Tuesday 5 July 2011

Leaky gates and a flooding boat

A month ago we were descending the Watford Locks on the Leicester Section. We'd done everything right: we'd "booked in" with the lock keeper and were following his instructions. At least, we thought we were. We might have been just a little too quick.

This is what happened. We were following a boat down the flight and had just entered the top lock of the staircase. Suddenly, the lockie rushes up and tells us - in a calm but obviously concerned way - to back out of the lock. As quick as you like. We comply, and the lockie draws the paddles to start emptying the lock.


In the lock below an almost-full length boat was getting swamped by the water gushing through the ill-fitting gates between "our" lock and his. Our efficient and speedy passage through the single top lock of the flight had brought us to the top of the staircase rather quicker than the lockie had anticipated. When we refilled the lock which the boat in front of us had just emptied, the water spurted through the gates onto the counter of the boat below, and was in danger of flooding it. The steerer had to stand on the side lockers to avoid getting completely soaked. By lowering the water level in "our" lock the lockie was able to reduce the water pressure and avert disaster.


The gates were known to be leaky, and I think the lock keeper said that they were due to be replaced at the end of the season. Did we misinterpret the lockie's instructions and attempt to follow too closely? I hope not. When the boat in front had got through things proceeded as normal. Shadow, being a few feet shorter at 58 feet (above photo), was able to keep clear of the fountain by nudging the bottom gates.

7 comments:

No Direction said...

Scary stuff, the Lockie kept the boat behind us back to avoid the leak when we came down after Crick.

Halfie said...

Yes, I think he was trying to do that with us, but we were just too quick!

Brian and Diana on NB Harnser said...

If you were IN the lock he might just have well emptied it with you in there, probably been quicker than backing out.

Halfie said...

If I recall rightly we were in the process of entering. I think he reckoned that to get us to back out was the quicker option. Of course, he couldn't start draining the lock until the top gate was shut.

Sarah said...

Should have had a trad stern, then he could have just closed the doors behind him! At 71'6 Chertsey can't avoid leaky gates so I often employ this technique.

Sue said...

I think I would have got soaked if it was me! Note to self.. "Get an extention to the tiller arm in case you have to stand on the roof!"

By the way, I seem to be stuck in Windsor.. Think you might be using a redirected feed url from a while ago, try this one..

http://noproblem.org.uk/blog/feed

Halfie said...

Thanks Sue, I've fixed it.