waiting at locks

[Naughty Cal]

Good excuse for several pints after doing them

 

Not much chance of several pints whilst doing them though

 

Too much effort by far that. Much easier to have a quick chat with lockie who works the locks electronically for you.

[antarmike]

One of the reasons for being efficient is you get to see different canals. The plod alongs with a fixed mooring wouldn't get beyond their local stretch of canal.

 

When I had a mooring at Cowroast, and did a bit of fun cruising, rather than another load of coal, I had to get to Braunstone, or even Birmingham to get to cruise I bit of cut that was fresh and exciting. If you only have a week or two off work to see some sights, you dont want to spend a week getting to Birmingham from Cowroast. If you can do it in three days, it allows time to see something new.

 

I can't see why you would want to go cruising and never get beyond your own backyard, because you want to have a break in every lock you get too and you just haven't got anywhere before its time to wind and go back.

[carlt]

One of the reasons for being efficient is you get to see different canals. The plod alongs with a fixed mooring wouldn't get beyond their local stretch of canal.

've "plodded along" most of the system, over the years, admittedly getting my knee down, on the journey to and from the boat.

 

I must admit that I rarely saw my home mooring, though.

[Morat]

On the other hand, I shared the Ayno Weir lock with a very shiny boat last year and he was chuckling at my concern for his paintwork. "It's a contact sport" was his comment as we bounced around the hexagonal lock and then spilled out into the weir.... I used the same rationale when I was waved past a very slow moving boat (crewed by some extremely senior citizens) and he managed to ram us as we passed. He was mortified, but seeing as I was going that bit faster and he hit side on, it really wasn't that much of an impact.

[Naughty Cal]

On the other hand, I shared the Ayno Weir lock with a very shiny boat last year and he was chuckling at my concern for his paintwork. "It's a contact sport" was his comment as we bounced around the hexagonal lock and then spilled out into the weir.... I used the same rationale when I was waved past a very slow moving boat (crewed by some extremely senior citizens) and he managed to ram us as we passed. He was mortified, but seeing as I was going that bit faster and he hit side on, it really wasn't that much of an impact.

 

"Impact Sport" is just an excuse used by those who have little idea how to handle their boat.

[mykaskin]

"Impact Sport" is just an excuse used by those who have little idea how to handle their boat.

 

Come on then Phylis, I'm heading up the GU next weekend, got at least 57 locks to do, you want to put your money where your mouth is?

 

Mike

[Naughty Cal]

Come on then Phylis, I'm heading up the GU next weekend, got at least 57 locks to do, you want to put your money where your mouth is?

 

Mike

 

Little chance of that, we are off to Wells next week. Only the six locks im afraid but there will be no "contact sport" That we can guarantee.

[Morat]

Impact sounds a little more severe....

[magpie patrick]

"Impact Sport" is just an excuse used by those who have little idea how to handle their boat.

 

No, on the canals (rather than the much bigger rivers that you tend to cruise) it is simply a recognition that boats are going to come into contact with stone walls, steel piling and each other on occasion.

[Naughty Cal]

Impact sounds a little more severe....

 

Impact or contact, neither is really acceptable. Its boating not dodgems.

 

No, on the canals (rather than the much bigger rivers that you tend to cruise) it is simply a recognition that boats are going to come into contact with stone walls, steel piling and each other on occasion.

 

So on canals with no flow of water, boat owners cant judge distance well enough to stop before ploughing into the nearest fixed object? Cant say we have come across that yet either. Funny habits some of you have got.

[Morat]

Well I realise I'm not very experienced but I don't see how you can navigate something as narrow as the Oxford Canal without ever hitting anything.

 

Edit to say: It's not really hitting things with your bow but side-swiping with the stern/bow because the turns are just so tight.

Edited May 24, 2010 by Morat

[mykaskin]

Impact or contact, neither is really acceptable. Its boating not dodgems.

 

No, it's inland waterways, where at times you are contrained by draft, other boaters, and the wind. We are talking about 20 ton boats with a low power to weight ratio on a shallow draft with flat bottoms, not 10 ton boats with more power than sense, twin drives and a bow thruster (I'm not talking about Naughty Cal here BTW), and if you think that the water doesn't move you've never been on a proper canal where boats move, and locks empty.

 

Remember your style of boating is many miles from the experiences that the majority of members on this forum. I should know because I've been on all the same inland waterways you have and seen similar boats to yours on them, and boy have I seen some bumps. All I can say is fibreglass is more like rubber at times!

