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Post by TonyDunkley on Sept 1, 2021 14:21:11 GMT
I don't really understand why CRT feel the need to do this. Although compressing movements may save locks from being turned, as far as I'm aware there is no shortage of water at the moment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . That said, there can be an issue with idiots leaving gates and paddles open overnight. A month or so ago we were moored above Curdworth locks. At about 9:30pm a boat came up and left the top gate wide open. Although as it happens that lock is pretty leak-free at the bottom, if that sort of behaviour was enacted at some lock flights the pounds would all be dry by the next morning. Only if all the other locks down the flight leaked more than the top lock, . . if they didn't, then chances are all or most of the short pounds would be well 'on weir' by the following morning. Perhaps whoever it was that left the top gate of Curdworth open was one of that almost extinct breed with enough common sense not to close gates behind them when there's no need to.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 14:31:41 GMT
That's kind of the point.
These days most locks leak.
These days closing up gates and paddles properly, is one way to off set this weakness, whether the leaks are due to lack of maintenance or other reasons is a different debate.
Rog
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 14:42:34 GMT
I would argue that lock gates leaking is a basic maintenance issue. The other approach which I see TonyDunkley is taking is to assume that people can assess for themselves what is happening but unfortunately in most cases they can not or do not wish to do this. Absent this "crowd sourced" behaviour there are two options available. Keep the locks properly sorted and stop them leaking or allow them to leak, ask people to close all gates and padlock things out of hours to stop miscreants destroying the locks with chainsaws and hand grenades. I much prefer the first option but the second one seems to be the modus operandi.
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Post by TonyDunkley on Sept 1, 2021 14:44:07 GMT
I posted this over the other side, thought i would post here also.. Lock 17 on the T&M has a ratchet strap wrapped it to keep it together, been like it for three months, lock 14 on the T&M is leaking badly from the top gate, you can see why when you open the top paddles, boats get pulled in that fast you cant stop so hit the gate, unless of course you open the paddles one click at a time. Maybe instead of signs telling everyone apart from boaters that its great by water, they could put some simple signs up at certain locks telling people the way the lock reacts, its ok if you have been through it before, but for first timers its always difficult to judge a lock. NOT if you're doing things properly, . . by getting the boat hard up to the top cill or gate, and holding it there either in gear or with a line before, or simultaneously with drawing up (any or a paddle) !
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 14:45:35 GMT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . That said, there can be an issue with idiots leaving gates and paddles open overnight. A month or so ago we were moored above Curdworth locks. At about 9:30pm a boat came up and left the top gate wide open. Although as it happens that lock is pretty leak-free at the bottom, if that sort of behaviour was enacted at some lock flights the pounds would all be dry by the next morning. Only if all the other locks down the flight leaked more than the top lock, . . if they didn't, then chances are all or most of the short pounds would be well 'on weir' by the following morning. Perhaps whoever it was that left the top gate of Curdworth open was one of that almost extinct breed with enough common sense not to close gates behind them when there's no need to. Stupid noddy boaters, shutting gates!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 14:52:22 GMT
I would argue that lock gates leaking is a basic maintenance issue. The other approach which I see TonyDunkley is taking is to assume that people can assess for themselves what is happening but unfortunately in most cases they can not or do not wish to do this. Absent this "crowd sourced" behaviour there are two options available. Keep the locks properly sorted and stop them leaking or allow them to leak, ask people to close all gates and padlock things out of hours to stop miscreants destroying the locks with chainsaws and hand grenades. I much prefer the first option but the second one seems to be the modus operandi. I would agree lock gates leaking is a basic maintenance issue. Having agreed that, they still leak so shutting up properly seems logical until the situation changes . It is apparent a 'fix it when it breaks' policy exists ... seems very short sighted but we don't get to choose Rog
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Post by Trina on Sept 1, 2021 15:01:39 GMT
Only if all the other locks down the flight leaked more than the top lock, . . if they didn't, then chances are all or most of the short pounds would be well 'on weir' by the following morning. Perhaps whoever it was that left the top gate of Curdworth open was one of that almost extinct breed with enough common sense not to close gates behind them when there's no need to. Stupid noddy boaters, shutting gates! Noddy boaters...you called ?😁
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Post by TonyDunkley on Sept 1, 2021 15:03:51 GMT
That's kind of the point. These days most locks leak. These days closing up gates and paddles properly, is one way to off set this weakness, whether the leaks are due to lack of maintenance or other reasons is a different debate. Rog Oh really ! So you think there's some useful purpose served -- such as conserving water supplies -- by shutting gates and dropping paddles behind you when you know that most gates and paddles are about as good at holding water as a sieve ?
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Post by Telemachus on Sept 1, 2021 15:17:22 GMT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . That said, there can be an issue with idiots leaving gates and paddles open overnight. A month or so ago we were moored above Curdworth locks. At about 9:30pm a boat came up and left the top gate wide open. Although as it happens that lock is pretty leak-free at the bottom, if that sort of behaviour was enacted at some lock flights the pounds would all be dry by the next morning. Only if all the other locks down the flight leaked more than the top lock, . . if they didn't, then chances are all or most of the short pounds would be well 'on weir' by the following morning. Perhaps whoever it was that left the top gate of Curdworth open was one of that almost extinct breed with enough common sense not to close gates behind them when there's no need to. They do. That particular lock is one of the few that, when you approach from below you can’t tell if it’s full or empty. It could be that you are right about that chap, but having seen him and his boat I rather doubt it. I suspect he was just idle and selfish like so many others.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 15:18:31 GMT
When was the last time you moved round the system Dunkers?
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Post by TonyDunkley on Sept 1, 2021 16:03:49 GMT
When was the last time you moved round the system Dunkers? Irrelevant ! Explain how shutting badly leaking gates and dropping badly leaking paddles conserves water supplies !
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 16:22:12 GMT
When was the last time you moved round the system Dunkers? Irrelevant ! Explain how shutting badly leaking gates and dropping badly leaking paddles conserves water supplies ! The idea is to control the group think. Whether or not it makes a difference is irrelevant. You close the gates and the paddles after use. Just do it ! Leaving bottom sluices open is bad for the health.
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Post by TonyDunkley on Sept 1, 2021 16:33:11 GMT
Does anyone -- apart from me -- remember when the idiotic practice of routinely and pointlessly closing up locks behind the last boat through was first introduced, . . and the rationale behind it ?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 16:34:22 GMT
No but I imagine it was to do with reducing maintenance and also to accommodate the influx of people using canal boats who have no idea.
We do like your input on these things but you also have to be aware that you arrr a perfect example of the definition of the word "anachronism". It is from Greek.
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Post by Telemachus on Sept 1, 2021 16:49:54 GMT
Does anyone -- apart from me -- remember when the idiotic practice of routinely and pointlessly closing up locks behind the last boat through was first introduced, . . and the rationale behind it ? Yes, it was half past three as I recall. The rationale is that closing gates and paddles as a general policy, does reduce water loss. You can of course argue that for a properly maintained canal /locks, it doesn’t. But as we all know, we are a long way from a properly maintained canal. Water loss is reduced on 2 grounds: Firstly that quite often only one end leaks. By closing both ends the water loss is limited to one lock full. Yes of course you could argue that an observant person applying common sense only therefore needs to close the gate and paddles at the non-leaky end. But if you had been out and about on the cut this century, you would know that both observation and common sense have been severely rationed. Users of the canals are not professional boaters, they are mostly incompetent numpties. Secondly that even if both ends leak, a lock will settle roughly half full and with half the head of water at each end, the leakage will be reduced (though not actually to half, due to the viscosity of water)
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