Don't Bang 'Em About - Traditional Single Handed Lock Technique
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- čas přidán 19. 02. 2019
- Working up the Napton Flight, working single handed with an unloaded boat. It's all a bit tricky especially when filming single handed to! Some bumps, but gives you an idea of the process I hope. See 'more' for extra information:
The boat is a full length GU boat, that means 71.5 feet not including the rudder. This makes it a tight fit on some canals and there fore the fender needs to be removed. It’s scary coming down a lock and seeing the cill appear inches from the rudder but the boat never gets caught if kept forwards. Many boats have been sunk by getting the rudder trapped in the bottom gates, so this is the safest way to get an historic boat through a lock like this.
Don’t think I haven’t tried other ways, but the boat bangs about if not left in forward on the cill and blows the gates open again if you don’t lift a ground paddle before closing the bottom gates.
I did miss judge the timing of raising the ground paddles so the boat hit harder than it should - but considering I was filming it (remember the camera is sat on the footboard of the top gate) I don’t think I did so bad.
The paddles were let down not dropped being slowed by hand on the spindle. Far better than having a windless jump off and have them drop straight down as I so often see others doing. The gates are designed to have the boat against them, having extra fendering on them for this purpose.
Sometimes you just need to get somewhere within a time period and as you can see I was happily keeping up with the two handed boat ahead.
Nothing to boast about that
Beautifully filmed in a self-explanatory way.
Now there's a man who can handle his boat! Single handed? Ufff! I do hope that you and the Boss haven't had a fall out...
Seen single handed hire boats treat locks better then that
great video, I love the sound of the old engines chugging away
That is slick!
I just love the comments from all the outstanding lock professionals below
Ah, memories. worked the Napton flight many times with Jaguar, two handed though. Only thing I would say is that the cast iron gates on some locks do get damaged because there is no 'give' like wooden ones. Always had her in forward gear on tick-over. Sue would stop her with the top paddle, then I would blow the bottom gates shut with the engine.
I got stuck getting into the top lock at the Doles, going up. Esme made a big back flush to get her in.
Great judgement calls throughout.
Translation: How lazy people do damage to locks.
Well, there's something i can't do with my ship... Nice video, matey!
Advantage narrowboat ;) cirtainly don't bang yours about, 1000 tonne hitting something is never a good thing!
I know, don't ask... ;-)
Years back I made a trip to Castleford where my boat was built back in 1930.
There were still some I think they call them Tub barges pushed by a tug used to transport coal. To negotiate a turn or lock they just clatter them through, so wear and tare would be caused to the lock walls, but this would be designed in. As are lock gates
Tom Puddings were the name they were usually called :)
🌟Bonjour ami,très jolie channel,félicitations.
As a lock keeper treating Lock like that disgusting.
Can only imagine the trail of damage one would leave in a car park !
Well that's a great way to preserve the life of any boat and lock . You are a definite candidate for paying double licence fee !
Thought you said DONT bang 'em about! Crikey Moses, in gear all the way along the lock, top paddle open with bottom gates still open, paddles dropped not wound down. Don't tell CRT this is how you do it!
Thanks. But how would you do a double gated lock?
Thanks interesting video not many options on hitting loch gates ECT when on your own thought you done great 👍
"don't bang 'em about"
:-D
done "like a boss" mate!
You could use tiller strings to keep the tiller centred when you get off the boat. That will help the boat stay straight against the bottom gates so it won't enter the lock at that crazy angle.
Using the wash from the top paddles was a trick to stop an unpowered butty, not a powered boat in gear. And doing it single-handed wastes a lot of water.
Yeah tiller strings might help, but the flow of water also moved the boat about. The boat was very empty and the flow on these Oxford locks aren't quite right for strapping especially an empty boat. Works better with a bit of weight on. Works a treat with Brum and T&M locks though. Yeah it wastes a little bit of water but far less than you'd think.
Keeps the CRT employed building gates
Yep thats how it was done.
May be of interest and in support of the video contents; have a read of this book: "A Boater's Guide to Boating", penned by Chris N.Deuchar.
Might be an epiphany moment for some...
To be found on Amazon.
Disclaimer stuff: I don't get anything out of a sale.
Ha ha! Yes I thought that, afterwards ha ha
Did he actually put the engine in reverse just feet from the lock gates and jump off?
