Best Kept Lock....Grumpiest Lock-keeper?

[watson1959]

As there is an award for the best kept lock (or least-over-planted ) I wondered if there is a similar one for the Grumpiest Lock-keeper?

When we went on our trip yesterday I was really surpised at a comment from one of the lockies. We were first in, and there was only one other behind us; I went around 3/4 of the way in and set our lines. At this point the lock-keeper asked 'how do you think he's going to fit in?'

In the few moments it took for me to take in what he had said, look round and decide if I was in the wrong, the boat behind had already pulled in and was in place, with several metres between us and plenty of room between his stern and the gates. It wasn't one of the Hobbs tourist boats...we had room to swing several very large cats

I didnt comment but just assumed he was having a bad day (we all have 'em). Regardlesss, in my short time on the river this was the first time any of the keepers, whether permanent, relief or summer helpers, has been anything other than welcoming and helpful.

Is this a one-off?

 

[TrueBlue]

Is this a one-off?

Yes

It's common practice for (most) folks to plonk themselves in the middle of the lock and then be reluctant to move up.
Happens all the time, and the lockies get a bit fed up having to ask boats to move.

Knowing all the keepers well in your stretch of the woods I suspect the comment was not meant unkindly. At least one of them can be a bit gruff - but he doesn't mean it.

Being a bit longer than most boats, I find it awkward to place my boat when someone has effectively pinched the whole of that side of the lock.

It's frustrating I know; you've placed your boat in a convenient position and suddenly a flotilla of other craft appear out of nowhere.....

 

[watson1959]

grumpy

Yes

It's common practice for (most) folks to plonk themselves in the middle of the lock and then be reluctant to move up.
Happens all the time, and the lockies get a bit fed up having to ask boats to move.

Knowing all the keepers well in your stretch of the woods I suspect the comment was not meant unkindly. At least one of them can be a bit gruff - but he doesn't mean it.

Being a bit longer than most boats, I find it awkward to place my boat when someone has effectively pinched the whole of that side of the lock.

It's frustrating I know; you've placed your boat in a convenient position and suddenly a flotilla of other craft appear out of nowhere.....

I can certainly imagine if someone was hogging the lock unreasonably that this wouldnt be accepted kindly, nor were there any other approaching boats....suspect this was just the chap who 'can be a bit gruff'.

Forewarned is forearmed. I was just taken aback as it was the first time I'd seen anything other than help and a warm welcome from lockies. Still....we're all human

 

[Dave_Seager]

It can be a difficult balance knowing where to moor up in the lock. If going upstream when the river is quiet I prefer to moor well short of the top gates. This can allow the lock-keeper to fill the lock faster as we are clear of the turbulence. However, there is always the risk that another boat will arrive and I will then be in the wrong place. Often, I find that the lock-keeper will start closing the gates before I have stopped in which case I can be fairly sure that no-one else is coming in.

 

[No Regrets]

Is there a compo for most selfish lock user?

 

[boatone]

Is there a compo for most selfish lock user?

Dare I ask if you have someone in mind ?

 

[No Regrets]

Er, anybody who doesn't move up for a starter, all worth a nomination, also people who hog lock cut moorings, they're a pain in the 'arris to all other lock users.


Rule 1. Move up to end of lock cut.

Rule 2. Move up to end of lock unless you're SURE no other users are coming in.

Rule 3. Make sure your crew know how to lob a rope, and tell them exactly where you want it!

Rule 4. Help other poor hapless souls/ Rental boat users who ignore Rule 3.

 

[Riverleak]

Here! Here! Totally agree

 

[Sulley]

Most selfish user goes to the boat who closed the lock doors as we were trying to enter yesterday! Only 3 boats in the lock and plenty of room. The lock was on self service and I had to reverse pretty sharpish to avoid being squashed. We tied up and other half went off to have a "chat" with them. Response was it's on self service and I haven't got time to wait for everyone!!! Nice.

 

[Riverleak]

Remember,the boot may be on the other foot one day,I have been in the same position a number of times and on a few occasions have 'had my revenge' with the impatient amongst us,and yes,it was sweet!!!!

 

[ianc1200]

Went in Benson going upstream this morning and had a sub 30' cruiser and medium sized nb behind us. Went right up to the top gates, cruiser behind followed me in close-by, and assistant lockie closed the gates on the nb!

Nothing said, I'm virtually at the end of a 3.5 week holiday, no crossed words with anybody,and trying to keep it that way!

 

[teddington_lock]

Having read through the volunteers training pack , there is a statement inside that says ...

'If in doubt , leave them out'

Much easier to make two locks than try to reverse boats out when you discover that they don't fit. While the full time lock keepers tend to be excellent judges of what will and won't fit , because the volunteers don't have that experience , they will always err on the side of caution , and rightly so.

 

[ms1]

Seems to me that most times there is a big squeeze going on down the back there is a fair bit of space up front.
I recall one occasion where I was last man in and it was horribly tight - the lockie would NOT let me back out - tied my bow line to a bollard and stood hands on hips and stared me out. I ended up diagonally across the lock with bow and stern lines on different sides of the lock fending off the lock gates walkway as the level rose.
I vowed then that in future such an event would have a very different outcome.

One can understand that a skipper might prefer not to be across steps but I do feel generally that there are more skippers being rather selfish with their space than when I started on the river around 12 years ago. Also, I am never in a hurry but I do find it very curious to have those people in front of you who leap off immediately on entering the lock; turn engines off and proceed to pull the boat by hand right down the lock. This also seems to be more common than a few years back.
Like David (above) I do hang back from the gates in an empty lock otherwise I just move up as far as I can, stop, secure lines, switch off engines.
Perhaps I am on the wrong part of the river.

As an aside let me caution skippers (this from an experience I had with relevant written exchanges with the EA) that we are responsible for our own craft, not damaging other craft and not damaging EA installations. This is NOTWITHSTANDING any direction given by the lock keeper.

 

[teddington_lock]

I recall one occasion where I was last man in and it was horribly tight - the lockie would NOT let me back out - tied my bow line to a bollard and stood hands on hips and stared me out.

How long ago was this ? I cannot imagine anyone doing this in this day and age.

 

[ms1]

It was just 3 or 4 years

 

[Sulley]

The lock keepers are always excellent, my moan was about a private individual when it was on self service. His boat name is noted for the future....

 

[ms1]

I apologise for drifting off subject