Turning a lock
Let’s pretend you have a crew of four, which is the ideal number for a beginner boat crew—one person to drive the boat, one person at the front of the boat to handle the bow line and two people to work the paddles and gates.
Use the windlass key to lower paddles—don’t let go of the key and allow it to spin uncontrolled. A spinning key is quite dangerous (it can fly off and hit someone) and the falling paddle can be damaged if dropped too quickly.
The towpath bank on either side in front of a lock is usually lined with masonry or timber and there are bollards or mooring rings to secure a boat (see the mooring chapter.) The driver should nose into the towpath bank and let a person in the bow step out and secure the boat with the front line. One or both of the lock turners should go ahead to see whether the lock is set in your favor, if there’s traffic in the other direction and how many boats are in the queue.
If the lock is in your favor, the lock turners may need to open gates and check to see if the ground or gate paddles are lowered. If the lock isn’t in your favor, the lock turners will need to flood or drain the pound before opening the gates.
Once the lock is set, the lock turners will signal to the boat to come ahead. The bow person will release the forward line, push the boat off, get on board and the driver will proceed into the lock.
If you’re moored downhill of a lock that is emptying, be aware that the flow of water can move your boat back. Keep a tight hand on any lines and when available, pass your rope through a mooring ring or around a bollard. The boat driver should be ready to apply some throttle to keep the boat against the towpath or avoid banging into another boat.
Once through the lock, the driver will again nose into the towpath. The person in the bow will step out and secure the boat until the lock turners are back on board. Then the bow person will release the boat, push off and get on board.
At some locks, the paddle gears are locked to prevent vandalism (opening paddles allowing water to flow unchecked) and you’ll need a “handcuff key” to unlock the gear. Your boat hire will provide you the key if needed, or you can buy one at the CRT store.
Smaller crews
A three-person crew works much the same way. Only one lock turner is required—it just goes faster with two to raise and lower paddles.
A two-person crew requires a little more hustle. The bow person will secure the boat until the driver can get off and hold the boat in place with the center line. The bow person then becomes the lock turner, raising or lowering water and opening gates as necessary. After the boat leaves the lock, it can be a little more difficult for the lock turner to get back on the boat. The driver can either throw the center line to the person on the towpath or they can try to get on from the bow. If the former, leave the center line easily accessible.
Going it alone
It’s not in the scope of this book to address turning a lock by yourself, but it’s often done (I’ve never done it). The two difficulties are climbing up or down the ladders and keeping the boat away from the gates while draining or filling the pound. That’s where the center line and the bollards along the lock banks are useful.
Types of locks
Wide locks
A narrow boat lock usually has a single gate on the uphill side and mitered double gates at the lower end. Locks that can accommodate two narrowboats side-by-side generally have double gates at either end. Some of the Thames locks can handle any number of watercraft. The etiquette chapter has more about wide locks.
Flight of locks
A flight of locks is simply a series of locks that are treated as a group. Each lock will be in sight of the next and the boat crew probably will not re-board the boat after operating the lock, choosing instead to walk to the next lock to prepare it. Often a large flight has additional water storage and pumping facilities. The Tardebigge flight of 30 locks on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal has a nearby reservoir to provide enough water. The Caen Hill flight of 16 locks has an extra offset pound between each set of locks.
A flight of locks is handled pretty much the same way as a single lock, but it can take all day to get through them all. It’s a good idea to schedule a flight first thing in the morning.