Motor Boat & Yachting — February 2018

HOWTO BOAT MASTER

Locks are used to move boats up or
down to different water levels and due
to swirling currents and winds, can
prove tricky to negotiate, particularly
for the less experienced boater.
Locks generally come in two
varieties; those where you tie up to
the lock wall and have to adjust your
lines as your boat rises or falls, and
those which have a floating pontoon
inside that rises and falls with you.
Many locks are self-service, so
consult the local guidebook for details
of how they operate. On approach, be
ready with suitable lines and fenders

• the latter may well need to go at
  gunwale height. If the lock is manual,
  you may need to come alongside the

waiting pontoon and set the lock to

allow your boat to enter.

Wind generally swirls around a lock

entrance and if it’s blowing across

the entrance, you may well find the

wind inside is actually blowing in the

opposite direction. Be prepared for

this as your nice blown-on berth can

suddenly become a blown-off one.

The entrance can also be affected

by swirling currents so whenever

possible, let the water movement

subside, then helm the boat positively

into the lock. Always aim for the far

end as this will keep the boat straight.

As soon as half the boat is inside

the lock, knock the throttles back

to neutral for a moment to ease your

momentum and check the space you

have chosen is still suitable before

advising your crew accordingly.

Once alongside, either pick up the

lock’s lines or place your own around

the nearest bollard or ring and bring

them back on board. Take a single

turn around your boat’s cleat then

hold the tail by hand so that the line

can’t get caught and jam. The idea is

to gently adjust the lines as the boat

rises or lowers. Going down in the lock

is potentially more hazardous as any

line made fast will quickly become

load-bearing and impossible to

release, so always carry a sharp knife

just in case. Going up is simpler as

you just keep bringing in the lines

as the water rises. Only use one line

per cleat and one line per task.

When it’s time to leave, wait until

all the water movement has subsided,

then pull in your lines and gently ease

away from the walls.

If you don’t have a bow thruster,

use a short stern spring to move

the bow out before letting it slip,

then move into the centre of the

lock and focus on

something ahead

in the distance

to keep the

boat straight

as you motor

out between

the lock gates.

Use a lockWords Jon Mendez Pictures Richard Langdon

94

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