--- In [email protected], "Richard Fairhurst" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > locks, happily ride the cill/top gate if left on tickover in forward gear. The > > problem is usually with boats in the 35-50 ft range. > > Our boat is 40ft, and the only locks (in our neck of the woods) that consistently throw it > around are those on the northern Staffs & Worcs. To me, the obvious answers there are a) > open the paddles slowly, or b) fit extra bollards on the northern Staffs & Worcs, not the entire > system.
I think you have highlighted the core problem Richard. Different boats behave differently in different locks. The H&S study that launched this load of bollards didn't take this into account. It might as well have instructed that every cill marker should be 5.5 inches from inside edge of the top gate. Had anyone at any level within BW - national, regional or local - thought of asking a handful of experienced boaters whether it was a good idea they would have raised the same doubts that we have. But those that have to wear the dunce hat are the so-called H&S experts that started this load of bollards without bothering to consult with the boaters they must have come across during their survey. I suspect we all saw them with their electronic notepads mysteriously taking notes but acting like members of the CIA when anyone inquired what they were doing. "Just doing a survey" I was told rather brusquely by the one that I kept bumping into on one particular cruise. I'm not usually into BW bashing but I'm flabbergasted that this has not been thought out more carefully. Even if it is shown that the addition of bollards is a good idea, there are surely other H&S issues that needed to be addressed at the same time that would have been highlighted had there been any sort of consultation. Cheers Will
