How to use the online timer
With the narrowboat’s wet canopy still partly spread, restart the seventy-five-second countdown and carry on folding from the end you reached during the first run. Keep the damp outer face away from cushions and clothes as you bring each section towards the centre. A second interval gives you time to compress the remaining folds without abandoning the ropes or stepping away from the towpath edge.
Beside a running engine, passing boats or a busy lock, the finishing signal may disappear into the background noise. Place the phone on a dry, stable surface close to where you are folding, with its speaker uncovered, rather than leaving it inside the cabin. If you cannot hear it clearly over the surroundings, use the changing screen as a visible cue while keeping both hands on the canopy.
When the second run begins, use it for one defined part of the fold: aligning the wet edges, rolling the last section, or securing the bundle. If the canopy is already compact before the signal, stop handling it and check that no corner trails near the water. If time expires while fabric remains loose, finish the current fold safely, then decide whether another interval is useful rather than rushing the fastening.
Common questions
What could make the second run too short for folding a narrowboat’s wet canopy?
Wind on an exposed towpath can pull the fabric open again, while heavier rainwater makes each fold slower to control. A wider canopy or awkward mooring position can also leave part of the job unfinished when the signal sounds.
What if the wet canopy is folded before the second run ends?
Use the remaining time to check that the bundle is clear of the gunwale and that its straps are holding evenly. The countdown can be stopped once the canopy is secure and nothing is trailing towards the canal.
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