twistedtree
Guru
Hi Twistetree,
Our expectations were that the resources at each lock were well maintained and functional. We expected to dock, call in on the provided phone and watch the monitor and lights for instructions. What we found was that the phones at the provided docks didn't work. The monitors provided misleading information or were nonfunctional and one of the docks was difficult to use as there was a strong enough current to make getting off the dock in a single engine boat difficult. All of the reading we had done indicated that you should not call the locks on the radio. We did as we didn't know what else to do.
The effective procedure at each lock was different. One lockmaster acknowledged our radio call with the lights and another answered our call. Next time we will not dock at the one location where the current was difficult. We were fortunate that there was not much traffic for our passage. Perhaps this might be different if there were several boats waiting.
The above may sound like a complaint. It is not as I have come to realize that one takes what is available and makes the best of it. This makes boating interesting and fun for the crew of Rincon Feliz!
Was this for the commercial locks on the St Lawrence, or the Rideau, or the Erie?
Thanks