Steve Wood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >How often do paddles and lock gates have to be >repaired or replaced on a completely unused canal?
AIUI, gates are usually replaced when they become unsound. The life of metal ones is very long (look at the metal ones on the Freycinet waterways in France). For wooden ones, I think it is <= 40 years. This is almost independent of whether the lock is used. In fact, if a lock with wood gates is *not* used, the above-water parts of the bottom gates dry out and start to rot sooner than if they are occasionally wetted by the lock's being filled. Most new BW paddles today are coplastic or similar, I believe. These wear very little when used. Paddle gear needs to be greased regularly whether it is used or not, as the grease dries out. >The bulk of the winter stoppage program is there to fix "problems" caused by >boats >navigating canals a.k.a. normal wear and tear. That is not my understanding. I think most of the stoppages are for long-term repairs (leaking lock walls, sill or gate replacements, leaking banks, etc.) Use by boats obviously causes some wear, but I think much less than you assume because the structures are designed to minimise it. The cost of repairing major damage caused by boats should be covered by insurance. Adrian . Adrian Stott 07956-299966
