Using the locks

Make sure to use plenty of fenders to keep your boat from scraping against the sides of the canal.

Remember also that some of the edges are low; make sure to have some low fenders that touch the water's surface as well as some higher up to protect
you from scraping.

You should be prepared to change sides and lock on the other side if traffic requires and therefore have fenders on both sides of the boat.

All lines should be sturdy and long enough. The stern line should be 8–10 m and the bow line 12 m. If you have a sailing boat, you can run the line through a turning block in the bow and tighten the line with the winch.

For sailing boats the bow line should be 12 m plus the distance from the bow to the winch. Adjust the length in the first lock and it should be fine for all the locks.

It is important for your safety to where a life vest during lockage. For children it is a requirement. If you fall in the water during lockage, there is a risk you'll be dragged under by the currents and heavy wet clothing. A life vest will keep you at the surface so you can be rescued.

The lock keeper operates the locks. At the manual locks in Borensberg and Tåtorp your help is required.

A white diamond means you are 300 m from a lock or bridge.

Do not pass the red and white pole just before the lock until the lock keeper indicates that is is safe to enter. A lock may be open but reserved for a passenger boat - they always have priority at locks and bridges.

The boats leave the lock in the order they entered.

General

Ask the lock keeper for help - we're happy to explain!

Put out plenty of fenders.

Have one person go ashore to catch the lines.

Switch off the motor during lockage.

Locking up usually takes about 10 minutes per chamber. If the lock is not open when you arrive, wait at a nearby pier. We will generally tell you when you can enter the lock and where you should position your boat.

As lockage generates strong currents and eddies, particularly in the front section of the lock, we prefer to put sailing boats and larger boats here. To make lockage easier for smaller boats, we may have to shuffle the queue in order to get the right combination of boats.

- Boats with winches should be in front of those being held by hand.

- Secure the boat with a short stern line both on land and in the boat.

- The stern of the boat should be directly below the ring the stern line is secured to.

- The bow line should be one or two rings in front of the bow.

- All lines must be taut throughout lockage – haul in the bow line!

- Sailing boats can use their winches.

- The boat must remain very close to the lock wall.

- Never relax your attention - even if it seems quiet at the moment! 

Make a loop in the end of the stern line, about 50 cm in diameter. Place the loop around the ring on the edge of the lock and fasten to the boat with a short line. Sailboats with a winch can make a loop in the bow line as well, and run the line through a turning block in the bow to the winch.

- Stay ahead of the yellow line to ensure that the boat is clear of the lock threshold when the water is released.

- Pull the bow and stern lines through suitable rings on the lock edge, but never secure the lines on both the quay and the boat.

- Release the lines continuously.

- In a double lock or flight of locks one person should remain on land to move the lines. However, before lockage begins in the final lock chamber, everyone should be on board.ö

How to thread the line through the ring for lockage down.

Flip the ring out towards the lock and thread in the line from below.

Boats over 20 tonnes should be fastened around a bollard instead of a ring.

When you arrive at the first lock in Sjötorp, the lock keeper will help you with the lines – passengers cannot go ashore because of the high jetties along the lock.

The Norsholm lock has mooring hooks in the lock wall and fixed lines to hold onto. This means that all are still on board during locking. The height difference is no more than 0.8 m.