Working a Lock on Your Own
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- Опубліковано 27 кві 2013
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![Operating locks on my Narrowboat [Ep 38]](/img/n.gif)
My God man, how many cups of coffee/tea did you have before filming this? You could thread a Singer with it running, I believe.
Hahaha, what a comment! I will pin this as the top comment for all to see!
And, I just subscribed to your channel! Steady man, steady as she blows.
Kent Horsley
Great video Dan , I think I would put more emphasis on the safety aspects of working locks , eg wear a life jacket if single handed. Be ready to close paddles if there is a problem. Also you state your rudder protrudes past your rear fender, a guy died due to his rudder being caught going up in a lock because of this at Droitwich a few years ago ( there were other factors but that was the start of the incident, and he was an experienced helmsman for a local charity boat ) Also please film getting on and off your boat when it is at the bottom. I am not trying to put people off , locks are very safe if handled properly, I descended the Tardebigge flight single handed on my 57' boat Simba Dada ( now sold alas , but hopefully soon to be replaced )
I had just bought my boat in 2015, and had no idea how I could do the locks solo until I saw this video. Consequently it gave me the confidence to go off on a trip and use the tips shown here by Dan. (By coincidence I’m moored not far from Dan on the Llangollen, and have regularly gone through the lock on the Montgomery shown here). Setting off on my trip I had no real plans, but just kept going and actually got as far as Camden Lock in London, and by the time I’d returned to the Llangollen 3 months later, I’d covered almost 800 miles and 500 locks mostly on my own (with a couple of visits from my sons who joined me for a few days). I used to see Tilly quite often, and now Abels Ark too, passing their moorings, but never any sign of Dan. (Although I did say a quick ‘Hi’ when I passed him on the boat while he was shooting a video from a bridge). Until this summer (2021). We were moored up for a short tea break, and who should come walking along the towpath but Dan the Man! We asked him to sit with us on the bench and I was finally able to thank him for the video (s) and told him the above story and how he’d given me the confidence to go on the trip. Well he’s such a humble guy and just as he appears online, and was only too glad to give up his time and stop and chat. Since then we’ve passed each other a few times and given each other a wave. Once more, thanks Dan, this and all your videos are very much appreciated! (Mike, Whixall).
Hi Dan...guess what!!?? I have found a boat and have put down a deposit!!! Getting it surveyed and owner is paying for it to be blacked. Best narrowboat I've found and I've hunted high and low. Good, thick hull...1998, 60ft long. Bit of a project boat...needs paintwork int and ext...but plumbing and elecs sound - has just passed and got safety cert. Gotta put new flooring down and eventually new tiles in shower room and take old kitchen out...But apart from that - it's fine! SOOOOOOOO EXCITIED!!
Excellent video and information, Dan. Well done.
I am planning on buying a narrowboat and never been in one nor opened a lock or even seen a lock being used. I feel a lot more confident now. Many thanks and best wishes. (Thanks also for the vid about the costs of running a boat)
You should have shown the process of having to climb Darwin the lock ladder, getting on the roof and getting back on boat before leaving the lock chamber.
Really helpful and fantastic that you started with a safety brief. Thank you
I've been looking though all your videos this morning Dan. Very informative & great camera work too - especially for a one man presentation / camera operator combined! Love some of the camera angles too (Camera on lock as you close it for example). One of my friends has a narrowboat and I've spent numerous weekends cruising with him and doing odd jobs on his boat. I must admit I've got the bug and keep looking myself. What a way of life!
Hello and thanks for watching! Glad you have stuck with my videos! Do you mean swing bridges as in the ones that move across the canal rather than lift up? Amazingly in the 150 miles of canal that I have travelled I have not come across any of those! The lift bridges are awkward to do solo but manageable but as for proper swing bridges I am still yet to have the experience!
Mad seeing this again Dan 2013 bloody hell thats why you are uno number 1 narrowboat dude 🦢🙂✌️
Fantastic, absolutely great news, make sure you keep me posted on how it goes and how you find it! All the best!
What a great location! excellent video Dan, just the the sort of info I need, thanks
Thanks, It is strange how my attitude to this stretch of canal (the top end of the montgomery) has changed now that I know I can do the locks single handed!
