Same old problem

[boatone]

Pleasant weekend - met up with Apollo at Cookham and both got there early enough to get moorings without problem. Mid you, he is so much easier to deal with in the flesh than in forumland

No major hold- ups but a couple of locks with the need to wait.

Why, oh why, do peeps who arrive at an empty waiting area insist on mooring half way along instead of moving right up??? Then, when they do get into the lock, they stop half way along.

Grrrrrr........

 

[byron]

This has always been my pet dislike. Years ago Lockies would explain the errors of their ways to these folk. I just go ahead of them in the lay-by and on the one occasion I was challenged I politely apologised and said "I thought you had broken down" this rather took the wind from the guy's rant for he stomped off.
As regards to them doing it in the Lock, if I was able to get past I would, mostly though the Keeper will call them to move up.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

This has always been my pet dislike. Years ago Lockies would explain the errors of their ways to these folk. I just go ahead of them in the lay-by and on the one occasion I was challenged I politely apologised and said "I thought you had broken down" this rather took the wind from the guy's rant for he stomped off.

That is priceless Byron, I must remember that one!

 

[miket]

quit whilst ahead

I think some skippers are so relieved to have landed safely they just quit whilst they are ahead!!

 

[TrueBlue]

I think many boaters lack confidence (and probably) ability.

My charitable conclusion is that on laybys they don't want to move ahead 'cos they'll have to turn sharply to port or starboard with a risk of hitting the lock.

Once in the lock they don't want to get near the swirly bits (if going upstream), or gen enmeshed in the lock gates - going down.


My uncharitable conclusion is that the don't give a damn, it's their river and everyone else can take a jump.

 

[apollo]

Normally when this happens, I tend to go sailing up the front and moor infront of them.
When they whinge I show them the little blue signs on the posts that say move along..

Great weekend mate, look forward to the next one...

 

[byron]

I bet these are the same people seen in the middle and outside overtaking lanes of the motorways when the inside lane is clear.

 

[Captain Coochie]

I just go in front of them and then invite them to go into the lock first . They usually say no as they would have to do the sharp turn as mentioned above to get around me .

 

[oldgit]

"I just go in front of them and then invite them to go into the lock first . They usually say no as they would have to do the sharp turn as mentioned above to get around me" .

Possible that they have joined Q to enter lock and boat that was in front was last into previous lock passage.Then a reluctance to start engine(s) and shuffle boat forward a bit.
We (that is me) normally just unhitch and pull boat forward by hand but then agin I am incredibly young fit and handsome and only have a teeny weeny boat.
My main problem at locks is fighting off the girls when I leap onto the towpath and start to pull,having to step over the fainting wimmin in the process.

 

[jecuk]

We just slide forward by hand as well and the boat is 13 tonnes. It is laziness - I go in front of them as I had to do at Hurley on Sunday afternoon. Turns out he was just having his lunch but completely blocking the layby and leading to a bit of a mess with three big heavy boats trying to wait for the lock.

 

[rr_123]

having to step over the fainting wimmin in the process.

is the smell that bad?

 

[Ramage]

"I .....only have a teeny weeny ......

So that is why you were hiding away on Legacy at the last Bray BBQ...it was so cold that your teeny weeny got even more teeny weeny....

 

[DogsBody]

I'm with the others here, if they leave a big gap, go in front of them. Although last time I did that, was at Boulters and they guy on the boat I passed was very puzzled when I sat there waving him on when the lock opened - I think he thought that as I wasn't moving, there must still be something in the lock, was on the verge of giving up and going in first when he finally got the message.

Have also been known to overtake them in locks if people stop half way in, consider it a challenge manoeuvring around them to get to the front of the lock.