Jporter Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Are all the locks on the Thames manned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUMPY Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Should be but sometimes not😱 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wittenham Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 for the ones near Oxford, I usually, but not always see someone at Iffley. Rarely see anyone at Godstow ,Sandford or King's, and don't really notice either way at Osney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thames Bhaji Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 Below Oxford, generally yes. The start & finish times change depending on time of year, and they usually have an hour or so off for lunch. Plus they might not be there for various other reasons eg weirs need seeing to. But self-service is very easy - just button pushes if everything is working correctly (it isn’t always!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 (edited) You'll often turn up and there are signs saying they are on self-service. Edited July 20, 2021 by blackrose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 In theory yes, but the further up you go the more you will find not manned. Typically during the week I would say 50% manned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 IMO the Thames is notg doing well for lock service at the moment and I suspect CoVid has caused problems with training for volunteers and relief staff. The locks above Oxford starting at King's are all large balance beam and handwheel sluices - easy to operate. Thise below are electric push button with instructions printed on the cabinet (unless some scrote has torn them off). Just DON'T hold the "sluices up" button - just press for 2-3 seconds - or the system will lock up completely and require a techie to reset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jporter Posted July 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 I’m single handed and just on an exploration run. Am I right thinking that I will find it simpler to go on the Thames with automatic locks than on the Kennet and Avon canal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwatch Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 We found, twice, I know twice because it’s a pain, locks unmanned and a power off notice. Try to ascertain how long for, if it’s a quick fix, don’t go through the lock. To operate the lock handdraulically takes ages and lots and lots of energy. Just saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustynewbery Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 17 minutes ago, Jporter said: I’m single handed and just on an exploration run. Am I right thinking that I will find it simpler to go on the Thames with automatic locks than on the Kennet and Avon canal? Without a doubt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted July 20, 2021 Report Share Posted July 20, 2021 It's very unusual (!care!) to find a lock pedestal without public power (unless some Pr**t has held the sluices up button until the system goes into error mode.... Even so, it's a right pain in the 'glutimus maximus' to have to hand wind - take your time - find a friend to help. After all you don't have to wind the sluices up all the way - just enough to get some water moving and similarly you don't have to open the gates fully...... Just enjoy the Thames so long as we have it indpendent - befre CRT or worse take it over... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted July 22, 2021 Report Share Posted July 22, 2021 Don't forget that you are supposed to tie up with front and rear line in locks on the Thames not just a centre line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 11 hours ago, F DRAYKE said: Don't forget that you are supposed to tie up with front and rear line in locks on the Thames not just a centre line. It's a reasonable requirement - once you've seen a plonker insist on using only the centre line - and then watching his boat wandering all over the place, potentially damaging other boats or the lock furniture itself. What's adequate on the canals does definitely not apply on the Riverl Lockies have given up trying to explain to stroppy NB'ers - who then complain to the management and the lockie gets a b****g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scholar Gypsy Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 5 hours ago, OldGoat said: It's a reasonable requirement - once you've seen a plonker insist on using only the centre line - and then watching his boat wandering all over the place, potentially damaging other boats or the lock furniture itself. What's adequate on the canals does definitely not apply on the Riverl Lockies have given up trying to explain to stroppy NB'ers - who then complain to the management and the lockie gets a b****g I agree. Personally when single handing on the Thames I use looooong lines at bow and stern. Tie one of them off on a bollard and then adjust the other one. A 25-30' line can easily cope with the rise and fall at (say) Sandford, one of the deeper ones (and also where the water rather unhelpfully comes in through the floor of the lock, pushing you away from the walls). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now