Sorry to see your misfortune Paul. Ouch 😞. I take it you have not got a bow thruster? You are right about turning around to upstream before going into the lock, more control. It reminds me, when we entered sharpness docks, that was downstream and brown pants time. The fun of boating 😂. Hope you got it fixed ok.
I am based at Ripon marina the boat is in winter shutdown, but next year i have to face the perils of the tidal ouse everytime i want to get into the network, sorry about your cratch cover so easily done, after watching your video i will transit the tidal ouse section with the cover off which i hadnt planned on doing.
Hi Eric Yes , visibility is better with it down and we would not have sustained such damage but I was being a bit of a woos , feeling the cold and thought it was a good idea to leave it up, wrong!!! Happy cruising the season
When coming against the tide aim for center, the tide will take you to the outside should you need it. Never go wide as you'll only get pushed further. Funny enough I always aimed inside the curves when driving a TBM tunneling machine, as the jack thrust also tries to push it out but it's hard to steer em into the bend. Even more lucky for me my boat had twin engines so one could be used to push that side round, one in forward the other in reverse and she spins in her own length, very handy in marinas.
