A float on Miracle - 20ft narrowboat

That is very good advice re stopping and punting.

My boat had an old diesel Lister engine with very little fine throttle control which although awesome (proper phut-phut) made maneuvering pretty tricky, especially reversing. Combine this with the fact that:
d) Marina's are notoriously windy places - wind has a surprisingly large effect on where your boat is going to go

Proper old engines are the bomb. I find modern canal boats are fine & interesting and I wouldn't say no to one, but would give body parts for a riveted ex'working boat with a pop pop engine, lister, gardner, bolinder, national etc.
I have seen them with rapid travel throttle levers (knob for main throttle, lever for reverser and a 3rd for whacking throttle up and down with little finesse) fitted, some gardners have fitted them as standard, and bolinders had a rapid reversing mechanism (theres a youtube vid with one doing its quick magic).

Recently come across this wartime film about life on the canals (the 'cut'), its a bit romantic, but such is the nature of the canals. Its also jam PACKED with 40s industry, worth the watch just for that IMO.
Its called the Painted Boats, about an hour long, watch it!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kI9su-1SCM"]Painted
Boats 1 - YouTube[/ame]