About ten years ago, my son and I were travelling south. I believe the lock was the Pickwick Lock and Dam, near Iuka, Mississippi.
My son had boarded a friends vessel, a 40 something Tollycraft, which I was following, so I was alone. 27 Dancer, 10' beam, camper top installed, temp around 40 deg. (it was Dec).
It was foggy as heck and I was glad to get to the lock which meant we were close to the marina. It had turned into a really long day. Didn't intend to be on the water after dark but fog . . . .
At some point the lock gates were opening so we could leave the lock, water was calm, two maybe three pleasure boats including me spaced evenly the length of the lock, 60' or so apart. I was tending my line looped around the bollard and my cleat. Waiting for the go ahead signal. Next thing. . . . here we go, red flashing lights, loud horn, gates stop, half opened. WTF ? Bla bla bla over the loud horn, the line had come off of my cleat, I had floated a few feet from the wall.
Retrieve the line, start the engines ( don't normally stop engines but I'm sitting on the transom, camper top unzipped partially and don't need the exhaust fumes)
Move the boat around, dart from the helm aft a couple of times to try and hoop the bollard again. I am having my own personal unnecessary embarrassing crisis here. Others are waiting on me, red lights still on, like there is a REAL life threatening 911 crisis going on here.
Eventually I get re tied, lockmaster is happy, gates opened the remaining half, (one,maybe one and a half minutes) everyone glides out of the lock.
Except me. I am embarrassed. and Pi$$ed. This was so unnecessary.
I sat on the transom contemplating what had just happened. I decided a cold beer was in order. Put one in a koozie, sat on the transom and enjoyed.
Put me in jail, ban me from the lock, sink my boat, call the sheriff, close the gates with me in there, I didn't care. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
I calmly finished my beer, ( Yes I'm on camera) took a deep breath, I am now relaxed, untied the boat and crept out of the lock. Life is full of people who given authority lack common sense. And I realize it.
The next winter we headed north for an overnight cruise. As we appraoched the lock and prepared to loop to the bollards, over the radio I hear "just put er' in the middle of the lock Captain". Do what ? What did he just say ? I repeated back what he said, and he gave me the affirmative. Disbelief. This man just made lockin in cold weather so much easier for us. Yes I know, I was the only boat in the lock.
Other times I have had lockmasters advise me where to put the boat to avoid the boiling effect sometimes experienced under the boat when the lock is being filled. Grateful.
Other times had a lockmaster advise me I could lock thru with a Tow if the Captain gave me permission. Grateful.
Had another lockmistress put me on hold with the gates open because she was eating lunch (that's what she told me). Have a beer, relax, make a sandwich, guess she was having a busy day. Multi tasking isn't a skill we all possess.
Went thru a small lock on the Green River on my jet Ski once. They opened the gate half way and said "bring er' in" Common sense prevailed.
Had the lockmaster drive up in his golf cart once to see if I had my life jacket on under my windbreaker. All was good, he was friendly.
If I wear a waist pouch inflatable life jacket at the base of my windbreaker (not easily visible) Now I tell them as I enter the lock.
I have no assumptions when I enter a lock. I do it by the book, Am polite, but I am not chatty.
My son had boarded a friends vessel, a 40 something Tollycraft, which I was following, so I was alone. 27 Dancer, 10' beam, camper top installed, temp around 40 deg. (it was Dec).
It was foggy as heck and I was glad to get to the lock which meant we were close to the marina. It had turned into a really long day. Didn't intend to be on the water after dark but fog . . . .
At some point the lock gates were opening so we could leave the lock, water was calm, two maybe three pleasure boats including me spaced evenly the length of the lock, 60' or so apart. I was tending my line looped around the bollard and my cleat. Waiting for the go ahead signal. Next thing. . . . here we go, red flashing lights, loud horn, gates stop, half opened. WTF ? Bla bla bla over the loud horn, the line had come off of my cleat, I had floated a few feet from the wall.
Retrieve the line, start the engines ( don't normally stop engines but I'm sitting on the transom, camper top unzipped partially and don't need the exhaust fumes)
Move the boat around, dart from the helm aft a couple of times to try and hoop the bollard again. I am having my own personal unnecessary embarrassing crisis here. Others are waiting on me, red lights still on, like there is a REAL life threatening 911 crisis going on here.
Eventually I get re tied, lockmaster is happy, gates opened the remaining half, (one,maybe one and a half minutes) everyone glides out of the lock.
Except me. I am embarrassed. and Pi$$ed. This was so unnecessary.
I sat on the transom contemplating what had just happened. I decided a cold beer was in order. Put one in a koozie, sat on the transom and enjoyed.
Put me in jail, ban me from the lock, sink my boat, call the sheriff, close the gates with me in there, I didn't care. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
I calmly finished my beer, ( Yes I'm on camera) took a deep breath, I am now relaxed, untied the boat and crept out of the lock. Life is full of people who given authority lack common sense. And I realize it.
The next winter we headed north for an overnight cruise. As we appraoched the lock and prepared to loop to the bollards, over the radio I hear "just put er' in the middle of the lock Captain". Do what ? What did he just say ? I repeated back what he said, and he gave me the affirmative. Disbelief. This man just made lockin in cold weather so much easier for us. Yes I know, I was the only boat in the lock.
Other times I have had lockmasters advise me where to put the boat to avoid the boiling effect sometimes experienced under the boat when the lock is being filled. Grateful.
Other times had a lockmaster advise me I could lock thru with a Tow if the Captain gave me permission. Grateful.
Had another lockmistress put me on hold with the gates open because she was eating lunch (that's what she told me). Have a beer, relax, make a sandwich, guess she was having a busy day. Multi tasking isn't a skill we all possess.
Went thru a small lock on the Green River on my jet Ski once. They opened the gate half way and said "bring er' in" Common sense prevailed.
Had the lockmaster drive up in his golf cart once to see if I had my life jacket on under my windbreaker. All was good, he was friendly.
If I wear a waist pouch inflatable life jacket at the base of my windbreaker (not easily visible) Now I tell them as I enter the lock.
I have no assumptions when I enter a lock. I do it by the book, Am polite, but I am not chatty.