Last week's post gave an overview of the Hiram M. Chittendem Locks (aka Ballard Locks, or simply, the Locks), and noted that there are two lock chambers: the large locks and the small locks. Today let's check out the small locks.
THE SMALL LOCKS
This chamber lies parallel to the south of the large chamber. Measuring 28' wide and 150' long, it holds 508,000 gallons of water. The unique thing about the small locks is the "floating" steel guide walls, mounted on vertical tracks against the concrete walls. These steel walls are buoyant and slide up and down as the water level rises and falls.
On top of these floating walls are small bollards, or "buttons" which are numbered.
PREPARING FOR BOTH DIRECTIONS
Coil or flake the 50' lock lines, working out any tangles, and place them at the bow and at the stern. Don't fasten or cleat them just yet.
Rig your fenders, three or four, so that they protect the widest part of the hull, normally snugged up to or even just on, the rub-rail.
Wise to don life jackets - - a must for children and pets if they are on deck. We keep our dog inside during a locking.
Make sure the reverse gear is working well, as you will need to be able to back down to stop.
There are speed limits. From the west entrance buoys (Red #2, Green #1) into Shilshole Bay all the way through the ship canal to Lake Washington it is 7 knots or no-wake, whichever is the slowest. Within this, between either end of the long lock piers it's 4 knots. And within the chambers themselves it's 2.5 knots.
APPROACHING WESTBOUND (FROM THE FRESH WATER SIDE)
Initially, you will not know which chamber you will be told to enter; you need to be prepared for either. It helps to have a lookout forward to watch for signals from the locks as you'll probably be focussed on maneuvering your vessel.
There are signal lights. For the large chamber they are on the north wall. For the small chamber they are on the wall that separates the two chambers.
Unless there is a lot of traffic outbound you can generally (emphasis on "generally") assume that you will be using the small chamber.
If the signal lights are red you need to wait. You can either tie up on the north waiting wall or drift around rather than tie up. If the latter, be aware of boats coming out the locks. Also, sometimes the lock attendants are not always sure if you really want to lock through, or merely touring to look at the locks. We prefer to drift unless the wait looks to be really lengthy.
Be patient. Sometimes, with luck, you putter right in as soon as you get to the locks. At other times you may wait, even up to an hours or more. So, be patient and calm.
ENTERING WESTBOUND
When the light for the small chamber (the one on the wall separating the two chambers) changes from red to green you can enter the small chamber. Unless otherwise instructed, entrance is on a first-come-first-in basis, an honor system well observed (however, commercial and governmental vessels always have priority). Sometimes a larger vessel will be called in ahead of you to make batter use of the lock space.
Move in slowly and cautiously at your own comfort speed- - the lock attendants will never rush you. Watch for a signal from the attendant (they give clear pointing gestures) as to which side of the chamber you'll tie to. Now have the eye of your stern lock line and of your forward lock line cleated on that side.
As you get closer in the attendant will tell you which number button to tie to, so gently maneuver to it. Stern line is always fasten first (to stop forward progress), then the forward line. The lines are not tied to the button, but hooked or looped over it and bought back to the boat. If you hold the line like a jump rope and swing it over with the right amount of slack, you will probably loop the button on the first or second try. Now pull the line up snug, and tie it down on the boat. You'll have a lot of line left over.
Because the top of the chamber itself is almost eye-level with you, quite often the lock attendants will take the loop of your line in hand and walk alongside you (as in walking a dog) and put the line on the button for you. A nice helpful touch.
After you have tied down, you need to keep an eye on other boats entering the chamber, assisting them as needed and making sure that you are fended off from them. If they raft on you, have them use their lines, hooking over your cleat, and then back to them. This way they control the lines when they need to cast off.
The lock master will announce that the water level is going down. Except for monitoring how you're riding on the floating wall and checking that your fenders have not popped out (they tend to as they're squeezed), you really have nothing special to do. Once down to the tide level (it only takes about five minutes), the lock master will instruct you to watch your lines as the forward lock gates are opened. Expect some current as the tidal water and the water in the chamber combine and settle.
