Chris Hulin wrote: > I have an 18ft narrow GRP cruiser and I find it very helpful to use a > bollard in a narrow lock, especially when single-handing. Plastic > cruisers start moving at the slightest surge much quicker than > narrowboats, and you can look up from paddle-winding to find the boat > moving away quite fast. > > Controlling small GRP cruisers with the engine in a lock is hard - > they are almost impossible to steer at low speeds. It's also nice to > turn off the engine in a lock, particularly when it's a 2-stroke. > > Bollards just outside locks are also useful when single-handing: > unless I can drive straight into the chamber, I usually tie up and > switch off before the lock, get the boat through the lock on a centre > (and sometimes bow) line, and only get back on board and restart the > engine at the other end. In deep locks this also saves getting filthy > climbing slimy lock chamber ladders.
I've had a small cruiser in the past - bollards are *useful*. There's more chance that the crew numbers will be low (2 or even solo!) The boat moves rather too easily with a tiny amount of water 2-stroke! - If I did not turn it off in the lock then there was an excellent chance of oiling the plug (and I was using hot plugs!), then spending ages to re-start (and wearing me out with all that pulling!) I used to always use the ladder to tie up to when there was no bollard - with Sue and myself working the paddles and gates. Ron Jones Process Safety & Development Specialist Don't repeat history, unreported chemical lab/plant near misses at http://www.crhf.org.uk Only two things are certain: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not certain about the universe. ~ Albert Einstein
