Lock-in

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Barney Rubble

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Joined
28 Jun 2011
Messages
35
Location
Devon
www.searegs.co.uk
I'm doing an article on locking in and out of marinas and wondered what you find easy or hard going through a lock?

Initial manouevring, cross tides, rafting up, getting a line on, leaving, wash from other boats? I know there are many different locks out there all with their own peculiarities but what are you experiences?
 
Ahh..... joys of St Kats come flooding back.
All the fun of trying to pick up a bouy with the tiny little mooring eyes... the bouncing around at the mercy of every passing trip boat for hours esp.the tossers in the fast ribs....the lack of radio communications...the free for all "Mad Max" rush for the lock.....the slow lock gate descent.....when it works that is.

Chelsea ...the time they completely forgot that I was booked to leave on an early tide
West India loads of space.relaxed process.
South Dock bit small very friendly and helpful.
Teddington...Best lock in the entire universe run by people with the patience of saints Ditto Allington.............:)
MDL Chatham "interesting" when spring tides are going past in full flow .
 
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Barney Rubble said:
I'm doing an article on locking in and out of marinas and wondered what you find easy or hard going through a lock?

Initial manouevring, cross tides, rafting up, getting a line on, leaving, wash from other boats? I know there are many different locks out there all with their own peculiarities but what are you experiences?
Click to expand...
Wind bouncing off the lock wall at low water is the only real challenge at Hythe.
Well, the occasional fellow boater, but we've all been there !
 
try keadby lock river trent .when the trent is in full flow.
people who no the trent no what i mean.
6knts of flow straight across the entrance of 16ftwide lock.
 
Barney Rubble said:
Initial manouevring, cross tides, rafting up, getting a line on, leaving, wash from other boats?
Click to expand...

I was in a locked marina for 9 years and my experience was that the mechanics of all of these things was something which one tended to get used to by repetition. What eventually wore me down was the need to plan to leave anchorages etc in time to get back to the lock at the state of tide or time of day when it was reasonable to expect little in the way of a queue outside the lock.
 
Well for a start the sunny Saturday morning rush when 1/2 the marina want to leave at the same time 3 full locks and 1.5hrs later....

But countered with the good nights sleep as no roll in the flat calm marina.
 
As for entering, knowing which side beforehand would be good so you can get the ropes and crew ready, often approach only to find the guy ahead has changed his mind because he can or probably because the wind took him.
 
Apart from a big yacht with a very small outboard, only matched in diminutive size by the brain of its operator as, secured by only a bow line the wind and incompitence pendulumed his boat 180degrees across the lock towards my boat?
My worst lock-in was really a lock in; the gate mechanism broke once we lock was closed and we were stuck there for hours. Nothing to do but put the kettle on and polish the boat.
 
I'd add to the comment about Chatham the joys of the cross tide but with a tail wind which swings the boat diagonally across the lock as soon as you're through the gate and making for the side.
 
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