Never been through a lock? Read on....

Gofirstclass

Gofirstclass

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
11,695
Tri Cities, WA
Boat Info
Boatless in WA
Engines
No motor
As long time boaters on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, we have passed through all 4 locks on each river many times. I first went through Ice Harbor Lock with my 20' open bow boat and over the years as we've moved up in boat size I've also picked up many tips and tricks on how to do it safely and easily.

First of all, not all locks are the same. Some have a guillotine gate at the downstream end of the lock that raises and lowers to allow boats to pass beneath it. Other locks have doors that are hinged top and bottom and swing open to allow boats to pass between the doors. Also, keep in mind that when you are heading downstream, going through the locks is a piece of cake. It's like draining a bathtub, ie., there's no water turbulence. It's only when you are heading upstream that you get any turbulence because they are filling the lock.

One thing that really opened my eyes was when I got a tour through McNary Lock when it was empty. The Corps of Engineers had drained the lock for maintenance and when I found that out I phoned a friend who works at the lock to see about getting a tour. I spent about 2-3 hours with him as he led me through the tour and showed me how things worked. I knew previously that the water entered the lock at the bottom but did not know the physical setup on how the water got into the lock.

Here's a photo of the bottom of the lock. In this lock, the water comes in on the left side of the photo and is disbursed through those concrete structures. If you look at the structures at the bottom of the lock you can see the holes where the water comes in. As the lock fills the water flows up and from the center toward both ends of the lock.

0313151351c.jpg


Now picture this: If you are tied up at the far end of the lock the water flowing in pushes on the transom of your boat. That pressure tends to push your boat ahead and, since it's tied to the bollard near the center of your boat, the bow will be forced against the wall of the lock.

On the other hand, if you are parked at the near end of the lock the water pushes against the bow there's very little surface area to push against so the effect will be nil.

So let's talk about securing your boat to the bollard. Many (most?) boaters tie up using a bow line and a stern line. That works, but I think I found a better way. If you have a cleat near the midpoint of your boat, use only one line and make it as short as possible. That way your boat can't move side to side, and it'll be much easier to handle.

Here's what the bollards used on the Columbia and Snake Rivers looks like. As you can see, we have tied up with only one line and it's as short as possible.
P5031012.jpg
 
So how do you approach the lock and tell them you want to pass through? First of all, you need to know the radio call sign and VHF channel for the lock. (If you don't have that info, PM me with your email address and I'll send you an Excel file that has it.)

It's a good idea to call them when you're about 30 minutes away so they can get the lock ready for you. For example, if you're heading upstream and the last boat through the lock was going downstream, they're going to have to "turn the lock around".

As you get close give 'em another call and let them know you're ready. They will give you a green light to enter, or sound a whistle or horn. As soon as you get tied to the bollard you want, give 'em another call to let them know you are secured and which bollard you're on. ("Ice Harbor, Beachcomber's secure on 8".)

Try to keep your radio conversation short and to the point. It's easy to spot a rookie by his radio procedures--> "Umm, Ice Harbor lockmaster this is yacht Beachcomber and we're tied up on bollard 8."

It's mandatory that if you're on a smaller boat (22'?) that everyone in the boat wears a pfd. If you're on a bigger boat pfd's are only mandatory if you are out on deck. It's a good idea for everyone on board to wear one, just cuz!

Now, let's talk about the lock schedule. In the summer months the upstream lock times are 9, noon, 3, 6, 9. Downstream times are 30 minutes later. Rarely, if you are on the summer schedule and you show up way too early, they MAY let you lock through. It's at the discretion of the lockmaster, so don't push it. Off months are "on demand". In other words, whenever you get there you can lock through.

So, that's it. Now you know my secrets on how to successfully lock through. No go have fun and practice it.

Got questions? Fire away.
 
Good Stuff! Only thing I do different is that I never tie my line onto a lock bollard. I just wrap it aound once and hold the bitter end. I had one bad experience where the bollard got stuck while the boat kept rising. Within seconds the line became so taut I couldn't untie it from the bollard. Thankfully, I had a knife and cut the line...
 
