It happened to me only yesterday leaving Berkhampsted for Tring. On leaving the first lock, my center rope came off the roof, (Some of the rope must have slipped of the side hatch and dragged the rest in.I didn't spot it.
All of a sudden, there was a crack, just like a rifle going off, the plinth under my painted milk church went flying into the air, (Churn stayed on the roof) and landed in the canal. The rope cleat fixed to my handrail went flying through the air like shrapnel, just missing 2 walkers and unknown to me, my water hose reel assembly must have taken off and jumped into the canal too, because when I went to water up at Tring, it was nowhere to be seen. You are quite right with your comment Martin,(Phillips) it happens instantly, like an explosion and is over before you know there is something wrong! I now have a shortened top rope with a shredded (Snapped) end. This was the expensive "soft" variety of rope which is braided on the outside and does not sit well on the roof, unless it is very carefully put back - I obviously didn't pay enough attention to this! The "rifle crack" sound frightened everyone around, including me! It was so unexpected. ~Allan~ --- In [email protected], Terry Streeter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Guy Hardy asked: > > Any tips for the uninitiated? > > Ron Jones replied: > > Nice long centre rope. > > Iain Street commented > > But not long enough to go round the propellor :-) > > I keep hearing this mantra that "No rope should be long enough to reach > the prop" which IMHO is a load of old tosh. In 20 years boating (the > last seven of which have mostly been fairly intensive single handing), > I've never had (or even heard of) a boat's rope actually getting caught > on the prop. > > Even if the rope did get caught all you will end up with is some > combination of a broken or damaged rope, a stalled engine and a trip > down the weed hatch to clear the blade. I suppose there is some > theoretical risk of being crushed between the boat and the rope as it > tightens, but if you're into worrying about risks that small you should > probably not go anywhere near a boat . > > How long is Gamebird's centre rope? Given that Gamebird is 26' long, I > guess it must be around 15'. Not much use in a deep lock. :-) > > Arun's centre rope is somewhere around 50 - 60' long, which allows me > plenty of scope for using it with inconveniently placed bollards in deep > broad locks and in other unusual situations such as Beeston Iron lock on > the Shroppie. > > Terry Streeter > NB Arun - Wendover Arm >
