You could be forgiven for thinking I'd missed a possessive 's' from the word swan in the question above, but all is not as it seems. Boaters will know that a swan neck is the swooping arm at the rear of a narrowboat which connects the tiller to the rudder. It's an essential part of the boat if directional control is important to you.
For most boaters, being able to steer in the right direction is quite important, although I have noticed plenty who regard full contact with other boats, locks, bank sides and anything else nearby quite amusing. Well, just how easy is it to bend this robust piece of solid steel? As it turns out, very easy indeed - if you don't pay attention when turning around in a tight spot. Pushing the tiller over and looking ahead is common, and sensible. Arguably, it's far better to see what's in front than worry about what's behind you. After all, this isn't a pantomime is it? Except that sometimes, if someone is shouting loudly, 'Behind you, behind you!', it may not be a warning about some scary monster or Widow Twanky but a fellow boater advising of impending doom.
So, if you happen to jam the tiller on the wrong side of a large fixed object on the bank, don't put full power on in the opposite direction or you'll break your neck, your swan neck that is.
For most boaters, being able to steer in the right direction is quite important, although I have noticed plenty who regard full contact with other boats, locks, bank sides and anything else nearby quite amusing. Well, just how easy is it to bend this robust piece of solid steel? As it turns out, very easy indeed - if you don't pay attention when turning around in a tight spot. Pushing the tiller over and looking ahead is common, and sensible. Arguably, it's far better to see what's in front than worry about what's behind you. After all, this isn't a pantomime is it? Except that sometimes, if someone is shouting loudly, 'Behind you, behind you!', it may not be a warning about some scary monster or Widow Twanky but a fellow boater advising of impending doom.
So, if you happen to jam the tiller on the wrong side of a large fixed object on the bank, don't put full power on in the opposite direction or you'll break your neck, your swan neck that is.
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