Lock Advice PLEASE!

[Biggydog]

For the past few years we have just rented boats on the broads.... This is getting very expensive she says, hmmmm yes I think..... let's buy our own.

So here I am now the proud owner of our first boat a Cruisers International 224 not the newest of boats but we love her! She has nice mooring on the Ouse at Needingworth and are just a rivers licence away from our first adventure:encouragement:

I will now admit I am bricking it...... Locks.....lots of LOCKS! I have never been near let alone through one, the boat has a key marked "lock key" and a big hand crank lever, can anyone offer some sympathetic advice for a lock virgin on the best practices on getting in and out alive?

Thanks in advance,

Martin

 

[Seastoke]

we had one does it have heating ,is it petrol engine

 

[Biggydog]

No heating we have a large Boxer who gives off loads of heat lol, yes it's a petrol Volvo Penta AQ211A engine.

 

[Hugh Foulis]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to boating.

Of all the things to worry about in your brave new world, locks is not one of them.

Think of it as a lift, open the gates at one floor, move the lift, open the gates at a new floor.
There are dozens of publications that describe lock operation so I wont rehearse them again on here, but go and spend 30 mins watching and it will all become obvious. Of all the advice I can give, whatever you are doing on a boat, do it slowly. This includes lock operation until you are confident, which will be about the third time you do it.
Boating is for enjoyment, not for stressing over.

Enopy your new life!

HF

 

[Medskipper]

Whatever you do, don't do the ropes up and knot them off particularly when you are at the top of the lock and you are going down! I've seen a boat or two left hanging on its ropes. Have somebody on board with the ropes ready to slip.
its not difficult just relax and watch what is happening to the boat. Open the sluices slowly so you don't get a great torrent rushing in the lock and banging your boat about.
good luck

 

[daveyw]

Have you seen this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Dum06XHO4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Alpha22]

You are on the Gt Ouse so you will encounter the guillotine lock more often than most folk.
These are vertical powered gates that operate under electrical power. Many locks have one at one end and traditional V gates at the other. One lock.... Brownshill Staunch has them at both ends.

The guillotines are operated from within a stainless steel box. You open the box with the small half flat key. It can only be removed when the door is locked. They can be a bit temperamental, so may need a gentle jiggle to operate smoothly. Do not loose this key... they are over £10 to replace and not simple to get hold of.

The control box has up and down buttons and an array of interesting lights. Most gates are interlocked so you can't stuff it up!!! This does mean that occasionally the electric won't work if the gates at the other end are not properly closed. To empty/fill the lock, raise the gate a little. It won't go too far before it stops and the countdown timer starts. You then stand around and chat to people while the lock fills/empties and the counter counts to zero. Then you can lift the gate all the way up and enter/exit the lock.

The other end works by winding the 'slacker' up to let water through the gate to raise/lower the level. Always close the slackers when you leave a lock... its the rule!!! Leave the gates as you leave the lock... no need to go back.

For the first few times, just take your time. Watch your boat carefully. Learn from others. I regularly work Gt Ouse locks at night, in a 32 foot boat, on my own!!

 

[Biggydog]

Thanks guys, we are going to find one and watch for a while, Dave it was YouTube that assisted our fear as most videos we saw were of boats in whirlpools and water crashing over the gates etc lol but thanks I never found that one:encouragement:
Hugh slow is what we liked about boating but please do enlarge on anything else we should be aware of on the rivers. We are aware they are somewhat different in upkeep to the boats and rivers of the broads so any help is always appreciated.
Medskipper nice boat in your avatar, is she yours?

Regards, M

 

[Beamishken]

plenty of fenders enough for both sides save swapping over or being commited to go on one side and finding your being blown onto the other side which isn't fendered
& never tie the ropes off going down!

 

[Biggydog]

Learn from others

This is good advice lol, sadly we previously have only been involved in..... well the vw camper scene so we don't know any other boat people as yet. But we have run into a few people walking around the marina and they all seem very friendly so hopefully it won't be long before we settle in and can get some help. I do also plan on getting on the day skipper and coastal courses very soon. Might as well do things properly eh?

 

[Biggydog]

plenty of fenders enough for both sides

Thanks Ken, if there is one thing the boat came with in abundance its fenders there are 4 long tube ones and 4 round ones on each side and a huge horseshoe one on the front..... She is only 24' lol

 

[paultallett]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Good advice from others above. Read up and go watch..... All great ideas. The one thing locks taught me as a new comer to boats many years ago was how to handle my boat. Get the boat out of her mooring, practice going in and out of your berth a few times until you feel ok about it...... Then you'll be ready to tackle a lock.

