Boat sinks in lock

ONCE again the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was closed on Monday, this time as a boat had sunk in a lock that required the pound being drained to recover it.

There is the possibility that the sinking was partly caused by lack of maintenance, as together with the excessive leakage at Lock 9w at Millbrook, the paddle gear was faulty, allowing the narrowboat Dizzy, to drop quickly being caught on the cill and sinking.

Obstructed

We too found this particular lock problematic, but keeping well to the front avoided being caught on the cill. In the case of the sinking boat it is thought that one of the paddles was obstructed so that it could not be properly closed, and together with the excessive leakage caused the problem.

The boat has now been rescued and the waterway re-opened.