This seems practical for only going up the locks but not down as the gates Would open in the wrong direction
Yeah, it's more of a pain going down, having to tie up above the lock and open the gate, but inside the lock, the foreend is on the bottom gates in gear (to ensure it doesn't run over the cill (there is often just inches spare), then the gates pushed open and the boat starts to find it's own way out. If you're quick enough you can close the gates and jump on the boat as it leaves (or push the gates using a cabin shaft from the boat which is somewhat safer...) czcams.com/video/Qdop30lig3Q/video.html
Disappointing to see lock gates abused.
Is this where you get the saying "to barge into things"? seems pretty good
I suspect the folks who don't quite get the video are entirely well meaning and probably don't do a lot of cruising except on an annual holiday complete with crew. Unfortunately their possibly 20 years of experience can be better translated into two weeks of experience, 20 times. Those who are continuous cruisers and take exception are probably unaware of the techniques employed in days gone by.
Ref techniques, including running the spindles through your hands; perhaps what is not appreciated is that working single handed requires a totally different technique to that which they are used to with a crew. Some forty odd years ago I recall getting advice from a BW bod who explained that the simplest technique for locking was to keep the boat in gear on tickover to keep the bow button on the rubbing plate(s). This prevented the boat banging around in the lock when filling thus avoiding damage to the lock sides or cills. Plus added advantage of pushing open the gates for you when locking up.
(I suspect he was a tad tired of watching the hireboat crews attempting to hold a boat steady by blipping the throttle and mum or kids holding onto a slack rope with no idea of what they were supposed to be doing.)
Not sure that CRT volunteers should be dispensing unqualified advice either. Suspect though it may have been passed down from other perfectly well meaning volunteers who had no idea of how the canals worked.
You might also consider why the supposed "safety" rails are shaped thus; or why some gates a have a single bollard to the top. They were used for pulling the gates open or closed with a rope. These techniques can found in other videos on CZcams, simply a case of looking.
Might be a notion for them as honestly convince themselves they know better to perhaps search out the aforementioned videos before making comments on time proven techniques.
Beautifully done, I was single handed on a 60Ft trad and pretty much did the same as you. The only difference was I was able to jump on the roof and slow her down and had a fender on the bow.....but as I said I was only 60Ft. Uphill was my favourite !! It would be great if you could do a single-handed downhill video, although it might be a bit challenging filming it as well.
This was amazing to watch.
I've spent quite a few hours watching those who do videos about living aboard, the continuous cruisers, and the leisure boaters. How do you find it going, especially during the summer months, to work around? I ask because I'm considering buying a narrow boat and doing it for six months a year.
I know you're very experienced and skilful, but I'm just not sure about whacking into the top gate sill so hard. I've seen unmanned boats slowed down by lifting the top paddles, and have been tempted to try that myself, single-handed, but have so far resisted.
The fore end hit the cill not the gate - the camera was sat on the gate! Normally the flush from lifting the paddle slows the boat just before the cill, but I mistimed it - you can see it slowing down, but then speeding back up again - as I was trying to film it all. It worked perfectly on all the other locks, which is why I thought I would film it. It takes practice and each lock is different so you need a little local knowledge. It also depends on how full the pound is. Practice makes perfect, just this time it was more learning.
I wonder who gave this the thumbs down and for what reason? Brilliantly executed working boat control excellent video chap
He took unnecessary risks. Nothing "brilliant" about it.
@@ravineseder3133 Hmm, are you sure you understood the theme of the video? As in single handed working, or rather "not" working.
What unnecessary risks did you believe he took?
You're deluded.
I didn't think you were supposed to have the boat up against the gate because over time it damages them? Did you just let the paddle drop I thought that was a big Nono as well?
Nice work, good to see working traditions being kept alive.
The gates have rubbing boards on them so they aren't damaged. The paddles are slowed by hand on the spindle so that the paddles seat gently back in place.
@@mykaskin safer to drop the paddles with a hand on the spindle too. I've seen many a windlass slip off and then the paddle slams down. Likewise a spinning windlass where it has slipped out of someone's grip. The old ways are time tested.
Think you are right 👉
Lewis - me too!
I reckon you hit the wall lining it up too hard, you always see a lot of dents there, and _definitely_ whacked the top cill far too hard. Running a bow line to a bollard to slow more would seem like an easy option there.
Is that maintenance I spy? 😳
When i used that same method of RESTING the bow on the bottom gates, then idling in gear the CRT volunteer gave me a right b#!!#%king. Didnt bump at all just eased tickover in gear. Seems the CRT helpers dont get to know about what rubbing plates are for, nor roping gates shut/open.
Can you do one of you coming down single handed.. not quite so easy!
Any chance of the same but coming down single handed - I'm sure it's not quite as graceful!
