Too bad about the treatment from the lock keeper. The LOCKMASTER is Michael O'Dowd as I said his name and ph no is in the link that I gave at the start of this thread.
Here is a primer on Locking in Louisiana that I wrote for a magazine years ago.
It mentions HOW TO LOCK THROUGH. By the way I made sure that the Locks got a copy.
I suggest that in ANY LOCK makeup with TWO LINES and always take a turn on a cleat. Do not makeup to the cleat merely take a turn on it holding the bitter end in your hand for control. This true on the big locks that you will encounter up the river.
Gulf ICW Locks
-- A Primer
(or the Locks of Louisiana)
Having transited all of the locks on the Gulf ICW hundreds of times over the past 30+ years I take this opportunity to
give the benefit of my hard won experience.
The Gulf ICW (ICW) has all but one of its locks in La.
Texas has one that is basically a flood gate. The Cross Fla. Canal is not part of the ICW.
Transiting West to East:
CALCASIEU LOCK is immed. East of Lake Charles. It is constructed of horizontal 12x12 timbers. That have 12"
horizontal spaces between them. Difficult to tie to but MOST OF THE TIME you will not tie up. There are bollards that
are set into the timbers. The lockkeeper will tell you to hold in the middle and when the far gate is open proceed out. This
is, basically, a salt water barrier so there will be little difference in water height.
LELAND BOWMAN LOCK immediately West of Intracoastal City. Again horizontal timbers , saltwater barrier and
probably will not have to tie up.
BAYOU BOUF LOCK immed. East of Morgan City. Horizontal timber sides like the Calcasieu Lock. Height change is
usually 3 feet or less.
The preceding locks fill by opening the gates slightly and allowing the chamber to fill.
HARVEY LOCK, as in "xx Miles West of Harvey Lock" !!!! West bank of the Miss. river at New Orleans. This lock
has smooth concrete sides with cleats set into the lock wall. You will tie up on the right hand wall. The bridge immediately
in front ofthe lock will open with the lock.
ALGIERS LOCK is an alternative to the Harvey only if the Harvey is out of service. Using it requires you to travel
upstream in the Miss. to the Industrial Lock on the East bank and it is also very busy with commercial tows.
INDUSTRIAL CANAL LOCK is on the East bank of the river. It has smooth concrete walls but ,and this is a BIG
BUT, the lockkeeper will drop a line to you and you will tie up with HIS LINE. Make sure you get TWO from him one
forbow and stern. THIS WILL BE ON YOUR LEFT SIDE.
Some suggestions:
1. Call the locks on CH 14 and tell them you are a power/sail pleasure boat.
2. Set fenders and or fender boards on the preferred side but have some on the other side for things can change is a
lock, particularly if you go thru with a commercial tow. If a tow is in front of you stay as far back as you can. Do
not untie until he is almost out of the gate then you go. His prop wash will push you around. Do not pickup your
fenders until you have cleared the wing wall. By the way, NEVER bed your lines down in a lock only take several
turns on your cleats and standby it.
3. Use the largest fenders that you have. My wife made me get 12'x 34' fenders. She put it into words that even I
could understand. "I am not getting on that boat again until I get 12x34 fenders." Had them shipped the next day!
Trust me on this one , I cannot believe how much easier docking and locking is with those fenders.
4. At New Orleans do NOT GET IN A HURRY. I allocate 5 hours for this transit. That is both locks and the 5
miles in the river between them plus the Industrial Canal. I hasten to add that the last 6 transits we have done in
two hours or so!! What an improvement over past years. I have done this at night and in the rain, sometimes both
at the same time, but I certainly do not recommend it and if it is your first time , don't even consider it.
General suggestions on the ICW:
1. Always know at what mile marker you are West or East of Harvey lock.
2. Call every tow before you overtake and get permission. ( Monitor Ch. 13 at all times). Change to Ch. 16 at the
Rigoletts East of New Orleans.
3. When you see the head of a barge coming around a bend toward you , just remember that the tow boat could be
1100 feet back. He can't see you.
4. Be prepared to STOP and even back down when in the presence of tows.
5. Do not over take a tow if another is coming toward you or if one tow is passing another, there is NOT ROOM
for three of you abreast.
6. At the bends in the ICW a long tow can DRAG It'S STERN ON ONE BANK AND THE BOW OF THE
TOW ON THE OTHER. Can you spell " be careful"!!!!
7. Keep track of the tows ahead of you who you will be meeting , by making notes of radio transmissions between
tows. This, so you will not be completely surprised when meeting an oncoming tow.
8. I always remind myself, when in the presence of tows that, I am out there playing and they are earning a living. It
does not hurt to say this on the radio now and then!
9. Radio transmissions travel a long way ahead of you!!
10.Know the " Whistle Signals" remember them this way;
• If I am on the right it is ONE WHISTLE
• If I am on the left it is TWO WHISTLE.
This is true in EITHER passing or overtaking situations.
11.Do NOT anchor in the canal.
12.Do NOT run at night.
13.If you are in a semidisplacement or fast boat SLOW DOWN FOR TOWS. Your wake can cause serious
damage to the barges.
14.During the summer and fall there will be a lot of water lillies in the canal. Do your best to avoid them as they can
clog your intakes and foul the rudders and wheels. To get them out of the wheels and rudder, stop and reverse,
this will dislodge them.
Another thing about lilly concentrations, they can hide LOGS.
Locks of Luck!!!!
