Adrian wrote:
> In fact, I have a broad beam barge.
Well if that isn't minor word nitpicking then I don't know what it
is.
>
> However, I started inland boating as steerer of a pair of ex-
working
> boats on charter, and have indeed used the Tardebigge flight.
>
> >Your chances of being involved in this scenario are far less than
mine.
>
> Now (for narrow locks), yes. Previously, no. Since the scenario
> hasn't changed, the "previously" is still valid.
So, you no longer boat on narrow gauge canals and yet the scenario
hasn't changed and the "previously" is still valid.............does
not compute! You are currently involved only with broad gauge
waterways, that's it and all about it. Others boat on both gauges,
and on the narrow there tend to be a greater number of longish
flights.
Also, I still do use
> the broad waterways, where this issue is just as valid (Hatton?).
OK then, lets just take a worst case scenario on, say, the Oxford
(although it's just as valid at Hatton, since you want to use that
to illustrate your case). The scenario is, descending the Napton
flight with its twin bottom gates, one of them swinging open due to
imbalance (as some do) and following someone who has left the bottom
gates open.
To work the lock with bottom gates left open:
1. Approach lock and walk length of lock (WLOL), close one gate.
2. WLOL and cross top gate.
3. WLOL and close other bottom gate.
4. WLOL to top gate.
5. Turn round to find that one of the previously closed bottom gates
has swung open.
6. Put small feed on top paddle.
7. WLOL, close swung bottom gate.
8. WLOL, open paddles fully and fill lock.
9. Open top gate.
To work the lock with bottom gates closed and one swung open again
(ie, no fault of previous boater):
1. Approach lock, see that one bottom gate is open, deduce that it's
a swinger.
2. Put small feed on top paddle.
3. WLOL and close one gate.
4. WLOL and open paddles fully, fill lock.
5. Open top gate.
Now that's 5 operations versus 9 (and a lot of walking) so I can't
see how you argue that left-open bottom gates cause only slight
extra work and inconvenience.
Nah, sorry, just because you get the opportunity to expound your
views in the mags doesn't mean that you are right on all topics.
Although, as always in a democracy, you have a right to hold them
just as I do mine.
> Sorry, QE not D. By closing the gates you are actually being
> *in*considerate to other boaters, as on average you are causing
them
> more work.
As you are just as likely to inconvenience a boat approaching as you
are one following then the average is exactly that 50/50, so your
extra inconvenience and inconsideration argument falls over.
>
> Of course, you are obviously causing those coming towards you more
> problems by leaving the gates closed. Why are you biased in
favour of
> those behind you?
I'm not biased either way, just sticking to the commonly accepted
rules that seem to work very well in modern boating scenarios and
with the standards of maintenance that sometimes exist, and are
likely to become worse as any DEFRA cuts bite deeper.
>
> I get asked to do a lot of things that I have the good sense not to
> do.
And sod everyone else? ;-)
Roger
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