Chris L said:
Good Stuff! Only thing I do different is that I never tie my line onto a lock bollard. I just wrap it aound once and hold the bitter end. I had one bad experience where the bollard got stuck while the boat kept rising. Within seconds the line became so taut I couldn't untie it from the bollard. Thankfully, I had a knife and cut the line...
Click to expand...
That seems to also be a good argument for having more than one line tied? With one line tied and having to turn/cut loose, if you were at the front on the lock and going up, you'd be pushed into the gates.

Excellent and fascinating info.
 
Great information.

A couple of comments, not all locks are the same. Do some quick research on the locks along your journey.

For example crossing the Okeechobee there are 5 locks most of the time. Depending on lake level the 6th lock often is open to cruise through (still call on the radio). In those locks there are lines hanging down that you grab and use to steady the boat. They do not have bollards as discussed above.

Since they don't have bollards which float up and down with the water, you don't tie off. Rather loop the line around a cleat and hold it so you can adjust as the boat raises or lowers. Don't try to just hold the line, the water can be moving, make sure you have it looped around a cleat.

The river near where I grew up had locks, those had the bollards.
 
Another point and tip is that the lock walls and the lock lines that you wrap your lines around are dirty and slimy. So your fenders and your lines will get dirty. If that bothers you, you should plan to have a way to wipe clean the fenders when you exit the lock. And a separate set of “Lock” lines will allow you to keep your normal dock lines clean.
 
Ours near us on the Ohio river don't have bollards. We toss them up (or the lock workers drop a pole down to hook out line to) and the lock worker runs it across 1 or 2 fixed posts up on their 'catwalk'. We have a person at each end of the boat wrap each end around a cleat and move the line in and out as we go up or down. If you are by yourself you tie one end to a cleat and just manage the other end yourself
 
FootballFan said:
Great information.

A couple of comments, not all locks are the same. Do some quick research on the locks along your journey.

For example crossing the Okeechobee there are 5 locks most of the time. Depending on lake level the 6th lock often is open to cruise through (still call on the radio). In those locks there are lines hanging down that you grab and use to steady the boat. They do not have bollards as discussed above.

Since they don't have bollards which float up and down with the water, you don't tie off. Rather loop the line around a cleat and hold it so you can adjust as the boat raises or lowers. Don't try to just hold the line, the water can be moving, make sure you have it looped around a cleat.

The river near where I grew up had locks, those had the bollards.
Click to expand...
+1 on all locks not being the same. In Chicago’s lock you don’t tie up. The lock has large ropes hanging from the bollards, you are to hold on to them up and down. Also everyone must put on a pfd to transverse the locks regardless of where you are on the boat. Commercial vessels always have the right of way and enter and exit first.
 
The variations among lock types, methods of tying off and rules vary greatly throughout the US. There are some locks that do not allow singlehandling, with the exception of waverunners. You must have a minimum of two persons to transit.

As mentioned earlier, the means by which one ties up also varies greatly. Some locks have bollards, some locks have nothing but a thick vertical steel pole running the length of the lock in a chase on the lock wall wherein you tie one end to a cleat, wrap the line around the pole and return th line to the cleat. Others have lines hanging down you can use and yet other have line handlers that you throw a line to and they do the rest.

Best to research beforehand if you know which locks you're going through. Youtube is actually a great resource for this. Also, as mentioned earlier, the lock walls are slimy and the older locks have some rough walls that will chew through your fenders. I've destroyed a few cylindrical fenders going through the locks on the Erie canal system. I found that Tuff end round fenders fare much better than the common cylindrical ones. They snag much less and are more robust.
 
FootballFan said:
Great information.

A couple of comments, not all locks are the same. Do some quick research on the locks along your journey.

