Near Misshap - Grindley Brook Staircase Lock

[Chris J W]

Came up Grindley Brook Staircase Lock this afternoon. Chatting with the lockie at the middle lock as we both worked the paddles (me following his lead) when a yell goes out "She's stuck!!" - neither of us had noticed that her right hand side was about six inches higher than her left ... opps!!

 

Quickly down the paddles then ... muffled-phuufff-type-sound ... brickdust smoke ... properly righted boat ...

 

Phew!!

 

The cause? My middle fender eye (fenderless) had caught under one brick

 

The lockie was speachless!

 

Up through the other two locks with no problems. Phew!

 

Got moored up on the 48hr above the locks and, thankfully, found the only things that had gone flying inside were the fire-dogs.

 

Another lesson rammed home due to Real Life - keep an eye on the front, on the back, AND THE SIDES.

[blackrose]

Two questions: 1) What kind of fender eyes does your boat have? 2) Excuse my ignorance but what are fire dogs?

[Chris J W]

Two questions: 1) What kind of fender eyes does your boat have? 2) Excuse my ignorance but what are fire dogs?

 

Best way to describe them would be ... imagine your little finger curled, make that steel, and make that rise from the gunnell about 45deg.

 

Fire dogs are the coal-shovel, tongs, brush and poker.

[carlt]

Two questions: 1) What kind of fender eyes does your boat have? 2) Excuse my ignorance but what are fire dogs?

Fire Dogs:

 

 

They support a fire basket, in an open fireplace.

 

Edited to remove question, now I know Chris's idea of "fire dogs" is different to mine (North south divide, I'll bet!)

Edited May 9, 2008 by carlt

[Chris J W]

Edited to remove question, now I know Chris's idea of "fire dogs" is different to mine (North south divide, I'll bet!)

 

Well, that's how this Yorkshireman understands fire-dogs

[Keeping Up]

I noticed that your fender eyes stuck out sideways further than the rest of the boat. That was why when we were breasted up at Buckby, I put a couple of fenders between the boats. I would never normally do that, but after they took a strip of paint off it seemed a good idea.

 

Are they supposed to do that? Maybe a few clouts wuth a hammer would straighten them up vertical? (or possibly would break them off of course)

[carlt]

Well, that's how this Yorkshireman understands fire-dogs

You've learnt southern ways lad!

[Chris J W]

I think they are meant to be like that as the curve outwards is complimented by a "scoop" inwards on the gunnell.

 

Anyone else here got a Wilson hull? I'll try and get a picture of one of the eyes (not the one that caught, that's on the wrong side at the mo) later.

[Machpoint005]

This northerner though fire dogs were the bits at the front of the fire that stop the coal falling out!

 

We used to have a Wilson hull but the fender brackets were flush with the gunwales, AFAICR.

 

Congratulations on the escape, though - I have had a similar problem with sticky-out bricks catching the baseplate overhang. Damage - one glass (not beer, and not full). Acceptable, and warning heeded!

 

Ian

[carlt]

This northerner though fire dogs were the bits at the front of the fire that stop the coal falling out!

No they're definitely the "dog shaped" (if you squint) fire basket supports:

 

Clicky

[Machpoint005]

No they're definitely the "dog shaped" (if you squint) fire basket supports:

 

Clicky

Your clicky is in Ipswich - no wonder they get it wrong!

 

(come on you U's)

 

But some fire dogs do support the front coal faller outer stopper as well.

Edited May 9, 2008 by Machpoint005

[Chris J W]

Well you live and learn. So at the risk of more I've always known Fire-Dogs as I described above.

[bottle]

Coal-shovel, tongs, brush and poker is a Companion Set.

 

See Carls clicky.

[Machpoint005]

Coal-shovel, tongs, brush and poker is a Companion Set.

 

See Carls clicky.

Or fireside set.

 

(makes it sound nice and warm and homely - but the coal tongs are still, in my experience, bleeping useless).

[carlt]

I should know. I've nearly finished stripping and restoring a Victorian cast iron fireplace, for the dining room, and swmbo thinks she wants fire dogs now.

[Tiger]

And I thought a 'Fire Dog' was similar to an overdone 'Hot Dog'

 

Tiger.

[Chris Pink]

I think they are meant to be like that as the curve outwards is complimented by a "scoop" inwards on the gunnell.

 

Anyone else here got a Wilson hull? I'll try and get a picture of one of the eyes (not the one that caught, that's on the wrong side at the mo) later.

 

They should definitely not stick out!

 

As your experience shows, everything on a narrow boat is (should be) designed to slip off a projection on a lock or wharf.

[Chris J W]

The offending fender eye - angled not quite as high as I'd thought

 

[Chris Pink]

The offending fender eye - angled not quite as high as I'd thought

 

 

might involve a bit of work but i'd be tempted to grind the existing one off and weld a staple at 90° at the top of the scallop with a galvanized ring through it. Look reet proper it would.

 

here's one i made earlier.

[Chris J W]

might involve a bit of work but i'd be tempted to grind the existing one off and weld a staple at 90° at the top of the scallop with a galvanized ring through it. Look reet proper it would.

 

here's one i made earlier.

 

Hmmm - the staple is about the same size as the bit of steel that originally held my centreline ring (about the same size as the ring in that pic!) that sheared off and nearly broke my arm ... so I think I'll that that a miss!

[Chris Pink]

Hmmm - the staple is about the same size as the bit of steel that originally held my centreline ring (about the same size as the ring in that pic!) that sheared off and nearly broke my arm ... so I think I'll that that a miss!

 

Indeed, i wouldn't recommend it for anything heavier than a fender or for tying down a cloth.

 

...though they're a handy target for a boathook in a pinch.

Edited May 9, 2008 by Chris Pink

[Peter R]

Fender eyes often seem to be a problem. If they're flush in all directions on the outside, then they protrude on the inside. If they stick out sideways they gat caught on things, and if they stick up you trip over them.

 

When I got my boat it had recessed eyes front and back, but nothing in the middle. My solution to this was to attach a brass 'eye-plate' to the cabin side - it won't take a lot of strain, but is fine for hanging a fender off. Just make sure you attach to it by something that will break before the plate gets ripped of the cabin in case you forget to take the fender off and get it caught!

 

Peter

[Dominic M]

Out of interest, why use fenders in a lock?

[Chris J W]

Out of interest, why use fenders in a lock?

 

Personally, I don't. I only have three fenders that I take off before I set-off and then re-attach as needs be on which ever side is the tow-path.

 

[edit for typo]

Edited May 11, 2008 by Chris J W

[Peter R]

Likewise - my reference to using a link that would break if the fender got caught is just a precaution against those times when I forget to take the fenders in before setting off. I don't do it often, but I have removed a couple of fenders that way over the last few years!