How to Use Mooring Chains on a Canal

Mooring chains are simple, strong and very useful when you need to tie up against steel piling on the canal. They give you a secure attachment point without hammering pins into the towpath, which is often better for the bank, safer for walkers and more reliable in hard ground.

If you are new to boating, they can look a little awkward at first. Once you understand how they sit around the piling and how to tie your lines to them, they become one of the easiest mooring tools to use.

This guide explains how to use mooring chains on a canal, when to choose them, how to set your ropes and what to check before leaving the boat.

What Are Canal Mooring Chains?

Canal mooring chains, often called piling chains, are short lengths of chain used to secure a narrowboat to steel bank piling. Most have a ring at each end, although designs vary slightly.

The chain wraps around part of the steel piling, usually the horizontal rail or lip, and creates a strong point for your mooring rope. Instead of tying to a ring or bollard, or knocking in a mooring pin, you attach your bow and stern lines to the chains.

They are most commonly used on stretches of canal where the bank has metal piling but no fixed mooring rings. This is common along many towpaths, visitor moorings, rural edges and urban cuttings.

When Should You Use Mooring Chains?

Mooring chains are best used where there is suitable steel piling along the edge of the canal. They are particularly useful when the towpath surface is too hard for pins, too soft to hold pins securely, or too busy for protruding pins and ropes.

You can use mooring chains when:

• There is exposed steel piling or Armco-style edging.
• There are no mooring rings or bollards available.
• The bank is unsuitable for mooring pins.
• You want a more secure hold than pins are likely to provide.
• You are mooring overnight and want to reduce the chance of pins being pulled out.

Do not use mooring chains on wooden edging, concrete banks, railings, fences, lock landings or private structures unless it is clearly permitted and safe. If there are proper mooring rings or bollards, use those instead.

Choosing the Right Mooring Chains

A good pair of mooring chains should be strong, simple and easy to handle. They do not need to be elaborate, but they do need to be suitable for the weight and movement of a narrowboat.

Look for chains with:

• Strong welded links with no obvious cracks, distortion or sharp edges.
• Large rings that are easy to thread a mooring rope through.
• A practical length that can pass around the piling without leaving too much slack.
• Galvanised or corrosion-resistant metal for longer life in damp conditions.
• A manageable weight so they can be fitted safely with one hand while holding a line with the other.

Most boats carry at least two chains, one for the bow line and one for the stern line. Many boaters also carry mooring pins and piling hooks, as different banks call for different methods.

Before You Start: Check the Mooring Spot

Before fitting chains, take a moment to check the site. A good mooring is about more than simply finding somewhere to tie the rope.

Look for a stretch where the bank is straight enough for the boat to sit comfortably alongside. Avoid shallow edges if the boat is left leaning, grinding or floating too far out from the bank. Also check for overhanging trees, underwater obstructions, wasps nests, low branches, trip hazards and signs restricting mooring.

Make sure you are not on a lock landing, water point, winding hole, bridge hole, service area or clearly marked private mooring. These spaces need to remain available for their intended use.

Inspect the piling itself. It should feel solid and continuous, not loose, badly corroded or broken. If the metal edge moves when you pull on it, choose another place.

How to Use Mooring Chains on a Canal

The exact technique depends on the design of your chains and the shape of the piling, but the basic principle is the same. The chain forms a loop around the steel piling, and your mooring rope is secured to the ring or rings.

1. Bring the Boat Safely Alongside

Approach the bank slowly and under control. If you have crew, agree what each person will do before the boat reaches the edge. Avoid jumping from the boat. Step ashore only when it is safe and the boat is close enough.

Use a centre line to hold the boat temporarily while you fit the chains, but do not rely on the centre line as your main overnight mooring. A centre line can make the boat lean and pull hard when passing boats draw water away.

2. Fit the First Chain to the Piling

Take one mooring chain and place it around a suitable part of the steel piling. On many common canal edges, this means passing one end of the chain behind or under the metal lip or rail so that the chain loops securely around it.

With many ring-ended chains, you then pass one ring through the other to create a choked loop around the piling. The remaining ring becomes the attachment point for your rope. Some designs are used by bringing both rings together and threading the rope through them. If in doubt, follow the intended use for your particular chain.

The important point is that the chain must not simply rest on top of the piling. It needs to wrap around the metal so it cannot lift off when the boat moves.

3. Attach the Bow or Stern Line

Once the chain is secure, pass your mooring rope through the ring and tie it back to the boat, or tie the rope directly to the ring using a suitable knot. Many boaters prefer to take the rope from the boat, through the ring, and back to the boat. This lets you adjust the line from on board.

Useful knots include a round turn and two half hitches, a bowline, or a secure cleat hitch if the rope returns to a deck cleat. The knot should be firm, easy to inspect and easy to undo after taking strain.

4. Set the Second Chain

Fit the second chain for the other end of the boat. For a normal overnight mooring, you should use both a bow line and a stern line. Place the chains so the ropes lead away from the boat at a sensible angle, rather than straight out at 90 degrees.

A good arrangement is for the bow line to lead slightly forwards and the stern line to lead slightly backwards. This helps stop the boat surging back and forth when other boats pass.

5. Adjust the Rope Tension

Your ropes should be snug, but not bar-tight. Canals do not usually have tides, but water levels can still change due to locks, rain, water movement or passing boats. If the ropes are too tight, the boat may list, strain against fittings or become uncomfortable.

