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Canals rely on an adequate supply of water for their operation and each time a lock is used anywhere between 10 and 90 thousand gallons of water is put to a lower level. Some canals are very well supplied at the summit level, others not so. In some cases there are pumps installed to put the water you have just used back up to the level it just came from, so if you can conserve water you should.
Before using a lock that is set against you check along the canal for boats coming the other way, not only will this save the water but also their crew (with your assistance if you choose) will operate the lock and reduce your workload. If using wide locks try to pair up with another boat going the same way, putting two boats in one lock uses less water (though not much less), and also reduces the amount of buffeting each boat receives as the chamber fills.
Two possibilities exist, either the lock is set for you (at the same level as you are now), or against you.
Lock is set against you :-
1) Either moor up, or put a crew ashore to set the lock, get them to check for boats coming the other way.
2) Ensure the top gates are shut, and the paddles down.
3) Open the bottom paddles to let the lock chamber empty.
4) When the chamber is empty (and you can't do it before), open the bottom gates.
5) Proceed as for 'Lock set for you'
Lock set for you :-
1) Drive or pull the boat in.
2) Close the bottom gates and paddles.
3) If there are ground paddles as well as gate paddles open the ground paddles first, either way open the paddles SLOWLY or the boat will surge backward, hit the back gate, then forwards and ram the front. Where there are ground paddles the gate paddles are normally much higher than the front of the boat and opening them too quickly may flood or sink the boat. Wait for the water level to rise to that of the gate paddles before opening them.
4) When the lock has filled open the top gate(s) and drive or pull the boat out.
5) Close the top gate(s) and all the paddles
On some rivers it is acceptable to leave gates open - look for the signs, though ALWAYS close paddles.
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