Lock Etiquette
on the Upper Mississippi

by Richard Baker

My wife, Cindy, and I recently returned from a 430-mile trip on the Mississippi from Dubuque to Redwing. A trip like this usually has one pronounced side effect—it graphically points out to me the need for public safe-boating courses. While there are many facets of boating on the river that present problems for people in general, one area that seems to surpass all of the rest is using the locks properly.

A successful locking experience actually starts well before you arrive at the lock. A call to the lock on Channel 14 can tell you whether to hurry to make a passage before a tow ties up the lock for two hours, or if it’s already too late. Sometimes the lock master will hold the gates open to allow you to make that passage. Proper radio language goes like this: “Lock 11, how long of a wait for a northbound passage?” Phrasing your request for information in that fashion allows the lock master to respond one time with one sentence. Keep in mind that on a weekend day, he may answer that question a hundred times or more.

If there is a short wait, you should float in the area to the side of the main route out of the locks, while staying within the channel. For longer waits, you can pick a safe area and anchor. Just be sure to monitor your radio so you are ready when it’s time to enter the lock.

Enter the lock when the light turns green, and not before. If it has not turned green, get on the radio and ask if it is okay to enter. The lock master may have forgotten to change the light from red to green. As you enter the lock, remember you are in a no-wake zone. You should be slowly approaching the wall in the area where the lock attendant is standing. My own strategy is to arrive at that point with my boat two or three feet off the wall, and then nose the bow in till the person on my bow has the line that the attendant has lowered to us; then I turn to the wall and put the engines in reverse, thereby moving the stern to the wall. At that point, I put the engines in neutral and leave the helm to grab the line. When I know I’m done maneuvering the boat, I return to the helm and shut the engines down. The lock chamber is a big box without a lid; the exhaust fumes from a running motor can accumulate inside and overcome those near you.

Usually, the attendant will position the boats as far forward as he can, but occasionally, conditions dictate that the line of boats starts farther back. This happened to us two times on our trip. Once was for wind and current; I’ll talk about the other case shortly.

Leaving the lock properly is easy, though most people do it wrong. Once the gates open, and it’s safe to exit, the lock master will sound the horn. At that point, the ONLY one who can leave the wall is the FIRST boat in the line. Remember, first in, first out. The reason is simple. If a boat gets caught by the wind and turned sideways after his engine doesn’t start, which we have seen happen, then we avoid the very dangerous traffic jam as boats behind him try to avoid him. Just wait. It won’t delay your trip for more than a couple of minutes.

You should remain at no-wake speed till you are at least past the end of the wall on the other side of the locks, but if there are boats waiting to enter; it is common courtesy to wait till you are past them to increase speed. Remember, you are always responsible for your wake.

So why did the attendant put us at halfway down the lock wall? When the gates opened, we knew. We had entered on the first southbound passage after a tow had left the lock heading north. Another tow was waiting right outside the gate to enter. The solid wall of steel barges that faced us was a little intimidating at first. Putting us further back on the wall gave us time to adjust to a new situation as we left the lock.

A little courtesy goes a long way when using the locks. Thank the line attendants as they help you; you may even thank the lock on the radio as you leave. Be courteous to the other users also—you will probably see them at the next lock.

See you on the river.




This article originally appeared in the August 2007 edition of Harbor Lights, a publication of the Madison Sail and Power Squadron. Copyright 2007 Richard Baker