 

Cheers, Mike

 

ps. Fibreglass also cracks beautifully if pushed to far, and I've seen the results there as well! (and before anyone has any other ideas, they did it themselves on a moored barge!).

Edited May 24, 2010 by mykaskin

[magpie patrick]

Impact or contact, neither is really acceptable. Its boating not dodgems.

 

 

 

So on canals with no flow of water, boat owners cant judge distance well enough to stop before ploughing into the nearest fixed object? Cant say we have come across that yet either. Funny habits some of you have got.

 

Made me laugh!

 

Come and have a go on Ripple, you'll see the problem. We don't plough into anything, and indeed on the G and S we hardly ever touch anything but then it is over 80 feet wide, it's 35 feet wide though the bridges even!

 

But the boats aren't as manoeuvrable as yours, I've no bow thruster so with a fixed propeller and rudder steering we're at the mercy of the wind along the 62 foot length, so the bow I'm trying to point into the wind is 62 feet from the power source, and this results in ignominious incidents when the bow just won't go round and I end up broadside against junction bridge, also steering into locks only a couple inches wider than the boat then some touching is inevitable. Yes I can get the boat in a narrow lock without touching at all, but I can't do it every single time, and if someone comes in next to me in a broad lock, they are aiming for a gap about the same width as a narrow lock and may well touch us. But, the boat is built of steel, no harm will come.

 

Point being, if you own a sewer tube and don't want your paint scratched, don't leave the marina, and don't let the boat next to you leave either!

[Naughty Cal]

ps. Fibreglass also cracks beautifully if pushed to far, and I've seen the results there as well! (and before anyone has any other ideas, they did it themselves on a moored barge!).

 

Exactly why it shouldnt be a contact/impact sport

[David Schweizer]

Impact or contact, neither is really acceptable. Its boating not dodgems.

 

 

 

So on canals with no flow of water, boat owners cant judge distance well enough to stop before ploughing into the nearest fixed object? Cant say we have come across that yet either. Funny habits some of you have got.

 

I challenge you to come onto the K&A and negotiate some of the locks with strong side weir flows and never hit anything.

 

Or you can try going up the Braunston flight when there is a flow on, the only way you can hold a boat without ropes is to put the bows into the lock throat and control the back end with the engine/rudder.

[Naughty Cal]

Point being, if you own a sewer tube and don't want your paint scratched, don't leave the marina, and don't let the boat next to you leave either!

 

Or find a better laid out marina where the boats have room to move without hitting each other

 

I challenge you to come onto the K&A and negotiate some of the locks with strong side weir flows and never hit anything.

 

Or you can try going up the Braunston flight when there is a flow on, the only way you can hold a boat without ropes is to put the bows into the lock throat and control the back end with the engine/rudder.

 

One day we will, but for now the coast is calling

[JohnO]

Its almost as bad as the women at supermarket checkouts who look totally suprised when the girl asks for money!

Then they fumble around looking for their purse as in shock - Have they stood there for minutes never expecting having to pay for the grocery's??

Alex

Same as passengers catching busses.

 

 

When we first started boating it took us a while to work out why I got such filthy looks from men steering boats whilst my partner was absolutely adored by all their wives. Being a gent, he does the locks whilst I do the easy bit.

 

Wot make the tea?

[Hairy-Neil]

...... I was waved past a very slow moving boat (crewed by some extremely senior citizens) and he managed to ram us as we passed.

 

He didn't ram you.....

 

Your prop had drawn the water from under his boat and naturally, his boat went along with it...... Fundamental physics.

[sociable_hermit]

I have come across boaters who insist on only winding up just one paddle (and even then only half way) when filling a lock because (in their words) letting too much water in makes the boat bang about too much and their boat is their home with precious items inside that might get damaged or broken. To some this would be seen as unnecessary faffing about - but what could be done? Surely if they have concerns and that is how they want to go through the locks, it is their decision . . .

 

I took my boat down to Stenson early on Saturday for Nigel to do the BSS, which it passed (thanks Nigel). As it was a nice day I decided to have a breakfast bap from the lockside cafe and then spend a few hours lockwheeling. Before Dave gets upset I should mention that I only helped people who wanted helping

 

Anyway... it was pretty much constant from 10:00 through to 15:00, with boats of all shapes and sizes. There was only one chap who insisted on taking his time. Single boat going up, missus on the tiller. Used the centre line. Side paddle this side cracked, then slowly to half open, then slowly to full open. Then the same with the other side (I think, not sure if it ever went beyond half way). Then, with the lock 3/4 full, crack the gate paddle this side. Then ever so slowly to half open...