If they are too loose, the boat may bump against the bank, drift out into the channel or snatch heavily on the ropes. Aim for enough slack to allow gentle movement without letting the boat wander.

Using Springs for a Quieter Mooring

If you are staying overnight in a spot where passing boats create movement, spring lines can make a big difference. Springs are extra lines that reduce forward and backward surging.

A simple spring arrangement might include:

• A line from the bow leading back to a chain nearer the middle of the boat.
• A line from the stern leading forward to a chain nearer the middle of the boat.

You do not always need springs, especially on quiet rural moorings, but they are useful near popular routes, long pounds, town moorings or places where boats may pass close by.

If you use extra chains for springs, make sure they do not create trip hazards across the towpath. Keep ropes tidy and visible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mooring chains are straightforward, but a few common errors can make a mooring less secure.

• Resting the chain on top of the piling: It must loop around the metal, not just sit over the edge.
• Using only one line: A centre line or single rope is not enough for a proper mooring.
• Setting ropes too tight: Tight ropes can strain the boat and cause problems if the water level changes.
• Setting ropes too loose: Loose lines allow the boat to move, bang and snatch.
• Choosing damaged piling: Rusted, loose or broken edging may not hold securely.
• Blocking the towpath: Keep chains and ropes low, tidy and as close to the edge as practical.
• Forgetting to check after a few minutes: Once the boat settles, lines may need adjusting.

Safety Tips When Handling Mooring Chains

Mooring chains are heavy enough to pinch fingers, damage paintwork or hurt toes if dropped. A little care makes the job much easier.

Wear gloves if the chains are rusty, cold or muddy. Keep fingers out of tight gaps between the chain and piling. Do not put your hand where it could be trapped if the boat moves suddenly.

Be careful on wet grass, muddy banks and uneven towpaths. If you are working near the edge, keep your weight back and avoid leaning too far over the water. At night, use a torch so you can see where the chain is sitting.

Also think about other towpath users. A rope at shin height can be a real hazard for walkers, runners and cyclists. Keep lines as low and short as practical, and avoid mooring in a way that forces people to step over ropes unnecessarily.

Mooring Chains vs Pins and Hooks

Chains are one of several common canal mooring options. Each has its place.

Mooring pins are useful on soft ground without piling, but they can pull out if the ground is poor or if boats pass quickly. They can also create trip hazards if not knocked in well and marked clearly.

Piling hooks are quick to fit and popular with many boaters. They hook into holes or gaps in the piling. However, they can sometimes jump out if the angle is poor or the boat moves sharply.

Mooring chains take slightly longer to fit than hooks, but they wrap around the piling and are often considered a secure choice when fitted correctly. They are especially handy for overnight stops on piled banks.

Many boaters carry all three, then choose the best option for the bank in front of them.

Checking Your Mooring Before You Leave the Boat

Before walking away, take a slow look at the whole setup. It is far easier to adjust a line now than to return later to a boat banging on the bank.

Check that:

• Both chains are properly looped around sound steel piling.
• The rings are not caught at an awkward angle.
• The ropes are not rubbing on sharp metal.
• The boat can rise, fall and move slightly without strain.
• The bow and stern cannot drift far from the bank.
• No ropes are creating a serious towpath trip hazard.
• The boat is not obstructing navigation or access.

After the first passing boat, watch how your boat moves if you can. This is a useful way to see whether the lines need tightening, slackening or changing angle.

Looking After Mooring Chains

Canal gear lives a hard life. Chains get wet, muddy and scraped, so they need occasional attention.

Rinse off heavy mud when practical and let chains dry before storing them inside. If they live in a locker, avoid leaving them sitting in a puddle. Check the links and rings for cracks, deep rust, thinning metal or distortion.

If a chain looks badly worn, replace it. Mooring equipment is not the place to take chances, especially if you leave the boat unattended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use mooring chains anywhere on the canal?

No. Mooring chains are intended for suitable steel piling. Do not use them on lock landings, water points, bridge holes, private moorings or anywhere mooring is restricted. If proper rings or bollards are provided, use those.

Are mooring chains better than mooring pins?

On steel piling, mooring chains are often more secure and convenient than pins. Pins are still useful where there is no piling, but their holding power depends on the ground. It is sensible to carry both.

How many mooring chains do I need?

For a basic mooring, you need two chains, one for the bow line and one for the stern line. Carrying extra chains gives you the option of setting spring lines in busier or more exposed places.

Should my mooring ropes be tight or loose?

They should be snug but not rigid. Leave enough give for normal canal water movement, but not so much that the boat can swing out or bang repeatedly against the bank.

Can I leave my boat unattended on mooring chains?

Yes, provided the chains are fitted correctly to sound piling and the ropes are well set. Before leaving, check the chain positions, rope angles, knots, towpath safety and any local mooring limits.

A Simple Skill Worth Practising

Learning how to use mooring chains on a canal is one of those small boating skills that quickly becomes second nature. The key is to choose sound steel piling, loop the chain securely, use both bow and stern lines, and adjust the rope angles so the boat cannot surge around.

Take your time, keep your fingers clear, and check the setup before you settle in. A well-moored boat is quieter, safer and kinder to the bank, which makes life better for you and for everyone else using the towpath and waterway.