Boater Services

Shore Power / Electricity

Shore power is available at most locations across the network. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that you make a note of the date and meter reading when you first connect your vessel to an electricity bollard. Likewise, when you leave the canal, you must take a final reading to ensure you are not charged for subsequent usage on that bollard. 

Smart Bollards will be in operation at Seaport Marina Inverness from 1st March 2026 - To access power at this location, you must sign up for an account on the following page: https://portal.meter-macs.com/sign-in

Terms and Conditions of Supply for smart bollards can be accessed here - Electricity Supply Terms and Conditions 

Electricity for long term customers is billed quarterly. This is charged at a rate per unit used and a set standing charge per day. Please be advised that even if you use no units of electricity in a quarter you will be charged the standing charge.

Please do not allow others to use your electricity bollard as you will be liable for the units used and the daily standing charge.

As you are responsible for the electricity drawn at the bollard, please secure your connection when you are away from your home mooring. There are products on the market that you can purchase to block off your plug in to avoid misuse by other passing boaters. 

Please remember to not overload the electricity on board. A 16amp supply will not support the same amount of electricity usage as that in a house. Should the electricity be overloaded the bollard will trip. If the bollard has tripped check that the issue is not on your boat and then contact Scottish Canals who will come and check the bollard for you. 

Please note that should we be called out to rectify a fault which is found to be because of your actions/inaction, Scottish Canals reserve the right to charge for any services provided. An example of this would be an out of hours call out to reset a shore power supply which has tripped due to being overloaded by multiple appliances.

Water

Where water is provided this will be from the service bollard. This will be from a tap on the side of the bollard. You will need to provide your own hose to top up your freshwater tank on the boat. Water on board the vessel is provided free of charge.

In the winter you will find that the bollards may freeze in low temperatures. It is advisable that in winter you leave the tap turned on slightly to ensure that the water in the pipes is continuously moving to help stop the water from freezing. Please place a short hose facing down into the water so it does not run onto the pontoons and create a slip hazard if it freezes. 

Diesel

Sites that can supply diesel are highlighted in the individual canal skippers guides. Self-service diesel is available at Seaport Marina and Corpach Marina. When refuelling at Seaport or Corpach you will be required to enter your vessel name and / or your licence number. This is a stipulation by HMRC that allows us to charge a lower price for diesel that is only used for heating. 

Pump out

There are various pump out facilities throughout the Scottish canal network, again these are detailed in the individual skippers guide's on the Canal travel section of the site.

To arrange a pump out within our operation hours, please contact the local waterway office with a minimum 2 days’ notice. 

Sluice/Elsan disposal

Sluices, where available are only suitable for the disposal of chemical (Elsan) toilet waste. Only blue/green Elsan should be used. After use please wash down all surfaces and ensure the sluice is clean and tidy. Please be advised that waste from composting toilets is not to be put into the sluice. 

Facility blocks

There are various facilities blocks throughout the canal network, which are available to boaters and users of the canal. Some Facilities include showers, toilets and laundry facilities. Please always leave the facilities as clean and tidy as possible and please refrain from leaving any personal items in the facility block

A facility key is supplied which will give you access to all boaters facilities across the Scottish Canals network. 

Laundry facilities

Laundry facilities, where supplied, are located either in the Facilities Block or as a separate unit. Payment is made by debit/credit card. 

Mail

Our residential moorings have registered postal addresses for the receipt of letters and accessing key services such as voter registration and healthcare. Please note that you will need to make your own arrangements for parcels.

Parking

Not every location offers parking facilities. Where we have parking, this is available on a first come first served basis unless otherwise indicated.

Refuse

Please dispose of all waste responsibly and ensure you separate your recycling from your general waste. Under no circumstance should waste be left on pontoons, towpaths or any other area around the mooring site. Please also ensure that no waste enters the canal itself. If there is no bin due to location then please take all your refuse home with you.

Access/Restrictions

Please be aware that under no circumstances should you drive on the towpath. This area is reserved for Scottish Canals and emergency vehicles only with priority to cyclists and pedestrians. 

Gas canisters

Any spare gas canisters must be stored on board and not on the pontoon/wharf or in your storage unit, if supplied. The maximum capacity allowed on your vessel will depend on the design capacity of your craft and all spare canisters must be stored safely within the housing of the boat.