--- In [email protected], "Michael Askin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Also, what is it with the people who are steering. Are they incapable > of helping with the locks (closing a gate, lifting a paddle)? They > just stand there like lord (or very occasionally lady) muck, and watch > their significant other run around after them (including handling the > ropes for the boat). > > Mike > > -- > Michael Askin > http://shoestring_DOT_zapto_DOT_org/ > When I am steering, I very rarely help work the lock. However, this is because we have a competent crew aboard who are more than capable of working the locks themselves. With people who stay on board when there is, perhaps, only one other crew member, it may be that they wish to be able to control the boat in the lock at all times or that they don't want to scramble up from boat to lock edge or (when descending) from lock edge to boat. I find that perfectly reasonable. If people work through locks slowly, I doubt that the speed at which they work would be greatly improved by the steerer also lending a hand. I admit that it is probably sensible, sometimes, for the steerer, when ascending a lock, to open the top gate himself and drop some paddles. It may also be sensible for him (or her) to drop the paddles and close the top gate when descending. Ben
