Top 5 Mistakes New Loopers Make in Locks (and How to Avoid Them)
Locks can look calm and orderly from the outside—but once you’re in the chamber with your fenders squeaking, the walls dripping, and the water rushing in or out, the stress can sneak up on you fast. And for new Loopers, mistakes often come not from ignorance, but from inexperience.
We’ve been there. So have most of the boaters we’ve met along the Great Loop. Here are five of the most common mistakes we’ve seen (and sometimes made ourselves!)—plus how you can avoid them.
1️⃣ Locking Off Your Line on a Floating Bollard
We once heard about a solo cruiser—not a Looper—who made a dangerous choice in a lock. He tied his line securely to a floating bollard and cleated it off completely. When the bollard stuck mid-drop, his boat stayed suspended while the water level dropped beneath him. The boat was literally hanging by a line, dangerously perched above the lock chamber.
Boaters around him were shouting for him to cut the line and free the boat before it flipped or broke something, but he refused—he’d just bought that line and didn’t want to “waste” it. Incredibly, the bollard eventually released, and the boat dropped back into the water with a loud splash, mostly unharmed.
But it could have ended very differently.
📌 What to do instead:
Never, ever fully lock off your lines in a lock—especially on a floating bollard. Always keep a hand on the line and be prepared to adjust or release it as needed. If something gets stuck, be ready to cut your line to save your boat and yourself. Lines are replaceable. You aren’t.
2️⃣ Letting the Turbulence Surprise You
On one of our early lock-throughs, we hit a lock that didn’t ease the water in gently—it just rushed in all at once. Whether it was the engineering or the lockmaster’s technique, our boat was tossed around like a toy. We weren’t ready for that level of surge, and it shook us—literally and emotionally.
📌 What to do instead:
Expect turbulence, especially near the doors. Secure your lines loosely enough to allow movement, but tight enough to stay against the wall. Hold on and stay calm. The more locks you go through, the more you’ll learn how your boat responds and how to position yourself to ride it out.
And don’t hesitate to ask the lockmaster what to expect—they’ve seen all kinds of boats come through, and most are happy to help you prepare.
3️⃣ Using the Line to Stop the Boat (Instead of the Prop)
In the beginning, we hadn’t quite figured out who did what when we entered a lock. More than once, I found myself trying to grab a line and loop it over a cleat while the boat was still moving forward.
One time, the line tensioned before I could clear my hand—and I got it caught between the line and the cleat. As the boat kept moving, the pressure built. I was seconds away from serious injury. I shouted for my husband to reverse the boat, and thankfully he did. I pulled my hand free—no broken bones, but deep bruising and a painful reminder.
📌 What to do instead:
Let the helm handle stopping the boat. Lines can help manage drift, but they shouldn’t be used to stop forward motion. You risk damaging the boat—or worse, injuring yourself. The captain should always bring the boat to a full stop before any crew handles lines.
4️⃣ Getting Too Close to Other Boats
In a crowded lock, it’s easy to end up side-by-side with other boats. If you’re not confident in your boat handling or haven’t accounted for the movement caused by water flow, you can drift right into your neighbor.
Playing bumper boats can result in gelcoat damage, snapped fenders, or even bent rails—especially if someone isn’t ready for the surge.
👉🏻 Sometimes, the lockmaster will require boats to raft up during the locking process. If that’s the case, make sure you understand your position and role. If your boat is on the wall, your job is to stay steady and secure. Add extra fenders where the other boat will raft up. If you’re rafting to another boat, have your fenders out and your lines ready. You’ll tie off to their cleats—and in that case, it’s safe to lock off your lines and ride it out. Just keep an eye out in case you need to fend off gently.
📌 What to do instead:
Leave space when you can and always approach slowly. Have fenders out on both sides just in case. Communicate clearly with neighboring boats before and during the lock-through, especially if you’re rafting up or sharing a bollard. And above all, be courteous—everyone’s just trying to get through safely.
5️⃣ Assuming the Lockmaster Will Handle It All
It’s easy to think the lockmaster is fully in control, but at the end of the day, you are responsible for your boat. Lockmasters operate the doors and water levels, but they don’t drive your boat, catch your lines (well, in some locks they might), or stop you from bouncing into the wall.
Some new boaters freeze up waiting for detailed instructions or hands-on help, and find themselves in trouble when that help doesn’t come.
📌 What to do instead:
Enter the lock ready to act. Know your plan. Communicate with your crew. React quickly if something goes sideways. Don’t be afraid to ask the lockmaster a question on the radio—like where they want you, which lines are available, or how strong the turbulence might be—but don’t expect them to manage your boat for you.
Final Thoughts
Locks are a mix of engineering and choreography, and they can feel intimidating at first. But the more you go through, the better you’ll get. Learn from other boaters, prepare your crew, and be honest about what you’re still figuring out.
We’ve all made mistakes on the way. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s safety, adaptability, and staying calm under pressure.
We’d Love to Hear From You!
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in a lock?
Share your story in the comments—especially if you’ve had a close call or a funny moment. We’ve all got one!
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