Information for boaters - Black Sluice Navigation (Forty Foot Drain)
Information about the Black Sluice Navigation, including navigation notices, locks, bridge heights and facilities.
River conditions
You can find current river conditions on Anglian Waterways: river conditions, closures and restrictions.
You can also:
- find out more about river advice for boaters
- register for the service
About the river
The Black Sluice Navigation is on the South Forty Foot Drain, an artificial drainage river in Lincolnshire. It lies between Guthram Gowt and the Black Sluice pumping station on The Haven at Boston. Unused for nearly 40 years, it re-opened in 2009. It’s a typical Fen drain, providing 31km (19 miles) of navigation into the west of Boston in Lincolnshire.
You can read the to find out more.
You need a registration to use the Black Sluice Navigation. You can buy a 1-day and a 7-day visitor registration.
Call the Environment Agency on 0370 850 6506 (see call charges) to get a licence and a navigation key to use their moorings.
Visit the Inland Waterways Association website to see the Fens Waterways map and about the Waterways Link project.
Navigation notices
You can see the latest navigation notices on the Black sluice and South Forty Foot Drain mapping tool
Black Sluice lock
To enter the Black Sluice Navigation you need to pass through the Black Sluice lock. The lock connects the Black Sluice Navigation with the tidal Boston Haven.
Black Sluice lock dimensions
- length: 21 metres (70 feet)
- width: 6 metres (20 feet)
- draft: normal water depth in the lock is 2.80 metres (9 feet), however this may vary on certain tides
- airdraft: headroom in the lock isn’t restricted
Lock keeping hours at Black Sluice Lock, Boston (South Forty Foot / Black Sluice Navigation)
Black Sluice Lock requires at least 48 hours’ notice to arrange staffing from the Environment Agency. Bookings are dependent on tidal conditions and can only be accommodated during suitable daylight locking windows.
To request a booking, call 07825 503 848.
Bookings may have to be postponed or cancelled due to:
- the Port of Boston needing to use the water in front of the lock to turn large seagoing boats
- flooding incidents - the Black Sluice lock can be used to discharge flood water from the South Forty Foot Drain, at which time the lock will not be available for use - red warning flags will be flying at the lock
The Environment Agency will try to give as much warning as possible if these situations occur.
If you are unable to contact a lock directly, call the Environment Agency Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 during normal office hours. They will forward your enquiry to the Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire Anglian Waterways Operations Team.
Contact numbers
- Grand Sluice lock - 0771 201 0920 or 0120 536 4864
- Port of Boston - 0120 536 5571
- River Inspector and Black Sluice lock - 07825 503848
Black Sluice Navigation bridge height
When passing from Black Sluice Lock into the Black Sluice you pass under London Road Bridge. There is a height restriction on this arched bridge, details in London Road Bridge profile. Headroom varies from around 1.7m to 3.4m.
There are some low headroom bridges along the Black Sluice Navigation. On average, at normal summer levels there is about 3m of headroom at these bridges. There are inverted gauge boards at the lower sites, which show how much headroom is available. It’s the skipper’s responsibility to check that there is enough headroom before passing under the bridge.
Above Donnington Bridge, access is only possible for small unpowered boats, such as canoes and kayaks. This is due to limited water depth, headroom and width above this point, and environmental and wildlife considerations.
Contact the local river inspector on 07825 503848 or 03708 506 506 if you need any more information.
Boston Haven
The section of river between Grand Sluice Lock and Black Sluice Lock is tidal and subject to strong tidal ebbs and flows. Navigating this section of river should be undertaken with extreme caution as much larger craft will also be using this section of water. Tune in to channel 74 on your VHF radio to monitor boat traffic when navigating the Haven.
Moorings
There are no permanent moorings on the Black Sluice Navigation.
There are short stay moorings on:
- the Haven
- near the Black Sluice pumping station
Mooring is restricted to a maximum of 48 hours at Boston, Swineshead Bridge and Hubbert’s Bridge.
Updates to this page
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Updated page with content on river conditions, speed forms, events and navigation notices.
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Updated contact telephone numbers for Black Sluice Lock and the Environment Agency.
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First published.