable but are still best left to someone who has a proficiency and understanding of 12-volt electrics. MAINS ELECTRICS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATTER AND SHOULD NEVER BE INTERFERED WITH EXCEPT BY A PROFESSIONAL!

Ever wondered how a smoke detector alarm works?

Photo of the smoke alarms given by the London Frie Brigade

Get free smoke detectors and CO (Carbon Monoxide) alarms !!!

The London Fire Brigade are great! Rang them this morning and within an hour they had met us on the towpath with free carbon monoxide and smoke alarms! Theirs are the proper, decent ones too (the good ones in the upper photo, not the other kind in the video). Pop into a fire station and ask, or text this number and they’ll meet you too 07496 061926.

If you would like to support the fire brigade, you can donate to www.firefighterscharity.org.uk

Solid Fuel Stove Reminder

Photo of burner before renovation service

Do you have a solid fuel stove? When did you last sweep your flue or check your burner? There were two bad fires on boats last winter - both boats completely burned out. The cause has not been specified BUT it does tend to be burners that cause fires on boats. If you haven't swept your flue this winter - do it now. Signs that your flue needs sweeping - no draw, smokey fire, glass gets dirty quickly, fire is more smelly than usual. If you burn mostly wood you should be sweeping every few weeks at the very least. Useful links below (please add any more useful links if you find them).

Just a few woodworking tips...

Photo of See Jane Drill youtube channel

See Jane Drill's Leah Bolden has some handy tips you might not know about...

- How to sharpen a carpenter's pencil and why is it that shape and flat?

- Making and using a tick stick, and what it is for...

- How to repair your oscillating multitool blades!

Useful information for Boaters

Copied from the London Boaters facebook group's pinned post, here are some more useful contacts, regulations and information about boating in London.

EMERGENCIES

In an emergency dial 999 (i.e. crime in progress) for non-urgent or after event 101. You can add to crime incident map below: Crime incidents or accidents or any other similar incidents anywhere on canal or towpath should ALSO be reported to CRT using this form CRT safety-near-miss-reporting-form

King's Cross/Granary Sq area - for their private security dial 0207 664 5700 and ask for 'control'

To get help for a boater in need, call the Waterways Chaplaincy 07717813682

If a boat is listing badly or in danger of sinking contact CRT: 0303 040 4040 during office hours or 0800 47 999 47 out of hours, give the boat name, number and location. They will contact the owner. Try and fix the problem if you can, but if you can’t at least call CRT

FREE REMOVAL OF ANY WASTE ELECTRICAL ITEMS as long as they are difficult to handle or bulky

In the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Hackney, Islington, Waltham Forest: https://www.clearabee.co.uk/free-weee-kerbside-service/

The London Boaters BOATING SERVICES DIRECTORY

has a list of tradesmen, with many BSS examiners, Marine Surveyors, Gas Fitters, Electricians etc - it is kept up-to-date by the tradesmen themselves. Please consult that list for these services.

IF YOU FIND AN OILY/INJURED/SICK WATERBIRD

Call 01932 240790 for The Swan Sanctuary or 03001234999 for rspca emergency.

Will you be falling-in this winter?

Photo from video about falling through ice

As always, try to remain calm and think things through in an emergency.
1 - Never leave your boat in gear and step off, even for a second, she's faster than you think and will run away.
2 - Never voluntarily go in the water fully clothed, chances are, no one is THAT good of a swimmer.
3 - Keep your ropes in good order, don't let them trail in the water
4 - Never ever swim up to the business end of any boat that is in gear. The prop will pull you, catch you, mangle you.(see point 2)

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