Then, and only on the lock attendant's instruction, you'll be told to first cast off your forward line, then your aft line. Now ease you boat forward out of the chamber.
As you clear the south pier of the locks be alert for the current from the dam spillway tending to push you to starboard.
As you continue on at 7 knots to the west entrance of the channel, secure your fenders and clean up your lines, and when you reach the Red #2 and Green #1 buoys, you're all set to head to your destination.
APPROACHING EASTBOUND (FROM THE SALTWATER SIDE)
Again, initially you will not know which chamber you will be told to enter; be prepared for either.
There are two sets of signal lights for the large chamber, one on the pier northwest of the railroad bridge, and another on the end of the concrete wall that separates the two chambers. For the small chamber they are also on that same wall that separates the two chambers, these lights being slightly to the right as you look at them.
Again, unless there is a lot of traffic inbound assume that you will be using the small chamber.
If the signal lights are red you need to wait. You can either tie up on the south waiting wall under the railroad bridge or drift around to the west of the bridge, keeping somewhat to the south so as not to impede traffic coming out of the locks. Again. we prefer to drift unless the wait looks to be really lengthy, or the wind and current are a bit too strong.
ENTERING EASTBOUND
When the light for the small chamber (the one on the wall separating the two chambers changes to green start moving ahead to enter the small chamber. Again, a larger vessel may be called in ahead of you to make batter use of the lock space.
Move in slowly and cautiously at your own comfort speed- - the lock attendants will never rush you. Watch for a signal from the attendants as to which side of the chamber you'll tie to. Have the eye of your stern lock line and of your forward lock line cleated on that side.
As you approach the the south pier of the locks be alert for the current from the dam spillway tending to push you to port.
As you get closer in the attendant will tell you which number button to tie to, so gently maneuver to it. Stern line is always fasten first, then the forward line. The lines are not tied to the button, but hooked or looped over it and bought back to the boat. Pull the line up snug, and tie it down on the boat.
Be patient trying to maneuver to and looping the assigned button. You're well down in this narrow chamber. From up top the lock attendants will coach you, sometimes even throwing down one end their messenger line to help pull you up against the wall.
Again, you will probably have boats rafting on you.
The lock master will announce that the water level is coming up. Except for monitoring how you're riding on the floating wall, you really have nothing special to do. Once down to the fresh water level (it only takes about five minutes), the lock master will instruct you to watch your lines as the forward lock gates are opened. Expect some current as the fresh water and the tidal water in the chamber combine and settle.
Then, and only on the lock attendant's instruction, you'll be told to first cast off your aft line, then your forward line. The is opposite of a westbound transit. (The principle here is that the current in the chamber is flowing into the chamber - - westbound it is flowing out of the chamber.) Being now at the level of the chamber top, often the attendants will release your lines for you. Now ease you boat forward out of the chamber.
As you clear the locks secure your fenders and clean up your lines. Remember, it is 7 knots/no wake all the way to Lake Washington.
If you would like a free copy of "Transiting the Locks", an advanced module in my Training & Reference Manual, I'll be happy to send you one. Simply post a comment (below) to let me know.
2 comments:
Very comprehensive, Mike; and all in proper sequence. Wish I'd been able to read it before attempting it the first time, although I probable wouldn't have understood it as well as in hindsight.
One thing, though: Cheryl learned many years ago, when leaving the locks inbound, was not to release the bow line until getting my signal to do so. There were a few times (the first being the test of fire) when she was rushed into an early release by the lock attendant, and I had to really move to keep her from passing me to starboard as the current began to take the bow round. We left a boat hook impaled in the chain link fencing atop the lock gate walkway the first time. But I'm sure everyone has their own locks 'horror story'... or even a plethora of them...
A difficulty is that some lock attendants - - and to an extent they are in charge, have no doubt - - give the impression that they can and do give commands, when in fact the vessels skipper is the ultimate authority. We all tend to respond to perceived authority, sometimes to our detriment.
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