Well done, Dan - a very useful & informative video. I've worked through narrow locks on my own a number of times but this is the first time I've seen someone else do it. Just a thought - once the paddle is open & the lock is filling or emptying, I always prefer to get back on board my boat even if it is only on the cabin roof just in case something untoward happens.
That was great! It looks like I'm going on my maiden voyage solo tomorrow and this has helped me get my head around the whole process.
That's pretty cool. Would love to be along for the _'maiden voyage_".
I'm trying not to panic Paul Stephens ! lol!
LOL, 'stand tall', "You can do it..."
Hard shoulders don't swallow me up!!
Your Dooooooooomed LOL
Glad it helped, taking it slowly is definitely the order of the day!
Great video.
Thanks Dan, that answered a few of my questions, great video.
Good job Dan.
You did very well Dan.
Thanks for watching as always!
Thanks, I will do some more lock videos to give a better idea of how it all flows from start to end!
you're the best Dan!
Good video. Thanks.
Very Helpful thank-you!
I really liked that video very informative. I like to do the steering when we hire a boat my husband did the locks, but I would like to have go next time I get the opportunity to go canal boating again thanks sue
Informative and enjoyable video.
Enjoyed that.
Very informative well made vid, thankyou.
Pretty much how it was done on the original Erie Canal in New York back in the 1800's.
Thank you very much for this helpful video Dan. What was the duration in time from first entering and finally leaving the lock, approximately.
Very interesting but would have been good if you had pointed out that it is good practice to look and check there isnt a boat wanting to come up the lock before you fill it, thus saving wasting a lot of water.
Good information, BUT the camera was tizzying me! Those movements left-right in just a second aren't good!
Thanks, I am trying to focus on more useful videos like this at the moment rather than just uploading as much as i can like I have been recently. Hopefully will have some more things like this now that I am getting more comfortable and familiar with doing boaty things!
Great video dan! :-)
Speeding up the video makes it sound like Tilly is a disgruntled bee!
Hi Dan! I have watched a lot of your videos now having only discovered your channel last week on a search of telescopes. That said, I am now completely hooked on the idea of living on water and I am doing a lot of research. I would need a 50 - 60ft narrow boat and I was wondering if it is possible (and reasonably easily done) to manage locks solo with a boat twice the length? Also, if you don't mind another question : Is it better to buy a boat off eBay, private sale or through a broker? Money IS an issue for me! Thanks!
thank you dan, very interesting.... and keep on making your narrowboat videos
8 Years later, I'm still going!
lol - loved the sounds in the sped up bit! :D
Paul Truswell Haha yes, I should have done more things like this... I will keep the comedy value idea in ming for the future!
hi dan yep dito could u show the last manouvers slower so we can get full picture
When you have passed through the lock, how do you get from one side to the other ? To close the gates
this was so helpful for my homework.
Hi dan i was wondering if it would be prettey much the same process for a electric powered lock? Thanks- josh
I would say that almost every lock should be workable on your own, all of the ones I have come across have been pretty standard, but maybe the wide locks might be a bit tricky, in most cases though if there is any unusual or stair case lock then there will be a lock keeper around at certain times or other boats to help out!
Only just got my boat and a little nervous of doing my first lock solo, the video helped a lot, thanks Dan.
Hi Dan, I appreciate you can't reply to everyone but if you find time... How do you wash and dry clothing, tows etc and can you put coal in your wood burner? I'm just learning from you as I go, I'm about a year from purchasing my own boat. I plan to slowly transfer from house living to boat living on the Kennet and Avon and I can not wait to be free.
love your videos, very helpful, id be grateful if you could answer one question, can you work every lock on your own? im thinking of buying a narrowboat and i'm a bit worried about this.......keep up the good work and have fun.
Hi David Yes you can do all locks on your own some times it means you have to walk around both sides a few times? and some double gated locks you can open one side gate only and ques your boat through? also on a double gated lock the side of the lock you tie your boat to just open that side paddle only as the water will gush on to the far side of the lock there by forcing water against your boat holding it against the lock wall for you so your boat won't buffet about best wishes Ken...
Haha, it is a scary thing to do... I ended up having to come back up through one of the locks down on the Monty at about 9pm... I was moored between 2 locks in the few hundred meters stretch of canal between them, it is called the pound and really you shouldn't moor up in them... because as happened when I was there... Somebody didn't close the bottom lock gates properly and loads of water drained out, dropping the water level a few inches in that little section... she was sat on the bottom!
