Boat Comes in WAY Too Fast!!

As we continued our cruise northward towards our next destination, we had a bit of a scary situation while moving up in the flight locks at Healey Falls (https://goo.gl/maps/FD4oW7WvyNCWa2U16). Apparently the guy driving the boat approaching the lock on the upper side came in way too fast, sending his sizable wake crashing over the lock gates!!

Not only was that potentially dangerous for any other boats already at the top side - as well as us, if were parked any closer to the lock gates - wake like this can do serious damage to the lock gates and can knock them out of alignment! If the gates became inoperable, repairs would require completely shutting down the upper reach (approach to the lock), possibly draining it and removing the gate(s) with a very large crane. I've seen that having to be done at the Fenelon Falls lock a few years prior, after a vessel had collided with the lock gates in that situation.

Bottom line is that EVERYONE must remember to approach ALL locks VERY slowly. No matter what, your wake will follow you, making it (at the least) uncomfortable for yourself and fellow boaters, or potentially resulting in damage to boats and/or infrastructure.

Location is on Ontario, Canada's lovely 240 mile/386 km Trent Severn Waterway.

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Filmed August, 2022.

Boat Specs;
- Model: 1998 Sea Ray 370 Sundancer
- Length (bow to transom): 37-6", LOA (with factory swim platform): 40'-1"
- Beam: 12'-7"
- Dry Weight: 17,000 lbs
- Fully Loaded Weight: Boat + Fuel (1,664) + Water (580) + Gear (1,250 +/-) = 20,500 LBS
- Fuel Capacity: 275 U.S. gallons, 1,040 litres
- Draft: 32”
- Dead Rise: 20 degrees
- Engines: 2 x 7.4 litre Mercruiser Bluewater, Multi-Port fuel injection, gasoline,
raw water cooled, rated at 310 HP
- Transmissions: 2 x Borg Warner Velvet Drives, in Vee-Drive configuration
- Generator: Westerbeke 7.2 Kw BCGTC @ 60 Hz, gasoline powered & carburated, 3,600 RPM continuous engine speed
- 18,000 (total) BTU (12 + 8), reverse cycle heating/air conditioning