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 Locking by
Dusty Miller
I
talk and write a lot about locking. Since one of the great pleasures
of boating is being able to travel from lake to lake, traveling
through locks can be difficult and turn into an instant nightmare.
I guess this is where boat handling really comes into play.
While
traveling through the last lock of the Severn System, which empties
into Georgian Bay, I noticed a good example of what not to do when
approaching locks.
...
At this point, he backed into the lock and about a quarter of the
way through he changed the position of his steering wheel while
in reverse and ended up with his starboard side at the lock wallÐwhere
he had intended to land originally.
To avoid a similar situation, try to imagine the approach to the
lock gate as a landing strip. Always keep the wind in consideration
and once the course is set, try not to interfere with the momentum
and the direction.
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Another
important point to mention, is when the boater prepares to leave
the lock. While underway, the stern comes into contact with the
wall, and since the boat is moving forward, the fenders roll up
and the whole stern quarter now hits the wall. In an effort to prevent
further damage, the boater steers into the wall, but by doing this,
the bow now hits the wall-itÕs a no win situation.
Keep
in mind to always direct your boat where you want it to go before
you get underway. Here are a few tips:
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(Read full article in the magazine.) (Top)
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