Locking through

If you have never been to a lock to see a boat lock through, I would like to recommend that you do that the next time you are near one.  It is a truly fascinating, especially for children. I think our daughters will always remember the time we went to watch a barge lock through at KY Lake. Locking through on a small boat is an interesting feat. But when the tow boat pilot puts barges that are nearly 100' wide into a 110' wide lock, now that is something to see.   If you have a chance to be on a boat locking through, even better.

The lock doors have just closed and the filling is ready to start

We've have had a lot of  lock visitors watch us lock through.  Fortunately we have had near flawless locking every time we have locked trough with the looky lookers watching us. But, I was glad they weren't there for our first down lock, #21 (more on this later).

Here are the locking procedures published by the NY Canal Corp.
What to have on hand:

• Pole or boat hook for pushing off the sides of the lock. (this one comes into play later)
• Work gloves for handling the lines.
• Boat fenders large enough and numerous enough to protect your boat from concrete lock walls.

The lock is full and the doors on the other end will open
Notice that the water pressure will hold the doors closed
because they open toward the flow of the water.

Locking Through:

• As you approach alert the lock operator using marine radio (Channel 13) or three horn blasts to signal your approach. 
• Wait for the green light for permission to enter the lock.
• Enter the lock slowly, and pull all the way to the front of the lock so other boats can enter. 
• Once inside, find the mooring lines and grab onto them firmly. (this could be a problem)
• The lock master will close the door and begin to fill/empty the chamber shortly. 
• Depending on the lock, there may be a lot of turbulence within the lock.
• Once the lock has completely filled/unfilled the lock doors with open and you may exit. 

Sounds simple right!!!!

We made it through 20 locks using these procedures without incident, climbing up from sea level to 420' elevation.  The next three locks are down locks.  I explained Gary that down locks are a lot easier because the water is not a turbulent when they drain as when the lock is filled.  So in our (my)

enthusiasm of looking for to a nice ride down, there was a small incident.  As we passed by the lines we wanted to grab, the boat had a little more momentum than usual.  I grabbed onto my line and was trying to get a 9,500 lb boat stopped by holding onto the line.  I managed to get it stopped and remain on the boat, but somehow or another my boat hook ended up in the water.  I reached down to retrieve it from the water and well....I know you are not supposed to swim in the locks, but I couldn't help myself.  I went in and made a move Greg Louganis would have been proud of.  I think I entered with hardly a splash.  (Gary later said it looked like a sea lion slipping into the water, like I said no splash.)  I looped under the boat and came up at the swim ladder on the back of the boat.  I quickly flipped it down and climbed back on board, hopefully before anyone ashore noticed.  Gary kept calling to me: "Doug...Doug.. you okay?"  But I was trying to not attract attention so I didn't answer, I was waving OK. Finally I was halfway crawling through the opening under the seat and he kept getting louder so I called out that I was okay.  I was back on deck and we locked through the rest of the way without issue.  As we pulled away from the lock, the lock master said something like how's it going, Gary said something like, better now, the lock master yeah I saw that.  Darn it, there was more than one witness after all.    

We saw a rainbow on Monday night, so that must mean
good luck is on its way for us.

Advantage to me, we hadn't been at a dock with showers for a few days, so I got rinse down.  

We are now eight locks past the "incident" and have had no more issues, other than I dropped my boat hook again, but I let Gary retrieve it with his this time.

Lesson learned:

If you drop something in the water, don't try to lean over and pick it out.  The upper part of your body is heavier than the lower and you may well fall in,

Bonus photo: The coolest boat on the canal, so far (well besides mine).

Don't forget to check out the map. Each mark has a photo associated with it.

"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." Scott Cameron