RCR

  • GROUNDING advice from RCR

    GROUNDING advice from RCR

    by

    –

    River Canal Rescue (RCR) is warning boaters about the risks of grounding after receiving 40+ calls in a six-week period, prompting a higher-than-usual number of call-outs. From 1 June to 11 July, rescue co-ordinators have been giving on the phone assistance to one/two people a day, and while many callers are then able to move…

    Continue reading »

  • WIN A BILGEAWAY FILTER KIT

    WIN A BILGEAWAY FILTER KIT

    by

    –

    TO celebrate River Canal Rescue’s 25th anniversary, managing director, Stephanie Horton, is giving away prizes every month, throughout the year. In July, three Towpath Talk readers can win a 10” Bilgeaway filter kit, worth £99.98 each. Described as ‘the world’s first truly environmentally-friendly bilge discharge filter’, Bilgeaway uses a non-toxic solution to extract hydrocarbon contaminants…

    Continue reading »

  • WIN chandlery vouchers worth £250

    WIN chandlery vouchers worth £250

    by

    –

    To celebrate River Canal Rescue’s 25th anniversary, managing director, Stephanie Horton, is giving away prizes every month, throughout the year. In June, Towpath Talk readers can win £250 worth of chandlery vouchers. Choose between vouchers from online marine equipment distributors, ASAP Supplies and Aquafax, or Midland Chandlers who as well as an online service, has…

    Continue reading »

  • EXTENDED: Story Competition Deadline

    EXTENDED: Story Competition Deadline

    by

    –

    River Canal Rescue has extended the deadline for its story-telling competition to 31 May, giving boaters more time to submit an entry about ‘life on the cut’. The story – a maximum of 700 words and three photos – must relate to boating over the past 25 years and can be funny, dramatic etc, as…

    Continue reading »

  • SUMMER PARTY: All welcome!

    SUMMER PARTY: All welcome!

    by

    –

    Only a few weeks to go until River Canal Rescue’s 25th anniversary celebration! The free family-friendly party is from 1-7pm on Sunday 8 June, at the Stafford Riverway Link Grounds, Baswich, Stafford, ST17 4FR. Near RCR HQ (br 101 on the Staffs &Worcs canal). Bringing together the local community, boaters, past and current RCR members,…

    Continue reading »

  • SHARE YOUR STORY and win a CRT licence

    SHARE YOUR STORY and win a CRT licence

    by

    –

    River Canal Rescue is reminding boaters they have until 16 May to submit their short story about life on the water. It must relate to a boating experience over the past 25 years, and can be funny/dramatic etc, as long as it reflects ‘real life’ on the cut. A maximum of 700 words and three…

    Continue reading »

  • WIN A PLACE ON AN RCR MAINTENANCE COURSE

    WIN A PLACE ON AN RCR MAINTENANCE COURSE

    by

    –

    TO CELEBRATE River Canal Rescue’s 25th anniversary, managing director, Stephanie Horton, is giving away prizes every month, throughout the year. In May, Towpath Talk readers can win a place on one of RCR’s boat and engine maintenance courses worth £315. The two-day course covers how to maintain diesel engines and the systems within a narrowboat,…

    Continue reading »

  • BOAT VANDALISM: Worst case ever seen

    BOAT VANDALISM: Worst case ever seen

    by

    –

    A NARROWBOAT that was broken into, vandalised and scuppered – blocking boats cruising the Hawkesbury junction area of the Coventry canal – was the worst case of wanton destruction River Canal Rescue’s teams had ever seen. The distraught owner visited narrowboat Rosie the week before it was vandalised, and on the weekend of February 15/16…

    Continue reading »

  • WIN A YEAR’S RCR GOLD MEMBERSHIP

    WIN A YEAR’S RCR GOLD MEMBERSHIP

    by

    –

    To celebrate River Canal Rescue’s 25th anniversary, managing director, Stephanie Horton, is giving away prizes every month, throughout the year. In this month, Towpath Talk readers can win a gold membership worth £320. The breakdown assistance & recovery package includes: vessel covered for any user or member covered on any vessel, unlimited call-outs, recovery to…

    Continue reading »

  • RIVER CANAL RESCUE: maintenance course dates

    RIVER CANAL RESCUE: maintenance course dates

    by

    –

    River Canal Rescue is now taking bookings for its two-day maintenance courses, running at its Stafford HQ on: 18/19 February, 4/5 and 26/27 March, 10/11 and 23/24 April, 7/8 and 21/22 May and 11/12 and 25/26 June. The boat and engine maintenance course covers how to maintain diesel engines and the systems within a narrowboat,…

    Continue reading »

  • TOP 10 PARTS that cause boaters grief

    TOP 10 PARTS that cause boaters grief

    by

    –

    River Canal Rescue (RCR) responded to 3335 callouts last year to help with issues such as electrical, fuel and engine problems, flat batteries, overheating and gearbox failures. Despite RCR’s best endeavours, parts do break down. So what are the top 10 parts that cause boaters the most grief, and how much do they cost to…

    Continue reading »

  • Tech advice: Keeping your boat safely afloat

    Tech advice: Keeping your boat safely afloat

    by

    –

    AS WE experience the wetter months, it’s important to give your boat a thorough safety check and familiarise yourself with all its workings, writes Stephanie Horton of River Canal Rescue. This may sound obvious, but do you really know how your boat has been built, where important items of equipment and machinery are located and…

    Continue reading »

  • Essential read: Managing lock cills  

    Essential read: Managing lock cills  

    by

    –

    Every year, lock cills catch boaters unaware, no matter how experienced they are. Once a vessel’s caught on a cill, it causes the rudder to pop out of the cup, which is quickly resolved. However, in many cases, it results in damage to the skeg, rudder and bearings, and the boat needs to be towed…

    Continue reading »

  • River Canal Rescue 2022 call-out figures  

    River Canal Rescue 2022 call-out figures  

    by

    –

    River Canal Rescue reports it responded to 130 major incidents in 2022; emergency situations either involving submerged, partially sunken or grounded craft, plus salvage work.  The figure is 24% lower than the 171 incidents RCR reported in 2021, in line with the previous year’s 25% reduction, primarily due to clement weather and fewer floods.  In contrast,…

    Continue reading »