Can anyone advise as to the legality of paddling canal locks. I have always been of the mind you need to portage these, if not what am I allowed to do and how?
i belive that as a bcu member yu are intiltled to paddle canals and you may apply to british waterways fr a key to be able to use locks,but i would venture to sugest that only with larger groups would it be rudent to use a lock
Thysville at last Wednesday's Worcs meet was saying that he's got a BW key and will sometimes use the lock if heavily laden and the drop is small as its quicker. Don't think there's too much of a problem with it. Any other time, then I get the impression its quicker to portage than waiting for the thing to fill up/empty.
On the Severn I've been through locks loads of times. You've got a lockkeeper operating them that knows what he's doing though. They let the water in slowly for canoes. Sometimes need to show your BCU card. Keep the boat at the back of the lock away from any open sluice gates. If it was illegal for canoes to go in a lock then the lockkeepers wouldn't allow you in, therefore it must be legal to do so.
I've heard if you let the water in full pelt you can get blasted against the back gate. Never had the good fortune to experience that.
Hi Mark, Yes you are allowed to use the lock, subject to being licenced which I'm sure you are being a member of BCU, As to how there obviously is a form of etiquette which I will endeavour to explain.
First there is going up and going down locks, so lets take going down, you arrive at the lock and stop,( always a good thing to do) Secure canoe, walk to lock if the level of water in the lock is the same level as the water canoe side, you open the gate, or gates and tow in your canoe to half way, DO NOT secure the canoe, trail the rope out from the lock side. Close the gate so we now have canoe inside lock,
Now we have to lower the water in the lock to the level of the canal the other side of the other gates, open the paddles on the gate or gates and the lock will empty as watch your canoe going into the abyss( you can see now why I emphasised DO NOT SECURE CANOE)
When the lock has emptied you will be able to open the gate or gates, what I do then(mostly on my own)using the rope I pull the canoe along fairly briskly and then let go of the rope letting it trail down the side of the canoe and trail behind it ( will recover canoe in a bit).
Close gate or gates and BE SURE TO DROP PADDLES UNDER CONTROL and replace paul into ratchet IMPORTANT SAFETY REASONS.
So now the lock is empty and ready to receive craft.
To recover canoe, I have a long length of para cord with a hook on one end with which I chuck over the trailing rope from the canoe and recover the canoe.
Now to a point of etiquette, Remember we said when you secured the canoe and walked to the lock, in the method described just the lock was full, lets say the lock was empty and a narrow boat was approaching from the opposite direction to your intended travel,
The narrow boat has right of way, WHY, REASON to save water, as the lock is empty all that is required for you to open the gates at the opposite end and allow the boat in and close gates behind him, he then will fill the lock and exit your end and allowing you to go in and close your gate, and proceed to empty lock. When I said TO SAVE WATER perhaps you can understand why now???
Now to go up a lock, start as before secure canoe, walk to lock if lock is empty open gate or gates, back to canoe paddle into lock, stopping by the ladder which is generally centre of lock on left hand side, take end of rope in one hand and proceed to climb out of lock, WARNING
The ladder will be very slippy climb as if rock climbing move one limb at a time testing security of rungs, you dont need me to tell you what would happen if you fell.
Having got to top of ladder secure rope to ladder, Close gate or gates that you first opened, go to other end of lock and proceed to fill lock by opening paddles ( ENSURE PAUL IS LOCATED IN RATCHET) reason if you opened without paul engaged the windless would break your wrist or arm as the paddle closed its self.
Right lock is full, open gate, untie canoe pull through lock and secure canoe again, Close gate ensuring that you drop paddles under control, and re-engage paul into ratchet. and Happy paddling, with a fully laden canoe I can go through a lock faster than portaging.Or as fast with less effort.
Remember the lock etiquette applies both ways, up or down. Having never wrote this out before it sounds very tedious and complicated but its isn't believe me. Please forgive me I haven't meant to insult anyone's intelligence by emphasising some points, but I would hate for some one to follow my instructions and injure themselves or even worse, if I hadn't pointed out the hazards.
Going through with buddy same procedure only one tows the others canoe. RULE whilst in lock in canoe, going down locks stay at back end of lock, going up stay in center.
Will gladly answer any questions, Happy paddling Bill
By the way the key referred to is called a Windlass, the key is for the water taps and toilets, can be purchased at the local chandlery
Happy paddling Bill
Hi Bill
Great explaination, though I do have a couple of questions. I'm a little confused about Paul's role in all this. Seems a bit extreme inserting your mate into a ratchet? Does he enjoy it?
Also, do you always have to use a Paul? Would a Dave do instead?
Marcus
(08-09-08 02:23 PM)Marcus D Wrote: [ -> ]Hi Bill
Great explaination, though I do have a couple of questions. I'm a little confused about Paul's role in all this. Seems a bit extreme inserting your mate into a ratchet? Does he enjoy it?
Also, do you always have to use a Paul? Would a Dave do instead?
Marcus
Hi Marcus, you had me worried at first, when the Email alert came on And read the first bit about being confused, I thought oh my god Iv'e cocked up, and to answer your question NO it must be Paul, no Paul no can use sorry
Regards Bill
Thanks Bill, That's exactly what I was after. The only reason I asked is that I sometimes paddle the local canal and see it a pain to keep dragging the boat out at every lock, now I just need one of the key thingy's and someone called Paul
Lee
Oh dear
CanalVoyaguer has got canal fever and canal water in his blood.
Gav quick find him a river and bring him back to reality
Dont you just love the Locks,
and only 26,
piece of cake
Hi Gav, Locks, we have LAND LOCKED, SIDELOCK,(SHOTGUN) your DOORLOCK,GRIDLOCK,Scotish LOCHS,oh yes not forgeting?? you know my mind is just locked, might as well cart me off to the lock up.,
Thomas Telford has a lot to answer to. Happy paddling, thought Id better introduce a canoeing them otherwise could find myselfxxxxxout Regards Bill
(08-09-08 07:36 PM)Canalvoyageur Wrote: [ -> ]Thomas Telford has a lot to answer to.
Being an engineer
Isambard Kingdom Brunel is the main man for me, Bill.
(08-09-08 08:02 PM)Retro Wrote: [ -> ]Isambard Kingdom Brunel is the main man for me, Bill.
Being an engineer
Please forgive my ignorance, An engineer? OF??
(08-09-08 08:08 PM)Canalvoyageur Wrote: [ -> ]Please forgive my ignorance, An engineer? OF??
Errrr Process at the moment.
Engineer of spinning office chairs and social phone calls
(09-09-08 07:40 PM)LAS247 Wrote: [ -> ]Engineer of spinning office chairs and social phone calls
Don't forget for the last 2 days of cuff links as well.