Terry Streeter wrote: > The lock keeper had other plans, and was signalling me to come > towards him on the upstream bull-nose. I crept forwards towards him > and at a certain point he indicated me to put the tiller hard over. > I did this, and increased power but still got swept onto the > downstream bull-nose. A helluva bang, but no discernible damage to > Arun - strong boats them Norton Canes.
I am afaid that now I ignore such signals and make it quite plain to the lock keeper what manouver I shall be doing, ie going downstream, turning, then pulling in against the ebb. The same applies for Limehouse and Keadby. This way you can get complete control and come to a standstill, positioned a couple of metres or so, off the downstream piling. Once you creep round the bullnose a quick blast of power will bring the stern round. This is also somewhat less dangerous if you are sharing the lock with other narrowboats. If busy, they will get three side by side at Keadby. In a situation like this I normally like to go in last...or at least be ready to fend off a wayward "incoming". It may take longer, but the most that can happen is for your boat to gently touch the downstream bullnose and pivot round it. Was it Sue, the chief locky at West Stockwith? (or am I compleatly out of touch and she has been disposed of by BW?) -- Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest
