Operating Locks

So much text. Operating a lock must be complicated!

No, basically it is not. In this game you hopefully will learn how to operate the locks without even having read this section. Below you'll also find a great instructional video done by Ozzy!

In real life please consider reading the boater's handbook which I've linked on the Help page and ideally let someone guide you through your first lock.

These new buttons will appear on the screen when you approach a lock:

1. Switch the view between your boat and the lock.
2. Switch to the previous facility of the lock. (To the left hand side as seen from the towpath.)
3. Operate the currently selected facility (gates or paddles). This button is only enabled when this operation is valid at that time. I.e. you can't open the lower lock gates when the lock is still full.
4. Switch to the next facility of the lock. (To the right as seen from the towpath.)

Short summary

Open the paddles (B/D) to empty or fill the lock. A lock gate won't open unless the water on both sides is on the same level. Paddles should only be open at one side of the lock at a time.

If you you need more details then continue reading...

Going up

If the lock is still filled:

Press button #4 until you can operate the handles for the gate paddles on the lower two lock gates (B). Button #3 will display a green circular arrow. Press it. (If that button is grey then make sure that the upper lock gate and the ground paddles are closed.)

• The lock now begins to empty. Unless you're moored you should now switch to your boat with button #1 and make sure to compensate the stream of the flowing water with your throttle.
• Now press button #2 until you can operate the lower lock gates (A). Wait until the lock is completely emptied then this button will be enabled and you can open the gates.

When the lock is empty and the gate open:

• Enter the lock with the boat.
• Close the lower lock gates (A).
• Close the gate paddles again (B).
• Open the ground paddle (D). The lock will now fill with water. The boat might move a bit forward or backward. Compensate with the throttle control. (Switching the view is optional.)
• Switch to the upper lock gates (C). You can open them as soon as the lock is completely filled.
• Navigate the boat out of the lock.
• On the canals it is required that you close the paddle & lock gates again unless another boat is approaching/waiting or there's a sign telling your otherwise but in this game it is optional.

Going down

If the lock is empty:

• Make sure that the lower lock gates (A) and the lower gate paddles (B) are closed.
• Fill the lock by opening the ground paddles (D)

When the lock is filled:

• Open the upper lock gates (C).
• Enter the lock with the boat. Make sure that your boat stays clear of the "CILL" marker.
• Close the upper lock gates (C) and make sure that the ground paddles (D) are closed.
• Open the lower gate paddles (B). The lock will now empty. Keep your boat clear of the cill.
• Open the lower lock gate (A)
• Navigate the boat out of the lock.
• On the canals it is required that you close the paddles & lock gates again unless another boat is approaching/waiting but in this game it is optional.

Caught on the Cill

Do not ever let this happen in real life. This is a very dangerous accident.

Here's how you get the boat floating again.

• Close the lower gate paddles (B).
• Fill the lock again by opening the ground paddles (D) until the boat floats freely.
• Go forward with the boat until it is clear of the cill.
• Now close the ground paddles (D) again and open the lower gate paddles (C).

The game doesn't allow you to operate a paddle/lock when...

...the operation is "invalid" for normal lock operation at that moment. Here are some examples:

• Upper (ground) paddle (D) and the lower (gate) paddles (B) are not allowed to be open at the same time.
• You can't open the upper (ground) paddle (D) as long as the lower lock gates (A) are still open. The lock wouldn't fill up in this case. Although there are special situations where this is done on the canals (i.e. filling up ponds) this is not useful for normal lock operation.
• You can't open the lower (gate) paddles (B) as long as the upper lock gate (C) is still open. The lock wouldn't empty in that case.
• You can't open the upper lock gate (C) unless the lock is completely filled. (This is also physically impossible because of the water pressure.)
• You can't open the lower lock gates (A) unless the lock is completely emptied.