I'm very pleased this all ended relatively happily. Nobody got killed and he can always get another boat. But before somebody reminds us that he wasn't insured so maybe he can't get another boat I would like to add that maybe this one of the indications that he could perhaps have been slightly better prepared for the journey. I only cruise the UK inland waterways by narrowboat but my mobile (cell phone) has programmed into it British Waterways offices, out of hours mobiles, lock keepers and their mobiles, emergency helplines etc etc - oh and my local pub as well!