Up north we were taught that the safest way for a single narrow boat to go up in a broad lock of unknown properties was to tie a front rope back to a bollard - which rope kept it off the front of the lock (so it don't work with full length for locks boats folks). Then, with crew working the paddles the steerer engages forward gear, takes up any slack and then drives the boat forward (as it were) as the lock fills. If there are any bolts in the wall or anything else sticking out the tiller can be turned to move away from the wall - which stops the boat catching. It sounds a bit hairy but it does work if you keep your wits about you - even with all the top paddles wound. Being more sedentary now we wind less paddles and have a less wild ride. Down south the locks tend to the two rope idea as they are generally less violent. (Some K&As accepted)
--- On Tue, 7/22/08, rb999sb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: rb999sb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [canals-list] Re: Grand Union musings.. To: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 8:16 PM --- In canals-list@ yahoogroups. com, David Cragg <[EMAIL PROTECTED] ..> wrote: > > We tie front and back, wind nearside paddle up - boat (as usual) moves forward but not too fast at Hatton etc) Then back starts to swing but this can be controlled with back rope - or you can adjust using engine and tiller while keeping front rope taunt and making sure the back rope does not go in the water. When the lock is mostly full the boat (wind permitting) comes in to the bank on the roped side and the ropes can be untied and stuck on. (If the wind is blowing you can use the ropes to pull the boat in anyway.) > Now that's a novel idea! We never use ropes in a lock, always considered it dangerous. Sue [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
