On 5/24/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > "Bob Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in > > > message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > snip > > >>> PLA says the traffic through the lock between 19:00 and 7:00 is very > > >>> light. In the summer, two boats a night; in the winter, one boat > > >>> every two weeks. > > ...as is Brownshill Staunch (Lock) on the Great Ouse, which surprised me. Are > there any other British tidal locks that are boater-operated? >
Some notes: 1) Hempholme (Top Hill Low) Lock on the Driffield Navigation is a boater operated tidal lock 2) Time and Tides wait for no man. Sometimes we choose to cross the Humber overnight as the wind is often less, other times are because we are short of time. If we had to wait until the lock opened the next morning it could cause problems. If you have just cruised from France for the last several hours and end up at Richmond with no suitable mooring on the tide, it could be more than a nuisance - it might even be dangerous. 3) Teddington is open 24 hours, so boats can come down at any state of the tide. 4) Trade (Disco boats, ferries, and freight) may need to use it out of hours 5) If they must close it during the night, then have a booking procedure that doesn't cost £35. They are already making the saving by not having someone on every night. Cheers, Mike -- Michael Askin http://shoestring_DOT_zapto_DOT_org/