Tell you wouldn't touch a barge pole with a ten foot barge pole!!??
I guess taking it slow with a queue of holiday boats behind you takes some nerve lol
Good Video I Will Sub
Another very informative video for a 'hopefully future boater' like myself. One question. I assume to get back on Tilly while she was in the lock you used the ladder. As i suffer from self diagnosed ladder phobia i'd like to know if it would be possible to pull the boat out of the lock with a longish rope from the towpath?
It depends if there is a footbridge in the way - on this lock, no problem, but some locks have footbridges across one end or maybe both, which makes it impossible to drag the boat with a rope.
If the lock isn't very deep, you can sometimes just jump down onto your roof, but going up, it means the ladder I'm afraid, unless you have crew you can drop off before/pick up after.
Ladders aren't that bad you know!
When you opened 2nd locks, some locks seem very deep is it dangerous getting on ladder down I imagine some as wet and slippy. I'd worried somebody jumping on boat on my own in chavvy areas. What's benefit to barge pole?
No answer? ;(
Dan in pictures....
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How did I do?😉
5 Years later, chillingly accurate!
Very informative, good info, but please stop swinging camera, keep up the good work :)
I wonder how he controls his vessel?
@@kylehill3643 Haha! Surprisingly sensibly! At least now I am ten years into boating!
yer you really held onto those ropes mate.
what was the little building used for back in the olden days?
Although it does look small, it could be the lock keeper's cottage. I remember reading about one as a child
Haha yes true, but they should hopefully give you a hand if they want to get going! Radnom fact, the lock that I went through in this video is the lock that me and a friend once found somebody in with their boat in it while they made a cup of tea and had dinner!
Did they oblige and move on or stay to finish their dinner? :)
Should you not be tying it of in the lock to stop it floating backwards towards the cill ?
Hello, no because as the water level goes down the ropes will pull tight and can tip/sink your boat at least as easily as the cill! Some people will loosely put the ropes around the bollards just to help shift the boat forwards or backwards but not tie them!
how did you get back on the boat? Because when i was younger, my family practically lived on out narrow boat; but my dad operated the boat, and my mum and i open controlled the locks. We never had to worry about getting back onto the boat. And due to university living, i was planning on buying a narrow boat again and living on it, so an answer would be very helpful; Thank you.
locks have ladders bolted to the inside walls. Good luck
Dan you didn't hold onto the ropes and how did you get down to Tilly?
Gigsand Busking Haha I see you saw it on my other video!!
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Oh my heavens. I hope it didnt cause any damage to Tilly
Wow! Too much jerky movement on the cam!
So sort of confusing, I'd never want to go anywhere where I had to do it, but I'm sure you are forced to, since you have to keep moving.
Warrior Son Aren’t you original. What a dunce.
Hey Dan , are the rumours true - you may be getting back on the water ? great videos !
Haha I am only 4 years late to reply to this comment!!!
@@SortOfInteresting I now have a boat 🚢 😎👍🤪
HI there Dan I've been meaning to ask this question for a ouple of months now, but every time I try to get started asking it I get distracted and it has to wait, this time I'm dtermined it's going to get asked.
I have heard some talk about automatic locks were you just push a button to operate them, some say they are quite common, others aren't quite so sure. Either way all the locks I have seen, both real life and video have been the old fashioned type. Could you shed any light on where these elusive locks are situated, and maybe even video one, if it's not too far away. :)
Theres Stonebridge lock on the River Lee, I'm still waiting for my key to arrive.
AllI want to know is why boats need to go up and down on the canals. Can you please explain this, and then I will try and understand how locks work. Thanks so much, I just took a canal cruise on the Leeds and Liverpool, and went through a few locks. I did not understand why.
exactly. I have the same question in mind. :)
Because land is not flat, so neither are canals. if you didn't have locks then the water would just run quite fast to the deepest part or into a river at the end and most of the canal would end up empty.
You’re video is good but I hate the movement of the camera. You need to slow the camera movements
did not see how you got back on the boat
There are little ladders on the inside of the lock... they get pretty cold, wet and slimy as you can imagine, but lucky the boats don't change level too much in most locks, so it is not like you have to do any serious climbing!
yeet
sorry I wrote this by mistake