What was it for?

Published: Tuesday, 02 December 2014

I HAVE just come through Soulbury Three Locks on the Grand Union Canal and as I was setting a lock I saw a rope floating in the water just outside the lock gates writes Keith Gudgin.

As I was not prepared to risk having it wrap itself around my prop I got hold of it with my boat hook but could not get it out of the water until the gate was moved as it was fast between the gate and cill. The picture shows what was retrieved.

Four pounds

There are five washers with each being a 1/4 inch thick, 3.5 inches in diameter and weighing 14 ounces, making nearly four pounds in total.

What it is for I have no idea but I dread to think of the consequences of it getting caught around a propeller as having those washers flailing around could have done untold damage or even seriously injured somebody.

It has now been disposed of properly.  But what was it for? What do others think?