David Cragg wrote: > Having downloaded the 'considerate boater manual - free from > www.considerateboater.com - I was fascinated by some of their ideas. > The ones that really interested was the 'tips on lift bridges'. Here > it is suggested that, if a boat or boats are following yours as you > approach a bridge, then you moor and work the bridge, wave them > through to then be in front of you, then you go through, wind the > bridge down and head off, merrily taking up station at the back of > the line. My first thought was that anyone working the Whitchurch > bridge heading downsteam and letting boats behind pass here might > find themselves waiting hours at Grindley Brook having lost their > place in the 3 up three down queue by being good! > > The method I was taught, instead of the wave through, was the you > open, get on as the boat comes through, they behind then close the > bridge - a method which the manual says is not done as the boater > behind might be unable to close the bridge. Given the bollards now > installed in the offside of such bridges one assumes the unable means > not unable due to getting not ashore but to more physical problems. > As the physical in this case is getting off and winding down I cannot > see this. > > What do others think? > > From the blurb on the web site this guide is given out to hirers as > being 'the method' Most of it seems reasonable though some bits...
I must admit to setting up "leapfrog" at swing bridges, knowing we would *not* be the ones left behind after the last in a run ;-) Having been away for three years in the land of inconsiderate boating (there are just no other boaters to be considerate to in Ireland) I have no idea how I will cope with Earnest coming back, especially as it will be under the captaincy of "Mrs TNC". -- Neil Arlidge Barge Maurice A - a pile of plate in Ireland NB Earnest - believed to still be afloat after the highest recorded floods at Riversdale TNC http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
