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Lockage, Locking thru, Lock techniques

 
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colbysmith



Joined: 02 Oct 2011
Posts: 4523
City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:53 am    Post subject: Lockage, Locking thru, Lock techniques Reply with quote

Often I see the subject come up of lockage. So thought I'd start this thread and offer some of my own experience and advice.

First respect the etiquette of the lock. That is, Government and commercial tows and craft will take precedent over pleasure craft. Usually one is required to wear their PFD's while in the lock, but not all enforce it. Just wear it. Stay out of the way while waiting to enter the lock. Don't go beyond restriction signs, which are usually on the dam side of the lock wall. Be prepared to lock on either your starboard or port side. Call the lockmaster on the appropriate listed frequency when within a mile or two to notify them of requested lockage and to ascertain if you will have much wait. You can adjust your speed accordingly then. (You can call them earlier, but I've found if they are somewhat busy, until you are actually in sight, they really don't know when you'll be allowed thru. I showed up one time ahead of two tows that I had just passed upstream hoping I could get in and thru before them. When I got there, the lock master told me I would have to wait. As soon as I was tied up to a nearby dock, he changed his mind since I was right there and the incoming tows were moving a bit slower than he had figured and still had to get positioned. He said if I could come right in, he'd lock me thru. One of my fastest dock departures ever as far as untieing and getting under way again. Mr. Green ) Follow the lockmasters instructions. Most of them are very willing to share information with you or provide directions for entering and exiting. Don't enter the lock until you've been given the green or permission to enter. Don't exit or leave the wall until you have been given the lock horn blast or permission to exit. Enter and exit at no wake! If you are the only one in the lock, some lock masters will allow you to just "float" in the middle if you ask them. If you are on the lock wall, once you are situated, shut down your engine (s). Ok, all just basic courtesy and common sense stuff.

I've locked through on the upper Mississippi, the Chicago, the Snake and the Columbia, and even our little local Yahara River lock. And I've done some single handing, and some with two of us. Most likely the water will be fairly calm when you enter or exit the locks. (No one should be making wake going into or leaving the lock!) The trick is approaching the lock wall slowly, with your fenders out, and try to position your boat so you land parallel to the lock wall with one of the locks "holding lines" or "bollard" just behind your cabin wall. (I do this by actually angling into the lock wall, bringing the bow fender in very close or touching first, then reversing to bring my stern in.) Have your bow and stern lines available to you at that point also. (Just behind the cabin wall). Once positioned, quickly walk out to your cockpit and grab the bollard or the lock line and then quickly wrap your lines around the bollard hook, or hold on to the lock lines. I've never used gloves, but sometimes end up with algae or crap on my hands, so gloves can't hurt. With two of you, one can be out back in the cockpit ready to grab a line or bollard, while the helmsman grabs thru an open cabin window. Some make the process harder than it needs to be. Really no different than docking. Colby
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dotnmarty



Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 4196
City/Region: Sammamish
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 16 Angler
Vessel Name: LIZZIE II
Photos: Lizzie
PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To pass through Seattle's Hiram Chittenden Locks you should have two 50 foot lines in case you are put against the wall in the large lock. More detail found at their web site
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Locks-and-Dams/Chittenden-Locks/Boater-Information/

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Robert H. Wilkinson



Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Posts: 1231
City/Region: Port Ryerse
State or Province: ON
Vessel Name: Romakeme IV
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A dock pole/boat hook is good to have at hand as well. On the Trent engines must be off and no smoking or any open flame appliance in operation. Any boat with an inboard engine of any kind must leave bilge blower operating while in lock.

Don't assume coming into the bottom of a lock that you will be sheltered from the wind. If there is wind blowing across hot fields at the top it will sink immediately into the cold lock and when it hits the bottom you can be blown off the wall. Ask me how I know that Embarrased

Regards, Rob

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Robert H. Wilkinson



Joined: 26 Jan 2011
Posts: 1231
City/Region: Port Ryerse
State or Province: ON
Vessel Name: Romakeme IV
Photos: Romakeme IV
PostPosted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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