There is only one channel, and it just relies on common sense, which some people have to learn rather quickly when they hire a boat for the first time! :-) The drill is to slow for tunnels, narrows and sharp bends, and the boat that gets there first has right of way. Canal tunnels are straight and the boats have headlights, so the priority is obvious. If the bend is blind, it's a good idea to send someone ahead to reconnoitre and warn oncoming traffic if a boat is already in the narrows. Some boats even carry bikes for this purpose. For example, the Llangollen Narrows is about half a mile long with a bend at one end, visible at the start of the first scene here. Boats coming the other way have to pull over and stop before entering, and get someone to check what is round the bend. It's worked well for over 200 years! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the kind remarks.

danlefou Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation and for taking the time to reply. Good luck.

+Bob M Just to add to danlefou's answer, another thing which normally doesn't get explained to new boaters is that boats towing should be given way to. Although this is common sense there are still a lot of people who don't understand that trying to stop two 70 foot boats loaded with 40 tons of coal between them is rather a lot harder the their boat. Not quite so extreme in this case as there running empty on cross straps as it is much easier to stop but its still a lot harder than a normal boat. Also in regard to your first question the last section of the Kennet and Avon Canal though Reading is controlled on a traffic light system as although is is quite wide there are some tricky turns and it is a navigable river over that section so when there is a lot of water flowing it make manoeuvring very tricky. But as danlefou said in nearly every other case its just common sense.

+Chittern Valley Railway Thanks CVR and to danlefou for adding info, interesting stuff I must say.

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