Motor Boat & Yachting — February 2018

Boat master HOWTO

1

PreP THe bOaT Position the fenders high up on the rubbing strake, ready
for a lock with no pontoons. It’s good practice to rig fenders on both sides,
so you can choose where to berth if it’s crowded or you get it wrong. Many locks
have lines for you to pick up but keep your own lines close to hand just in case.

2

enTering THe lOck Drive positively through the entrance, keeping your
eyes on the far end of the lock to help keep the boat straight. Be prepared
for swirling winds or currents to push you off course; you may need to change
plans and moor up on the opposite side to the one originally intended.

4

gOing uP This lock is being filled by the underwater sluices as well

as a slight gap in the upstream doors. Keep the lines taught on board

so you don’t get slewed around. In this instance, we have used a stern line and

a short breast line to hold the boat in place.

5

gOing dOWn

Always make

sure you have a

person on each

line, which is simply

looped around the

cleat with tension

created by hand

pressure only.

As the boat drops,

ease the line out,

keeping just enough

tension on it to hold

the boat against the

wall. This lock has

ready-fitted long lines

but take care when

leaving not to leave

them lying in the

water where they

could be snagged

by a boat’s propellers.

3

Securing THe bOaT A single turn around the cleat with the crew keeping
some tension on it is the best way to hold the boat on station – any more
turns and the line can jam. Watch for anything getting snagged and carry a
sharp knife just in case!

6

ready TO leave Wait for the lock gates to open fully and the water

movement to subside. When you’re ready to leave, place the bow line

back onshore, then pull gently on the stern line to move the bow away from

the dock, drop the line and move away.

95