Further to my comments on the canal trading posts, is there a big lapse in time before a boat will arrive. It seems to take for ever and so far (2 game years at least) there have been no boats. Also if you straighten the edge of the river with the flattening tool to make a nice flat entrance for the canal will this affect the operation of the canal. I made a nice short canal to test the process. I know it must work. I guess it must be case of getting things laid out properly.