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------- How Do Locks Work -------

How to take your boat through a lock

There are many different types of locks, but they all do the same thing, allow you to take a boat etc. from one water level to another.

Many people have trouble the first time they use them, and don't know the dangers, so I've taken some pictures which may help to explain for your first time.

On arriving moor your boat at the temporary moorings provided. The lock in the photos is a wide beam lock, slighly wider than the usual 14ft. The paddles are hydraulic, instead of rack and pinion, and the windlass (or Lock Keys) are permanently attached. There are often ground paddles and gate paddles on the upper level, and this lock has only ground paddles on the upper level, but you get an example of each type.

As long as all the gates are closed, check to see all the paddles are closed also before opening the paddles at the end you are going to enter. It does not matter if the lock is full or empty, or if you are going up or down.

Windlass and Paddle

Moor your boat securely

Raise the paddles and wait until the lock fills (or empties)

When the water is level, the gate can be opened.

Take your boat into the lock. This can be driven in, or pulled in with the mooring ropes. You can see the line of the CILL in this photo.

Unusually my wide beam can get though one gate. The rounded centre of the hull goes into the hollow of the gate when the lock is full.

If you are not alone, one person either on the boat or the bank, can hold a bow and stern line taken from the boat and around a bollard. If you are alone, secure the boat by tying, or with several turns around a bollard. Leave at least 8ft of free line. This will give you time to return and make sure the line is not too short as the water level drops, so leaving the boat hanging by the mooring lines.

When the boat is in the lock, close the gates, then the paddles. If the lower gates are leaking, this will stop any sudden dropping of the water.

Make sure the boat is not over the CILL, the step the upper gates are mounted on. There is a line marking the safe point on the bank next to the upper gates.

Once inside and secured, and the top gates and paddles are shut.
You can then go the the opposite end and open the paddles. Open them slowly, checking the boat is safe as the water level changes. If there are ground and gate paddles open the ground paddles first. Also open the paddles on the side the boat is moored. The water will enter the lock, and help hold the boat onto the side. However, all boats seem to want to be crossways in the lock, either by the wind, or the swirling of the water.
Someone arrived, and helped by this time. In this photo I am actually closing the paddle preparing the lock which is why the gate is partially open
When the lock is empty (or full)
You can then open the gates to exit
Open gates fully, otherwise they can blow shut as you are passing through. A lightweight cruiser or plywood yacht could possibly be crushed by a heavy gate being blown shut.

You can now exit the lock, remembering to moor briefly to return and close the gates and paddles.

The problems that can arise are :-

Drowning if falling in, or being crushed between the wall and a boat

Being hit by the beam of a closing or opening gate, either being pushed into the lock, or if hit in the legs, will be knocked over. Severe cases can result in broken limbs.

The windlass can spin if a rack and pinion is left to spin closed. This can knock the back of your hand, or even fly off causing serious injury.

The boat can be left hanging from the mooring ropes, or catch on a protrusion, or on the cill. This lock is 24ft deep when full. A 40ft narrowboat will be more than half submerged IF STOOD ON END.

It is always advisable to moor boats with two ropes. Many hold their boats with the engine while in locks. This common, but unsafe practice can have serious conscequences. It only takes the gearbox or engine to malfunction, and the boat will quickly be out of control. If it was leaving a full lock for instance, the gates could be pushed open, with the person opening the gate receiving serious injury.

If cruisers share with narrowboats, the steel boat enters first and leaves last. Always make sure the steel boat is secured by two lines before entering.

Although some may say this wastes water on the canals, I would suggest you have a dummy run pretending to take your boat through before actually doing so. You will probably be the only people around, with help some time away, probably with no good road access. Far better to lose a lock full of water, rather than your boat, or even your life.

Have a read of my boating adventures.
©2006 MB Enterprises.