 

Now this is all very good if it works. But his boat ended up straining against the rope with the bows against the opposite side wall about half way through this process. It took off just as much blacking (if not more) than anyone else would have expected to lose, and took twice as long. They both seemed pretty stressed by the whole experience. In other words, it seemed pretty pointless. If it's no safer or easier, why do it?

[journeyperson]

I was getting agitated at Hack Green Locks on Sunday, waiting for the boat ahead to go through the lock. My wife went up to see what was causing the delay as I huffed and puffed. I could see five people there, three with windlasses. Eventually Fran came back and told me to "chill", it was their first ever lock and they were being escorted and instructed by Linda, the lock keeper from Hurleston (and co- proprietor, I believe, of Cheshire Cat Narrowboats) who was letting them discover how to operate the paddles with the minimum of input. I heard one person say. "This is a bit different from flying jet fighters." But a lot simpler, I thought, and you wouldn't get into a jet fighter without genning up a bit first.

[Liam]

I went up Middlewich Three and Wardle Lock last year at 5AM, got to the top at 6AM. Parents followed a couple of hours later, it ended up taking them 3 hours!

 

Which is why I always get going early when I have a few locks to do.

[journeyperson]

I went up Middlewich Three and Wardle Lock last year at 5AM, got to the top at 6AM. Parents followed a couple of hours later, it ended up taking them 3 hours!

 

Which is why I always get going early when I have a few locks to do.

 

I arrived there one day last summer at around 2.00pm and got caught up with all the holiday boats departing. It took me about 3 hours, with a hire boat ahead of me and one behind. As we made our way up, both the hirers were asking me questions about mooring, steering!! how to stop the engine!!!! and lots of other things. I asked if they'd had any instruction and they said not. The boat ahead of me made it's way along the moorings after Wardle lock bouncing off the boats, bridges and offside bank. As I left the lock all I could see were people leaning from their boats looking up the cut at the rogue boat and then turning to examine their grazed paintwork.

[Liam]

It's a shame really as I'm sure more people would enjoy their holiday if they were given the proper training.

 

Coming back along the northern T&M a couple of years ago, got our timing completely wrong! We met a hire boat from one of the local bases, being either Black Prince, Anderton or Claymoore in every bridge hole... and every one of them went straight across the cut and spent the next 10 minutes trying to straighten themselves out... it was that frustrating I had to pass the tiller over to my Dad in the end

 

At least the dog got a walk.

[Tiny]

I was getting agitated at Hack Green Locks on Sunday, waiting for the boat ahead to go through the lock. My wife went up to see what was causing the delay as I huffed and puffed. I could see five people there, three with windlasses. Eventually Fran came back and told me to "chill", it was their first ever lock and they were being escorted and instructed by Linda, the lock keeper from Hurleston (and co- proprietor, I believe, of Cheshire Cat Narrowboats) who was letting them discover how to operate the paddles with the minimum of input. I heard one person say. "This is a bit different from flying jet fighters." But a lot simpler, I thought, and you wouldn't get into a jet fighter without genning up a bit first.

 

 

I wonder how long your learners really took compare to a boater who is not in a hurry. We have often met 1st timers let loose with no practical training - even skinny little women with not a muscle in sight. The wife takes them through the process while I hang about a good distance back in mid canal, or holding the boat at the bank. From my experience even the weakest, seemingly stupidest starter gets the idea and takes very little more time than average - and often a lot less than certain experts who do every lock - even boater-friendly hack - on a quarter paddle.

 

As for hitting boats due to cross flows I can't see how this can happen - unless as happens on some of the locks on the Llangollen (I could name locks) the BW.moron brigade have stuck their mooring bollards right opposite the cross flow. If we find this we ask the boat thus moored to move back and most are happy to though there is always the odd bolshie who says we are talking rubbish. (These are always private boaters - mostly the older type.)

[mykaskin]

I took my boat down to Stenson .... There was only one chap who insisted on taking his time. Single boat going up, missus on the tiller.

 

This is the easiest, quickest way:

 

 

though not recommended with a long boat.

 

Cheers, Mike