On 11/11/07, qwertybjg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- 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 > 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.
Obviously not so much of problem with a large crew, however I wouldn't expect one to hold the rope while waiting for the lock (while the others just chatted and got on with other non locky things like I have seen all to often recently). > 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. It's not just that though, as they also seem to be incable of handling ropes and generally looking after the boat themselves, they need help (yes...). > 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 would agree that the time saved is minimal, but it does help share the work load. My biggest problem though is when the lock worker is helping with the boat rather than working the lock - this is were huge amounts of time is wasted. > 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 If only more people thought like that. There are a set of jobs to do at a lock, and if someone is ready to do the next job huge amounts of time are saved. It doesn't really matter if there is no-one around, but when there are large queues it would help if people were a little more considerate to other users and get a bit of a move on. Mike -- Michael Askin http://shoestring_DOT_zapto_DOT_org/
