"Steve Haywood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >On 11/01/07, Jim Dodgen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> See if I have things right. >> >> If the water in you lock is not at your level, check to see if some one >> is approaching from the opposite direction. Let them benefit from the >> water going up/down. this will conserve water. >> >> Always leave the gates closed, unless another boat is approaching the >> open gates of the lock and indicate they want to use the lock. >> >> It is best to error on the side of water conservation. leave the paddles >> closed. > >Spot on. Have a good trip. > >Steve
No. Leave the gates open. You will be doing a kindness to other boaters (and sticking in the eye those bureaucrats who want to inconvenience boaters to convenience themselves). If you are going uphill, and think you might be the last boat of the day to use a lock (possibly if you are mooring above the lock), you might close the top gates for overnight. This used to be the task of the lengthman. When there were lengthmen. It is a courtesy to close the paddles behind you, and you should probably do that. However this was never the practice in working days. Leaving them open ensures that the next user will make sure they are fully (as opposed to not quite fully) closed before opening those at the other end, which tends to save water. One thing you did leave out, though. Assuming you will be in a narrow boat, always try to share the lock with another boat. This not only saves water, but also saves work. And is companionable. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