For example crossing the Okeechobee there are 5 locks most of the time. Depending on lake level the 6th lock often is open to cruise through (still call on the radio). In those locks there are lines hanging down that you grab and use to steady the boat. They do not have bollards as discussed above.

Since they don't have bollards which float up and down with the water, you don't tie off. Rather loop the line around a cleat and hold it so you can adjust as the boat raises or lowers. Don't try to just hold the line, the water can be moving, make sure you have it looped around a cleat.

The river near where I grew up had locks, those had the bollards.
Click to expand...
Oh yea on that 6th lock. We pulled up after hours and tied off on the dolphins to the side for the night thinking it was closed until morning. Found out in the morning that the lock was open all day and night. Could have gone right through and onward for several more hours away from the bugs.
 
ttmott said:
Oh yea on that 6th lock. We pulled up after hours and tied off on the dolphins to the side for the night thinking it was closed until morning. Found out in the morning that the lock was open all day and night. Could have gone right through and onward for several more hours away from the bugs.
Click to expand...
I have never spent the night tied up waiting for the lock to open the next morning. Kinda spooky in places, have always stayed in daylight. If I couldn't make it in a day, then it has been Roland Martins overnight. That place is kinda different.

Have heard stories that at night you shine a light around you and you can see the alligator eyes reflecting back.
 
Several years ago we were going through a lock on the upper Mississippi. One of the lock workers told us earlier that day a boat was going through. A lady didn’t know any better and tied the rope to her boat. When the water started going down the boat started tipping. Somebody threw a knife to her to cut the rope. She pulled the knife towards herself and hit herself in the throat. She sliced her throat open and he watched her die right in front of him.
 
That’s horrible. My grandpa taught me early cut away. That’s horrible for the other boaters, must have waited hours to clear the locks to get moving again.
 
“MANY” years ago, I was fortunate enough to surprise my new bride of 3 years, to a anniversary cruise through Oneida lake and the water ways of upstate NY on a friends boat he lent me.
Spent weeks studying to get ready for the big surprise. All went perfectly until arriving at our 1st lock( with her 110 lb frame, in her itsy bitsy bikini) standing on the bow and me yelling to grab the SLIMMY rope. I forgot the gloves.
She’s still my beautiful bride 31 years later
 
Gofirstclass said:
Here's what the bollards used on the Columbia and Snake Rivers looks like. As you can see, we have tied up with only one line and it's as short as possible.
P5031012.jpg
Click to expand...

No offence here but this pic is really a big red flag how NOT to do it like others already mentioned .

If its a floating bollard and its works you need to grab overboard two times to tie und untie it instead of simply swinging the rope and securing it safely onboard .

If the bollard stucks or its a fixed bollard you ask for disaster . The hint of a very short line makes it even worse since it reduces your reaction time .

I Think it depends on boat size , the amount of of boats / ships inside and bollards access how many ropes will work best but generally never tie it , and in no case on the bollard instead on the boat clamp .

On a big boat its an idea to keep the engines running and thrusters ready .
 
aerobat, when we used to tie up to the bollard we usually did it with two lines. When you do it with 2 lines that allows bow and stern to swing and makes it more difficult to control the sideways movement of the boat. It also makes it easier (even with multiple fenders) to sustain some damage from the rough walls of the lock.

I did it with 2 lines for years with my 330's but then learned how much easier it is with one line.

FYI, the person on the side of the boat had my serrated blade knife that would go through our dock lines like a hot knife through butter.

Here's a linky to a thread I posted several years ago on Trawler Forum that has similar information in case anyone wants to read that one.

Going Through Locks on the Snake and Columbia Rivers - Trawler Forum

On another forum a question was posed about the protocol for passing through the locks on the Columbia River and Snake River. Rather than take that
www.trawlerforum.com

To each his own, I guess.

BTW, whilst perusing Trawler Forum I found another thread I posted many years ago that you may find interesting.

A very unusual experience - Trawler Forum

Every once in awhile an opportunity comes along that you realize is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I recently had one of those and thought Id
www.trawlerforum.com
 
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