Single Handed at swing Bridges

[andy the hammer]

We have just completed the Leeds and Liverpool and met a single handed cruiser at a swing bridge who had been waiting for some one to come along to open the bridge for him.

 

He had come from the Leeds direction and was heading back towards Leeds as he couldn't cope with the swing bridges.

 

So it raised the question how do you cope with a swing bridge when you are single handed?

 

Andy

[Scholar Gypsy]

There's a video that explains this on an older thread. I can't immediately find the thread but here is the video! Warning: noisy geese.

 

Edited July 9, 2016 by Scholar Gypsy

[rgreg]

1) If possible moor on the operational side and operate as normal

2) If not, stop at the landing stage

3) Cross the bridge taking your bow rope with you

4) Open bridge and pull bow across to you

5) Walk down gunwale and power boat through bridge

6) Stop just through bridge and get off onto abutment with stern rope

7) Close bridge, get back on and go.

There's no need for any tying up with this method.

[junior]

I think Naughty Cal is the best person to answer this.

[b0atman]

it would help on Leeds Liverpool if offside access was kept clear and when not overgrown then fenced off bollards in someones garden.

Edited July 9, 2016 by b0atman

[by'eck]

No single answer to this as there are too many bridge variations. Tying rope to bridge that can be picked up as you pass through to close bridge is one answer. Another is tying boat itself to bridge. Whatever you use, fully exhaust the possibility of tying to the operating side of the bridge (before and after) no matter what hedges/bushes/walls you have to climb over.

 

ETA: ironically the bridge featured in the video above now has duplicate controls on towpath side.

Edited July 9, 2016 by by'eck

[Robbo]

1) If possible moor on the operational side and operate as normal

2) If not, stop at the landing stage

3) Cross the bridge taking your bow rope with you

4) Open bridge and pull bow across to you

5) Walk down gunwale and power boat through bridge

6) Stop just through bridge and get off onto abutment with stern rope

7) Close bridge, get back on and go.

There's no need for any tying up with this method.

I use a similar method, but if you can't climb the railings you will have issues. I pull the boat through with ropes, close the bridge then pull the boat back to the banking. With this method, as long as you can pull the boat you don't need to be as agile.

[Midnight]

I was pleasantly surprised this year to find that most of the L & L electric swing bridges between Leeds and Skipton that carry roads now have the control panel on the towpath side. You can take your time through the less stressful farm track bridges. There's nothing pleasant single-handing through a swing bridge with impatient drivers honking horns at you.

[cuthound]

Unless things have improved since we were last there, some of the L&L swing bridges are so poorly maintained that they needed two people to swing them, so it is not necessarily just a question of technique.

[Midnight]

Unless things have improved since we were last there, some of the L&L swing bridges are so poorly maintained that they needed two people to swing them, so it is not necessarily just a question of technique.

 

I've not had a lot to praise CaRT for recently but they have to be applauded for the amount of effort and money spent on the L&L swing bridges I didn't find one that was difficult between Leeds & Skipton this year.

[Sir Nibble]

I think Naughty Cal is the best person to answer this.

Definately. About time the subject was raised again.

Edited July 9, 2016 by Sir Nibble

[Greylady2]

I asked this a while ago, maybe this will help a bit.

 

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=83225&page=1

[RufusR]

Begger me we were just debating this in the pub at grove lock last night ...I asked a single locker going down to lock about it . Small world

[roland elsdon]

You need a verswingy or would they do the wrong thing explain they are an expert and then abuse you...