There are less tricks that can be used, as you have to moor up the boat and open the gates manually. However leaving the boat in gear resting on the bottom gates while you open them and jumping down on the boat as it leaves, and closing the bottom gates on exit with a cabin shaft can be time savers.
How difficult would it be to go single handed through a double width lock with Victoria and no butty?
Just curious. Interesting video, thanks.
Hi It's not difficult just don't open the paddles fully and or use a centre line to check her
I used to do this all the time, but need more hands free so have never filmed it. Perhaps I'll give it go sometime.
@@mykaskin Ok thanks for replying. All the best.
And we winder why lock gates get so damaged
Beautifully done and thanks for the vid. I miss my boating days.
Apparently there's a lot of weekend warriors leaving uneducated/ comments on this video..
Same drive of "the president"?
"British Waterways" ..is that a different group than the CRT that other Narrowboat-youtubers run?
Hi British waterways was in the 1940's a long time before CRT took over
@@ramseybarber8312 It's a little more complicated than than that as when the canals were nationalised in 1948 they were run by the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive. Later the docks were split off, and the British Waterways Board (BWB) was created in the 50's and then a update of image changed the name to a more friendly Brisish Waterways (BW) in the 1980's. The running of the canals were then put in a trust in 2012.
Wot no bow fender? Bit harsh on the gates old chap.
She reversed a bit too, ! Waiting for you to get back on !
Yeah, I left it in reverse while I got back off to shut the gate otherwise the boat would be off down the cut!
@i. rob So long as you time the putting in reverse just right the back of the boat never leaves the lock entrance, though a wind can push your fore-end in the wrong direction. I've sometimes had to reverse the boat back to the gate so that the lock walls push the boat into the right direction. Odd locks with short wing walls I've had to open the gate again when it was particular bad to straighten the boat.
@@mykaskin Damn stupid. Why couldnt you just stop the boat? What's the point of keeping it in reverse? Just to get a controversial CZcams video?
@@ravineseder3133 Hmm, I believe the entire point was about technique(s) developed decades ago by the working boatmen when single handed.
Narrowboats with crews (on their hols) like to believe they are doing it the "right" way by scampering on ahead to set locks where possible.
Certainly they aren't doing it "wrong" but simply expending energy.
In short there's more than one technique possible.
Nice Boating Mikey, good to see someone keeping the old traditions alive. No load?
Could you imagine how little money he could make running a cargo of Ramen Noodles up the canal? LOL
It was shortly after the Gravel Run in 2010, so just had a couple of tons of coal on.
Lotta grunt in that little engine , thought she might climb out . Why arent the locks manned ?
There are hundreds of locks on the network, who would pay for them to be manned for the few boats a day that use them? Working locks is part of it.
@@YellowPinkie I was wondering if the locks repair and upkeep comes from private donations or government funds ?
@@jimmybritt9537 it comes from licence fees and a 'grant' from general taxation, but big projects need Heritage Lottery Funding. Some revenue is generated by allowing cables, pipes and wires to be run in the towpath and across bridges.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_%26_River_Trust
Jimmy Britt , the boat owners pay a license fee £1000 approximately each year. That pays for the maintenance of the canals, along with grants from other sources.
All well and good going uphill, but what about downhill?
Downhill is more awkward, stop on the lock landing strapping the boat to a stop using the back-end rail line. Fill lock, and open gate. Putting down towpath side paddle as you walk back to the boat. Steer boat in, step off while boat is slowing to close off-side ground paddle. Get back on boat to bring it to a stop on the bottom gates. Put in forward gear to hold it on the gates. Close top gate - the flow from the prop doesn't affect it as the water has to come from somewhere to feed the prop, so it's equal. I tend to leave the top gate open ajar. This is so there is a slight bump when I raise the bottom paddles, which pulls the boat away from the gates briefly to avoid getting stemmed up on them - often modern gates are poorly built. Open one gate, and put down the paddle, jump to the other side to open that - by this time the back flush pulls the boat back from the gate if it's trapped behind it. Close the paddle, get back on board. Use the cabin shaft (boat hook) to close the gates from the boat once it's left. Stabbing boards are provided for this on some locks. If you are back setting for a butty/another boat you would put up a paddle before getting back on, making it easier to shut the gates, and filling the lock for the boat behind.
mykaskin I think a video is in order
I am astonished at some of the "we know better" comments ~ There was nothing wrong or anything that can cause damage. I think the problem is others are jealous of how to handle a lock single handed and the skill it takes.
