On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:27:08 +0100, "Neil Arlidge" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Adrian Stott wrote: >> The lockkeepers (used to, >> when there were lockkeepers) report you to VNF if your vessel even >> touches a gate. (*Everyone* uses ropes in French locks.) The VNF >> then brought out the guillotine. > >On our traverse of the Nord there were at least two Peniche captains who >were in front of us in the lock and did not use ropes when going down. The >only guillotines we saw were the bottom gates. ISTM that every péniche I've seen descending a Freycinet lock had a (only one) rope out. But the Nord locks are so big I suppose skippers of such feel its redundant. However, I'm sure they all use (two) ropes when ascending. Thinking of bottom gates, though, are you going to be on the Marne-Rhine anytime soon? Many of the locks on the west bit of it have a neat gadget (articulated overhead frame) that allows you to operate both gates from the towpath side of the lock (even where there's a tailbridge). I wish I'd taken a photo of one when we navigated that canal. Perhaps you might? They'd be very useful on broad and wide locks in UK. Adrian Adrian Stott Tel. UK (0)7956-299966
