Steve, Googgle the Army Corps of Engineers, and they should have all
the Navigation Information for the Columbia River System.

Bruce in alaska


Hello Bruce and Steve:

This is the best link I could find
http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b/l_nav.asp
for How To Locks. Yes, aides to navigation is best found other places.

The big problem I encountered on my first lock experience was caused
when I used the Corps brochure found at this sight. The information
from the brochure is absolutely WRONG for full keel sailboats. For
example: Notice the example vessel in the brocure is a 16'-24' open
outboard skiff. Big difference for a beautiful double ended Ingrid.
The brocure advice does not transfer accuratly from skiff to Ingrid.

Step 2 of brochure shows boater using a typical 4" bumper. I tried
that and lost part of my toerail as my boat ground away on the way up.
Use a minimum of two 3 foot diameter buoys. If I had 2 yokahamas that
would have been best (joke).

Step 4 asks you to tie up to other vessels. Unless you are the BIGGEST
boat there forget it. I did a downstream lockthough with a Tidewater
tug pushing 4 barges. I tied up on his hip. The trip down was great.
Then the lock doors opened and the skipper eased the power up slowly.
In the end, I dont think I had any structural damage but then again I
have 11/2" of solid fiberglass at the water line. Ever hear the
sickening sound of cracking egg shells? Never get into a lock with a
workboat!

Step 6 asks boaters to secure lines so they can be released
quickly...... Add to that UNDER EXTREME LOAD. Once you lock up to the
higher pool the wind may be blowing so hard your little 3 banger wont
be able to pull the boat off the wall or put enough slack in the line
to release it. If you tie knife knots hava knife.

Step 7 is probable the most troubling advice for full keel boats.
NEVER put the 3' bumpers amid ship. Put the bumpers at the far bow and
stern. When the water rushes in to fill the lock either your bow or
stern will slam into the wall and stay pinned there grinding all the
way up. If you are lucky the toerail or that Ingrid's tremdous
bowsprit WONT get caught in the concrete expansion gaps that run
horizontally or catch that chunk of steel the tug tore lose earlier.
Think, your boat is now jammed into a crack and the water continues to
raise the boat. Oh, donot forget those spreaders... The locks above
the Bonneville are NOT designed for recreational traffic. Its a
working river for barge traffic. In other words it anint no Hiram M.
Chittenden Locks found at Ballard,WA.

The brochure is designed for the vast majority of river boaters
18'-24' runarounds with outboards. Seldom have I seen an Ingrid
cruising the upper pools. Although there are a few guys with
"cruising" boats in Tri-cities WA who make the trip. But they are fin
keel boats.
Bob