Oh come on that hit coming in was way too hard, it’s acknowledged as such elsewhere in the comments. You could even argue the angle on entry made rubbing the sides a bit dodgy, it’s certainly going to wear the lock and the boat more than necessary. They’re not working pieces of infrastructure now, they’re for leisure use and arguably that means you should be more careful and take your time more than this suggests.
Slackers...not sure if that is the correct term: damage to locks and general canal infrastructure mainly by hire boat crews.
Not deliberately but just inexperienced folks getting to grips with the sheer physicality of the whole business of being on a canal and trying to control over 15 tons of boat without brakes, sometimes in slightly inclement weather.
Of course experienced canal folk have accidents or fluff a manoeuvre but very, very unlikely to be as bad as hire boat crews.
I would not be surprised if CRT keep an eye out for these sorts of videos (or someone makes them aware of the grosser sorts of incidents), so if CRT take exception to the contents of this video and other videos, or, even the contents of the aforementioned book, then I expect we would have heard by now, seeing as the video had been up for over two months.
As for paying for upkeep the owner of the yard where I moor has a hire fleet and pays a "lot" more than we do to CRT.
I have no doubt that cost is passed on to the hirers. Ergo us constant cruisers liveaboards don't pay all that much for locks repairs per se.
Well said
I agree with others , there was no need to be so violent. Shame on you
So smash the gates, drop the paddles with a klonk. Basically everything you shouldnt do with a lock. The wrong sort arent ya eh. Sniffed too much diesel smoke.
An next time there are moored boats and another boat passing dont hold the absolute centre of the canal ignoring the oncoming boat like it was invisible and focing it into the moored boats. Yeah last week it was you. Ill spit in your eye next time.
(Just getting around to reading some of the comments I missed last time.)
It may be he had to keep to the centre of the canal because of his draught.
There's no reason why an approaching boat can't keep out of the way for a few seconds.
I am going to presume you are new to narrowboating???
All becomes crystal in time.
This is not the way to do it. I am sure the boat handler will defend his actions for ever but that doesn't make it right. The reason it looks bad is because it is bad. Good job most people don't treat locks like this.
I thought the same. Great way to damage the locks and possibly your boat too. Very poor indeed
Very poor example of how to operate locks single handed! This is how locks get damaged.
No it isn't.
Thanks for the video, now I have an idea how it works and it used to be in the good old days. Ignore the whiners here. The watchers always know better than the doers 😉
So much for looking after ;lock gates -
How come? There is no damage here. I refer the honorable gentleman to the answer I gave some time before (see other comments).
Very Disappointing to see lock gates been abused !!!!!😢😢
Absolute knob head. Just keep destroying the canal infrastructure (not)
ah thats why the locks are damaged muppet
There is no damaged caused here - however people having accidents because they are not watching what they are doing because 'they are on holiday' cause serious damage which puts locks out of use instantly.
this guy isn't good at boating.
Perfect example of how NOT to do it. NEVER use the boat to push the gates open. ALWAYS wind the paddles down using the windlass. It also appears that he opened the top paddles before he closed the bottom gate, absolute waste of water!
I noticed that too. One born every minute
Thanks for sharing this video with us. This is the perfect example of someone who contibutes to the damage being caused to lock gates on canals. Inevitably, this leads to closures to do repairs and prevents others from continuing on their journeys. Its a shame that C.R.T. don't have the power to prevent people like you from using the canals!
The gates have rubbing boards on them so they aren't damaged. The paddles are slowed by hand on the spindle so that the paddles seat gently back in place. There is nothing in this video that causes damage. However I've seen pleasure boats hit gates in the wrong way greatly stressing them, and in some cases causing damage to the gates. This is because they have made a mistake, rather than intentionally hitting the gates, however resting the boat on the gate in the correct way does not create any such damage as the structures are designed for this.
@Jack Ladd What an uneducated comment. Working boats used the canal for two hundred years in this manner, it's what they were designed for. Take a look at a lot of bridge holes for damaged brickwork from hire boaters with no depth perception if you want somewhere to direct your hand wringing. CRT should applaud myaskin for keeping traditional skills alive.
@@mykaskin don't listen to the moron, keep the videos coming.
Well they do Jack the Ladd (apt handle by the way) as they issue the licenses they can refuse them yes? The CRT have a lot of power. Every week they seize continuous cruising boats for being on moorings too long and sell them off at auction. Possibly someone's home and you think they've no power? The lock gates are strengthened and built traditionally for this kind of work. In fact they're used in a far more kindly fashion nowadays than in British Waterways era when time literally was money for these canal boys - it wouldn't pay you to get in their way or slow them down that's for sure. Everything is fine here, go and pick on someone else.. I'm presuming you're pretty new to canals and narrow boats so we'll cut you a little slack here.
