Canal Boat – July 2018

canalboat.co.uk Canal Boat July 2018 37

THE BEAST

R

emember the Beast from the East?

Although it’s only a couple of

months ago as we send this issue

to press, for most waterway users

the extreme weather that hit the UK in

February and March is hopefully little more

than a distant memory, as they enjoy some

decent late spring boating weather. But for

those whose vessels which sank as a result,

its impact continues to be felt.

From 2 February to 9 March, inland

waterways breakdown specialists River

Canal Rescue attended 79 weather related

call-outs - ranging from failed bilge pumps

and flat batteries to split pipes and boats

taking on water - in an area covering 350

miles. During this five-week period,

specialist teams also raised ten submerged

boats.

Here, some of the owners of those sunken

vessels share their experiences of falling

victim to the ‘Beast from the East’, and what

they’re doing to stop it happening again.

Boatlife on the Ashby Canal

On 2 February, 23ft cruiser Boatlife was

moored on the Ashby Canal. Due to heavy

rain however, three quarters of the craft

became submerged. For owner Jonathan

Woodward, this was the second time this

happened: “Unfortunately the canopy wasn’t

sealed properly and following heavy snow

and rainfall, water was able to get into the

boat causing it to partially submerge. This

also caused the first sinking. RCR managed

to successfully raise the vessel, checks were

carried out as a preventative measure and it

was then moved to a secure location where it

could be lifted out.”

Tupelo Honey on the River Ouse

Three days later, Richard Vaughn reported his

33ft cruiser Tupelo Honey had sunk while

moored on the River Ouse: “Due to the

weather, the river was in flood and

unfortunately the ropes securing the boat to its

moorings were too tight and as the river began

to rise, it took on water. The boat was at a very

precarious angle with one side wedged in some

mud (this was a heavy wooden boat). The team

had to correct the angle first and then they

were able to pump out the water and

successfully refloat.”

Emily on the Leeds & Liverpool

On 7 February, RCR was called to refloat

Thomas Strange’s 27ft cruiser Emily, moored

on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. As managing

director Stephanie Horton explains: “We

believe this partially sank due to heavy rainfall

as there was no breach in the hull. We attended

and first used straps to level the boat out so the

gunwales were out of the water. A tarpaulin

sheet was then used to seal up the outboard

hole to prevent any further leaks. The boat was

then pumped out and re-floated. Once the boat

was dry, a battery and float switch bilge were

fitted to prevent the boat from sinking again.”

River Canal Rescue head out in wintry

conditions earlier this year