Locking problem at the St. Lucy Lock Florida

[thataway]

The latter post I made referred to turblance in the lock as water was let in or out of the lock. Some are mild, but we have been in many where there was significant turbulance. The boat involved with the lock wall was right in back of us--next time we meet I'll show you the video.

The concern is the forward line, which goes from the lock wall to the far side of your boat over the cabin top, would rub on the edge of the cabin, and cause damage to the gel coat. How did you lead this line back to the cockpit so you could keep tension on it, either up or down? Something has turn that line back to the cockpit--and thus a snatch block. Do you put the line under the forward horn of the cleat and lead it back?

The bollards are always much easier than the locks which have lines. The majority of American Locks we have been thru had lines permently on the wall of the lock. Many other world locks have you throw the lines to one of lock attendants, who secure them to the lock wall at the top, and then you let your lines in or out. Our large boat we had 4 100 foot lines, one foreward and one aft on each side of the boat, for center lock position. Then those on the boat tend each of these lines;

[colbysmith]

[ssobol]

On the Erie Canal on my 22, it is not usually possible to grab two lines (the boat is too short). Using one line is not a problem, but you might have some issues with the boat twisting. This is not usually a problem unless the lock wall has some chunks out of it than could potentially catch the boat if it twists into the gap. It is just a question of managing the twist.

As mentioned, being able to hang on to the ladder at the front and the back of the lock is easier when single handling a smaller boat.

[gulfcoast john]

Hi friends,

Yesterday we breezed through the Franklin lock on our OWW cruise, our 226th lock in this boat. Like 99% it was ‘Cat O’ Mine secure, lifejackets on, engines and radar off, standing by on 13 for exiting permission.’ We learned from our Infamous Joe Wheeler Locking Incident of 2018 (among others) and installed ‘locking cleats’ just aft of the cabin so Eileen never leaves the cockpit and I grab a rope from the helm window. I always choose a starboard tie, regardless of wind or current, so I can reach the engine controls without ‘running out of rope’ to hang onto, for just the kind of situation Colby describes.

We had an eerily similar episode in the St Lucie lock. We already had permission to enter as soon as the green light came on. A 45 foot power cat pulled up behind us and was also told ‘lifejackets required, select and hold a bow and stern line.’ We pulled forward as far as practical on the stbd wall so the fat cat wouldn’t have to be beside us (we were first, so we got to choose). We knew it was a 13 foot lift and that there would be turbulence when the gate was opened 6 inches, but we didn’t want to be beside the fat cat with limited options. The fat cat entered and cleated off a bow and midboat rope with their stern up against the rear gate and meandered about their boat without PFD’s on. Eileen called out several times to them, ‘Don’t you want to move forward a little bit so the gates can close?’ but they didn’t seem to know what a gate is or that their boat was on one. Eventually the lockmaster radioed them in very terse and explicit terms to move forward. So they moved fully beside us. The torrential surge when the forward gate was cracked was worse than expected. Eileen had no problem with a single turn under the lower end of her vertical 8” cleat, but the boat veered into the current and I simply couldn’t hold onto the 1” thick rope without it slipping through both hands despite dimpled roughneck gloves. I got a 2 inch gash on my arm from the pressure on the window frame despite both feet against the boat. The bow kept closing with the fat cat so I let go with one hand to push the Start button on the port engine, turned the wheel toward the wall and throttled up to 1000 RPM. Unlike the 2018 Incident, the engine never hit the wall because we now use bigger fenders and place them closer to the engine bracket. Eventually we settled close to the wall with engine and steering power. At times the current seemed over 5-6 MPH, and this boat doesn’t like to get sideways to that. The fat cat was cleated off and didn’t seem to have any issues.

I’m 70, 145 pounds who does 110 pound arm pulls on the gym machine 3 times a week. I think it was ver 150-200 pounds of force on that rope before I started the engine. The fat cat didn’t seem prone to wander in the current, thank goodness, or it could have crushed us. Or maybe having cleats at both ends kept it in control. Now I’m determined to place a locking cleat by the helm window sosmehow. I don’t know if a snatch block could hold a rope over an inch thick but perhaps an option.

Eileen is a retired Surgery and Wound RN. After we got safely out of the lock, she glanced at my cut arm and said:

“How the HELL are we going to get all that blood off the mouse fur? Do you think the Folex carpet stain remover will do it?”

I said: “Yes, Dear”. If you’ve been happily married for over 40 years, then you know that is always the correct response, even when it isn’t your initial thought. The Folex worked.

Now we like Polyform F3 fenders, which were on clearance at West Marine for $17 each with free shipping, so I bought eight hoping it is a lifetime supply.

https://www.westmarine.com/polyform-f-3-series-fender-for-boats-20--30--8.2inch-x-30inch-white-20288072.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=%5BADL%5D%5BPLA%5D%20Anchor%20%26%20Docking&utm_campaignid=458271174&utm_adgroup=Boat%20Docking&msclkid=4571c3ef4c57182ae590a47b4fd61f7e&utm_term=4577473073282190&utm_content=Boat%20Docking

The F3 fender cover is $43 each. We never had good results with the garbage bag trick or cutting the legs off old Goodwill jeans etc etc and now just replace them every 50 locks or 5 years. A Mister Eraser will sometimes work.

Bob, if you send me that video clip I’ll post it to our OWW blog (up to 120 seconds allowed) for others to learn from. Too bad I didn’t think about turning on the port engine at the Joe Wheeler Incident.
https://findpenguins.com/ancient-isles/trip/okeechobee-pink-shell-hontoon

For solo locking at ‘dangling rope’ locks, I’d consider bigger fenders as far forward and aft as possible and be prepared to start the outer engine. IIRC many of the Canadian locks require a crew of two.

Cheers!
John

[thataway]

John I have had snatch blocks up to 2"--but normally 1" wide sheve wil do. BIGGER BOATS, BIGGER SNATCH BLOCKS.