Choose a mid week, quiet day and bobs your aunty...... And as another said, when going down a level, never, ever tie your ropes off

Watch others, practice a little boat handling, have fun doing a lock....... Exciting times a head

 

[oldgit]

Pop over to Thames forum.There are a couple of posters over there who boat in that neck of the woods with similar sort of boat.
They have enjoyed some epic trips and some nice reports detailed with photos.

 

[Imperial One]

Good advice from Oldgit.
Why not offer your services as free crew for a day in return for some lessons in and out of locks?
They are nothing to worry about as you will find out but if you can get a go for free on someone elses watch, why not try.
Above all approach it calmly, slowly and all will be well - go on and enjoy yourselves.

 

[DTIM]

You'll be fine with the locks, but....taking a Boxer boating will be where your fun begins!!

 

[Floating Preferably]

Yes Boxer dogs great fun, but rubbish with mooring lines! Some great advice above. Going to sit and watch at a lock is a great idea, you may even see how not to do it, if so, just remember we have all screwed up berthing at some point, and you will too! When you do, just keep smiling, do NOT shout at SWMBO, and pretend it was all deliberate.:encouragement:

 

[Biggydog]

You'll be fine with the locks, but....taking a Boxer boating will be where your fun begins!!

DTIM our boxer is actually the only thing I'm not worried about, he LOVES boats and is so happy when he's on one.... Only problem is it doesn't matter who's LOL! We have turned round for 30 seconds a couple of times whilst moored on the broads and looked up to see him happily welcoming himself aboard some innocent persons boat..... He now has a retractable lead so he can't sneak about.

Thanks again everyone for the welcomes and advice it is all very appreciated!

Imperial One yes if I can find some willing participant I will certainly ask for a demo!

Thanks again all!

M

 

[iCs]

Biggydog,

Lovely to hear of another happy marine dog. Our Labrador/Rottweiler cross loves locks too. Sadly, she hasn't learnt to work the warps (I blame the trainer).

But, while I'd reinforce the advice of those who say do it slowly, and add that you're bang on in saying you want to do it the right way, I'd say that it's worth making sure it's the right way for you and your boat, and that you don't fall into some of the really bad habits which you could pick up from watching the wrong sort of 'others'.

So, my best advice is that you might find an opportunity to:

Watch some sea cadets rehearsing drills. Their tutors are often very experienced mariners, and at best, their drills are superb. Locking through is only a series of berthing and ship-handling manoeuvres in varying conditions. They practice the stuff that supertankers do, but in rowing boats (and that's why they can turn into very good seamen);
Watch some big old barges being manoeuvred under tide and sail, to see how to get nature on your side;
Do some sailing on a boat where bits of string are handled with due deference: for example, there should NEVER be any need to pull hard on a line (at worst, take two turns on the bollard and sweat it) and always have the back of the hand in the direction the line will run (this could save your thumb, which is essential for continued dexterousness).

Enjoy!

 

[Cashbuyer]

For the past few years we have just rented boats on the broads.... This is getting very expensive she says, hmmmm yes I think..... let's buy our own.

So here I am now the proud owner of our first boat a Cruisers International 224 not the newest of boats but we love her! She has nice mooring on the Ouse at Needingworth and are just a rivers licence away from our first adventure:encouragement:

I will now admit I am bricking it...... Locks.....lots of LOCKS! I have never been near let alone through one, the boat has a key marked "lock key" and a big hand crank lever, can anyone offer some sympathetic advice for a lock virgin on the best practices on getting in and out alive?

Thanks in advance,

Martin

Go through once with someone who has experience. Either on board your boat or as company. Swallow your manly pride and just be honest with another friendly face, they will be more than happy to help.

 

[pmagowan]

You can get plenty of advice from other boaty people for as cheap as £3.10 a pint! Don't worry, what is the worst that can happen. The most important thing is not to worry about making a prat of yourself. It happens, and you learn best from mistakes. Most of the things I do as a routine I learned from experience by doing them wrong. You think, "oh, I won't do that again" and you carry on. If you don't know what to do ask for help or just give it a go. People always get worried about hitting things and running aground. I have done both these things without any concern whatsoever. It's only a boat not a faberge egg!