Ballard Locks

[ESpiegel]

I went through the Ballard locks today with the new boat. This was my first time through and was a little stressful, mainly due to my lack of experience handling the single engine inboard and the strong current. The small boat lock was was closed, so we had to go through the commercial lock. Kinda cool, but during the summer it’s probably a madhouse with lotsa boats (and alcohol). I’m taking the boat to a service place to get the engine pulled and somemuch needed maintenance done.

[WillieC]

You survived! Nicely done. And a fine day in the PNW for it.
We haven't made that trip yet, we stick to the west side of the sound but it may be in our future, just for the thrill of it.

You are right about the summer madness. We stop just to watch whenever we get the opportunity, trips to Fisheries and Seamar, usually. Watched a woman on one of the big toys drop her five pound diamond ring in the drink. Ah well...

[DesertAlbin736]

Isn't locking fun!?! We're looking forward to (possibly) doing a 'triangle loop cruise" this coming summer in which just the Rideau Canal segment alone between Kingston & Ottowa, ON consists of 126 miles & 47 lock transits. Not to mention all the locks (haven't counted them all up) on the Oswego (7 locks), St Lawrence, Ottowa River, Richelieu, Champlain, and Erie canals.

triangleloopmap.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipvtOo6DNJ4&t=56s

We've done 22 lock transits on the Erie Canal (11 each way up & back) back in 2015 (has it been nearly 5 years ago already?). One difference I notice from your photos is that the Erie locks have lines hanging down that you can grab onto & hold as the boat goes up or down. Are those dock lines yours or were they already there?

DSCN2379.JPG

[ESpiegel]

When in the commercial dock, they want you to have 50’ lines to accommodate the +13’ tides in the sound. The small boat lock has a raft you tie to that goes up and down with the water level.

[ESpiegel]

You survived! Nicely done. And a fine day in the PNW for it.
We haven't made that trip yet, we stick to the west side of the sound but it may be in our future, just for the thrill of it.

You are right about the summer madness. We stop just to watch whenever we get the opportunity, trips to Fisheries and Seamar, usually. Watched a woman on one of the big toys drop her five pound diamond ring in the drink. Ah well...

Where are you in the canal? I live in Seabeck and as soon as my boat maintenance is complete, I’ll bring it to the Seabeck Marina.

[DesertAlbin736]

We have some long halyard lines left over from our sailboat days that are probably close to 50 ft long, plus a reel of close to 200 ft of yellow floating poly line we use for stern ties. Check out that YouTube video link above. Bareboat chartering one of those Le Boat rentals on the Rideau would be an awesome vacation if not willing or able to haul one's own boat up there.

[WillieC]

Once again, lost another reply...Try again.

We are between Twanoh and Belfair state parks way down around the Great Bend.

Let us know when you are established at Seabeck and we will drop in.

The WillieC is on her trailer undergoing winter projects. Hope to test run it in a few more weeks, maybe after the February two foot snowfall.

[dkirsop]

Check out the lock at the Hughe Keenleyside Dam on the Arrow Lake, BC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPnY1G5qrtw