Articles......
Canal Boats and Locks.

It is quite simple, but here goes, some instructions, then…why!

You will be approaching a lock from above or below, two very different approaches.

We will begin with going up a lock. As you aim your boat at the lock gates you may be lucky to find that they are already open and you gently motor in and stop before hitting the lock gate at the far end. Now is the time to close the lock gate behind you and check that the paddles are down. If you are in a wide lock with room for another boat alongside you, you will want to moor on the right hand side of the lock and operate the paddles on the same side to start with. The water will rush out and across the lock and push you craft into the side of the lock that you are moored up to. As the water flows you could go across and open the other paddle, but who is in a hurry here anyway?  Of course the other crew member wants something to do! OK, then open paddle and when the lock is full of water and the gates give gently, open the gates by leaning your body weight on them and when open, wind down the paddles.

So, here one uses the forces of gravity, weight of water and thanks the Chinese or who ever it was that worked out the system of using water as a useful force. Hydro electricity, waves, tidal streams …..all free and to be enhanced by mankind.

Now if you are in a canal boat on the way down stream, you simply motor forward up to the jaw of the lock and wait until the lock is filled with water before entering, closing the gate behind and emptying the lock to enable yourselves to proceed out through the lower gate and onto the canal system at the new level.

To fill an empty lock on the way down, simply ensure the gate at the jaw end is closed and so are the paddles (that you wind up and down with the windlass supplied by the boat charterers) and that the lower end is also closed and paddles down. You then open the paddles at the top end, or jaw end and wait until the lock is filled, then gently leaning against the lock gate arm you push the gate open and allow access for your craft. Close the gate behind you and wind down the paddles. Then open the paddles at the lower end or tail of the lock and wait for the water to level out with the water in the pond between the locks or the level of water at the lower end.

Enjoy! This and the walking along the rural picturesque tow path is the exercise you get in this special environment.

Watch out for the SILL

Make sure you do not, on the way down a lock, let your aft end get near the sill, which is a series of steps at the top end of the lock at the foot of the gate….keep clear, or you’ll get your back end stuck on the steps and your front end will continue down with the lower water levels, and you will be stuck…..if you do get stuck. Stop the propeller movement, lock the lower gates and paddles and open the top paddles until the water level is high enough to allow you to manoeuvre off the sill.