lock practice

thamesS23

thamesS23

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hertfordshire
www.spotonprint.net
so what is the best way to practice for the locks then. Just go for it and try at a quiet time or is there a spot (nr penton hook marina) were we could could practice. Is there any where in the marina or near by that could act as a make shift lock (ie, somewhere we could pull up to parrallel and throw the ropes round any bollards).
I know the other half is very nervous about the locks, probably because it involves her being at the front of the boat, whereas I actually think it maybe easier then trying to moor into our berth, which involves alot of turning and reversing as apposed to just driving straight forward into a lock - or am i being very naive.
any tips or advice, as I am keen to venture further afield, even at this early stage.
 
Hiya

I still think spending a day with someone from Bisham Abbey or similar will make the experience much less daunting for SWMBO. They'll normally take you out on your own boat and the practice will simply be doing it under supervision. Once you've done it a couple of times you'll understand what you are doing, right and wrong. It will be fun rather than scary.

Beyond this, the only practice we did was rope throwing. Not that it shows!
 
Go to a lock and try it.
The lockies are used to novices and if you tell them youre anewbie when you enter they will always help and advise without anything other than a smile and a friendly hello

You can also practice by mooring up at the lock waiting areas, particularly when its quiet, or at any of the alonsgside mooring places up and down the river.

If you'd like someone to ccome along for the ride and show you the ropes send me a PM.
 
Take up Boatone's offer, he will get your confidence up in no time. Find a long layby to practice on if you want, or there is that 24 hour mooring at Laleham, should be empty this time of year.
With a 23' (?) boat it might be as easy to do both ropes from the cockpit initially.
Whatever you decide, go easy on the throttle and take it nice and gently, no sudden movements.
 
Seem to remember there is a nice long visitors mooring just outside Penton Hook marina, you could practise coming along side there if you want to keep off the main river.

Agree with the others though, pick a quiet time to go to a lock and give it a go, you'll find the lockie most helpful - just make sure you have plenty of fenders out.

Darren.
 
might give the 24 hour mooring at Laleham a go at the weekend if its quiet. Can't actually officially go through a lock at the moment as I am still awaiting my river licence to come through from the EA (cheque and paperwork sent last week - bank shows that they haven't cashed the cheque yet!).
Have just rang bisham abbey, and they have given us a price of £285.00 for the two of us, and are sending us some stuff in the post. Sounds reasonable for a whole days training for two - just that with having just brought the boat and all the goodies, the bank account is a bit bare at the moment!
 
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any tips or advice

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So you've entered the lock and managed to get the stern line onto the bollard and the boat is stopped. You "tighten" a bit too much on the stern and the bow starts to point further and further away from the lock wall.
Ensure the stern warp is secure and turn the wheel into the lock wall and engage forward drive (no serious power). The nose will gently come round enabling the person for'ard to pass warp to lockie or loop a bollard (and you might get a round of applause from onlookers!).
 
step 1 - learn how to coil a rope
step 2 - learn how to throw a rope.
step 3 - approach the lock slowly with minimum steering and aim for the place where you want to be, dont scrape all the way along the lock. Be aware of whats behind you , but dont let them rush you. You can practice 1,2 & 3 at Laleham, remember stop before you throw. remember also that Laleham has current, locks do not.
step 4 - STOP. Do not throw any ropes before you stop. do not stop violently. do nothing until you have stopped.
step 5 - do not jump off. Throw ropes. NO crew or visitors to jump - ever.
step 6 - DO NOT PULL ANY ROPES until BOTH are over a bollard. Heaving on bow will just pull the stern out
step 7 - when you are satisfied - engines off.
Lock courtesy is pretty much take your turn to enter, take your turn to leave (unless you end up significantly in front of the boat you were behind - he will normally invite you to leave first). Do what the lockies ask you to, and always move up the layby and up the lock if there is room. Except when the lock is empty or near empty then stay nearer the lower gates so that lockie can fill the lock faster for you.
You only have to watch a locking in progress to see who knows what they are doing and who's skill you would like to imitate
If you would like some weekday tuition I can assist I live nearby. send me a pm
 
If you mosey gently out of the marina, turn right (as if you are heading for the lock) and just beyond the 5 or 6, 38 footers moored on the hard, there are two floating pontoons. As the river flow is so gentle at the moment, why don't you practice approaching those? See that your fenders are adjusted to be 2" above the water level, or level with the pontoons.

As others have said earlier, I bet the marina staff would be more than happy to spend half an hour with you.
 
Don't know about anyone else - but I find the most useful thing is a centre rope. I have a cleat amidships and this is really useful to avoid the back in/front out situation. Simply stop and get the centre rope on something, and then you've got loadsa time to sort things out - often while other boats are moving into/out of the lock. This maybe because I spend a lot of time single handing.

Other than that, my watchword is slow. Like my instructor said - your favourite gear is ....... neutral.
 
You will have noted all the kindly souls who are offering their valuable help are doing so on the understanding it's done in your boat.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seriously though, keep practising, and remember untethering the beastie and pulling away can require a bit of skill too.

I prefer to cast off at the stern first, and then when back at the helm, I ask SWMBO on the bows to cast off, and push the bows away at the same time.

This leaves the boat pointing towards open water in the middle of the lock, so the stern doesn't drag along the side of the lock all the way out....

In no time you'll be gliding in and out gracefully, which will win you respect for your boat handling. Prepare for the odd cock up, don't be too hard on SWMBO, whose fault it will be, and never shout 'You stupid old cow' when she misses the bollard for the third time, while the bows are now out of range of the original target.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Agree with Steve. With a boat like yours I would get the back rope on 1st and take a turn around the boat cleat. Don't lock it off just do 1 figure of 8. You can then bring the bow in with the engine and get the bow rope on in your own time.
I would also recommend joining a club where you will meet loads of experienced individuals who will be able to help you take the boat out. I'm biased but Bray is obviously the best!
Just think of it like this forum, but in the real world!!

Good luck and it's nerve wracking going out for the first time, but it's worth it.
 
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You will have noted all the kindly souls who are offering their valuable help are doing so on the understanding it's done in your boat.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif


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Well, I dont mind teaching him in your boat if you prefer !!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Except when the lock is empty or near empty then stay nearer the lower gates so that lockie can fill the lock faster for you.


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This is a great bit of information to remember !!!

The amount of times that one single boat comes into the lock and gently cruises right up to the white bollards by the head gates and then puts their ropes out is unreal ....

It's obviously different if you have a queue of boats behind you , then it is the right thing to do , but if you are on your own , stick at the back , we can bang the sluices right open and you can have a nice quick lock.

So frustrating when you have to just trickle the water in so as not to pull Wifey off the front deck ( who invariably won't have taken a turn on the cleat to hold the boat ) and each lock takes 15 minutes !!
 
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while the bows are now out of range of the original target.

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See my earlier post on how this is corrected.
On your Birchwood its a doddle.

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Now I did note that, and meant to thank you.

So thanks /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif Nice one...
 
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Except when the lock is empty or near empty then stay nearer the lower gates so that lockie can fill the lock faster for you.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is a great bit of information to remember !!!


So frustrating when you have to just trickle the water in so as not to pull Wifey off the front deck ( who invariably won't have taken a turn on the cleat to hold the boat ) and each lock takes 15 minutes !!

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Yes - fab tip! I never realised lockies can control the sluices differently than us plebs (when unmanned). And never seen it mentioned in any River guide. I'll ensure 'im indoors moors up at the lower gates so we can whizz through before he can say "get it on the bl***dy bollard" for the 10th time /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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