Reversing into a tight lock

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Hi,

 

We're new to the forum, so not too sure if we've put this question in the right place! My question is:- Can anyone tell us why if there is an especially tight lock, there is an advantage in going in stern first? Obviously this can only be done when winding points make it possible. Just talking to someone the other day who nearly lost their boat in Hurleston Lock going in bow first, but who then turned round and went in stern first with no problem. Just would like to know in case we come across the same problem.

 

Can anyone throw some light on this please.

[Adam]

Hi,

 

We're new to the forum, so not too sure if we've put this question in the right place! My question is:- Can anyone tell us why if there is an especially tight lock, there is an advantage in going in stern first? Obviously this can only be done when winding points make it possible. Just talking to someone the other day who nearly lost their boat in Hurleston Lock going in bow first, but who then turned round and went in stern first with no problem. Just would like to know in case we come across the same problem.

 

Can anyone throw some light on this please.

 

You usually do this if your stern will be close against the gate. If the gates are leaking your stern will be flooded and water will get into the engine bay. If the bows are close to leaky gates it will fill the bow but they are self draining.

[Keeping Up]

We went down the Avon many years ago, in company with a 72-footer. For several of the locks he winded above the lock, reversed in, then when the lock was empty he reversed out again and winded below the lock. This was because the locks were a bit short, so he reckoned it was safer for the bow to sit on the cill than the rudder or propellor.

[NB Willawaw]

If the boat is so long, it is tight in the lock, it must be difficult to find winding holes both above and below the lock.

Can't really grasp the advantage of this. It must make cruising very tedious.

[MartinClark]

Scarlet Pimpernel mentions Hurleston, so presumably the "tightness" is referring to the width of the locks (Hurleston being notoriously narrow). In that situation, it depends on the individual boat. A boat that doesn't quite fit one way round might just fit the other way round.

 

This particularly applies to older former working boats, which may have spread, or which may have been wider than the standard 6' 10" to start with. Some boats are slightly wider at some points than at others and the same goes for locks. It's a case of "try it and see" and what is right for one boat may not be right for another.

[onthecut]

Hi all.

 

Strikes me you can't know whether you're coming or going ! Where are all these locks with conveniently placed before and after winding holes ? The vast majority of locks it won't be an option because there's nowhere to turn. How long is your boat ?

 

Mike.

[dor]

Hurleston bottom lock is notoriously tight, but you can turn immediately below it then turn again in the pound a couple of locks up.

 

I would imagine it works due to the width of the lock changing with the length, as does the boat. If it is your bow that is a bit wide, and it is half way down the lock that is narrow, by going in backwards you can keep your wider part behind the constriction.

[carlt]

This particularly applies to older former working boats, which may have spread, or which may have been wider than the standard 6' 10" to start with.

You'll find that 6'10" boats are narrower than the 7' standard.

 

BW's notion that you can change a standard so they don't have to maintain tight points to accommodate boats already present on the system is a little bizarre.

 

On the length issue, Mabel was rebuilt at 73 foot (oops!) when motorised in the 1920's and has travelled the whole system (available to a 72' boat) without having to reverse into any locks.

[bottle]

Slightly tangential

 

From where to where do they measure a lock to determine its length.

[blackrose]

We went down the Avon many years ago, in company with a 72-footer. For several of the locks he winded above the lock, reversed in, then when the lock was empty he reversed out again and winded below the lock. This was because the locks were a bit short, so he reckoned it was safer for the bow to sit on the cill than the rudder or propellor.

 

I don't get it Alan, surely you don't want any part of a boat sitting on the cill?

[Keeping Up]

If the boat is so long, it is tight in the lock, it must be difficult to find winding holes both above and below the lock.

Can't really grasp the advantage of this. It must make cruising very tedious.

 

In this case it was a river navigation (Avon) so it was easy to wind at each end of the lock cut.

 

I don't get it Alan, surely you don't want any part of a boat sitting on the cill?

 

Preferably not, but if your boat is too long it's better for the bow to overhang the cill, and even to risk catching on it, than for the stern to do so.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Thanks for your all your comments - most appreciated. We're going through a big learning curve right now!!

[Travis]

Going into a lock stern first? Tight locks? Pimps...I think somebody may be pulling your leg, bow first of course.

 

Andy

[dacaB]

Have a look at this thread from a while ago http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php...p;hl=experience

[Phoenix_V]

There is one lock on the Avon where it was always recommended for full length boats to enter facing upstream precisely for that reason so the bow could overhang the cill,cant remember the name it's the one with the lockhouse on stilts,

 

the issues on narrow canals are different with odd bulges in lock walls and an old working boat whose width varies a boat might only fit in one direction on certain locks conceivably, in other words think of the bannana shaped boat meeting the bannana shaped lock

[Yoda]

The lock into the Ribble link should be reversed into as there is not enough room to turn. You can wind after the lock.

 

(Thinks, hope my memory is correct.)

[DHutch]

The lock into the Ribble link should be reversed into as there is not enough room to turn. You can wind after the lock.

 

(Thinks, hope my memory is correct.)

Yeah, the top lock of the link. Usally done backwards. We did anyway.

 

 

 

Daniel