Plus the fact the boat did not hit the gate when reaching the end the lock hit the cill first so no damage to the gate...
Totally irresponsible boating.
Give the business up.
If you don't
You won't have any locks left to go though.
Which part is irresponsible? There is no damage caused here. Please read previous comments to see why.
The lock looked perfectly fine. In which part of the video did you see any damage to the lock?
What the hell is wrong with you never treat public property or wow can't believe I saw someone who has no respect
Absolutely terrible not only banging front gate but blocking if anyone is waiting to come down. Dropping the 2nd paddle way to hard. Setting front paddles open causing heavy boat to crash on gate when entering. As a single handed myself I find this video appalling and costly to crt. Get a grip man I know your an experience boater but no excuses.
The boat hits the cill. If timed right the flush from the paddles stops the boat - I was a bit early for these locks as they don’t have much push back, but the initial flush does slow the boat.
No excuses the 2nd paddle was definitely dropped by hand way to quickly. No front fender and speed
is bound to damage front gate depending on cill height. I respect your boating skills but question why the rush ?? There was no one else around?
The boat hits the cill not the gate - however, Mike has said this several times so its obviously not getting through. He is showing you the traditional technique - not rushing, just working efficiently. The only thing he doesn't do which was traditional is leave the gate open....but no doubt you would have complained about that too.
Keep 'em coming Mike.
Another bone idle boater who can't wait a couple of minutes to do the job properly. He's costing the canal community money.
I'm not sure how you work that out. I do nothing to damage the lock.
@i. rob The boat never actually touches the mitre seals, and the number of boats actually pushing the gates open is minimal anyway. I think it's stuff getting trapped in the mitre, or rotting as it always seems to be at the water line - though it does seem to be greater on busier waterways.
There's a plausible argument for your method setting aside the uncontrolled nature of the lock gate opening and the cill impact so I can't offer any worthwhile opposition regarding the lock argument but, do you not care about your boat ? Fenders can only do so much but allowing it to grind its way into the lock only to impact on the cill isn't probably the best method of preserving a hull, or is the response simply to be 'they were designed to do that' or 'its an historic boat and that's the way we do it' - I'll admit that I know nothing and need to be educated but I've at least got some common sense. Unsubscribed.
Martin Bissell The boat is a full length GU boat, that means 71.5 feet not including the rudder. This makes it a tight fit on some canals and there fore the fender needs to be removed. It’s scary coming down a lock and seeing the cill appear inches from the rudder but the boat never gets caught if kept forwards. Many boats have been sunk by getting the rudder trapped in the bottom gates. This is the safest way to get an historic boat through a lock like this. Don’t think I haven’t tried other ways, but the boat bangs about if not left in forward on the cill and blows the gates open again if you don’t lift a ground paddle. Yes I did miss judge the timing of raising the ground paddles so the boat hit harder than it should - but considering I was filming it (remember the camera is sat on the footboard of the top gate) I don’t think I did so bad. The paddles were let down not dropped being slowed by hand on the spindle. Far better than having a windless jump off and have them drop straight down as I so often see others doing. The gates are designed to have the boat against them, having extra fendering on them for this purpose. Sometimes you just need to get somewhere within a time period and as you can see I was happily keeping up with the two handed boat ahead.
@@mykaskin I was going to warn about having the rudder pinched between the bottom gates as the tipcat fender can slip up on occasion. I just made a point of swinging the tiller over to the side when crossing the lock to close the bottom paddles. Aside from that, you followed exactly the same procedure as I used to on my 71'6" boat. If there were gongoozlers looking on, I would always let her drift into the top pound a little further in reverse, and stand idly waiting for her to come back for me! That seemed to impress!
Would love to see how the traditional horse boaters would have done it - using the odd bollards on the top gate ends and the hook contraption on the stern of the boat to have the horse rope close the gate on a sort of pulley system as the boat left the lock. I've never quite worked out how that operated.
Of course, a traditional boater would never bother closing lock gates behind them!
@@MartinShorthose Hi, the rudder isnt going to be trapped as the front of the boat is on the cill, and held there with the flow from the paddle that was lifted to strap it in. There is no fender on the front to ensure the boat always fits (some locks are tight for a full length GU boat). I have some videos showing horse boat techniques too if you look.
Utter disgrace ! Should be banned