Problems lifting the sunken boat

THERE were problems removing the sunken narrowboat from Kentish Town Lock at Camden, that had caught on the cill, causing the Regent's Canal to be closed for two days.

The attempt to pump the water out of the 40ft boat Saxon whilst slowly filling the lock the following morning caused it to tilt even further, so had to be abandoned. Eventually, a crane had to be brought in that righted the boat, and enabled the lock to be filled enough to float it. (Picture by Del Brenner.)

Travelling in the dark

Andrew West, its owner told that he was travelling late at night in the dark when the stern became stuck on the cill as the lock was being emptied, and blames the lack of lighting and that there were drunks milling about, and that the boat had drifted backwards and was going down before he realised what was happening.

However, from Del's photograph it can be seen that the bottom gate paddle is fully wound up—that surely should have been immediately closed.

Backlog

The sinking caused the waterway to be closed for two days, with a backlog of boats both sides of the lock, though some turned back.

As it was the owners fault, British Waterways have confirmed that he will have to cover the cost of the removal of his boat, stressing that he should not be using the lock in the dark as stated in its handbook.