"Lake Line Last" is what the lock attendant will tell you. That means when you going towards the Sound or from the Sound and you are in the locks, the last line you let go on your boat is the one on the east end, the end closest to the lake.
That's because, in the locks there is always a flow of current from uphill to downhill, east to west. Let go of the uphill line first and your bow or stern will be caught by the current and the boat will try to spin around.
Have fenders rigged on both sides of the boat. Put on PFDs.
When you approach you will see two sets of locks, one large lock on the north side and one small lock on the south side. We usually are in the small lock. There are red and green lights on the concrete pier. Red means stop. Green means go.
Boats will be hovering around, some just standing off to the side, others will tie onto the concrete pier. Notice who is there before you so you don't break in line when it comes time to enter the locks. I like to tie to the concrete pier and wait. Be ready to start your engine quickly. Do not get out of the boat and walk on the concrete pier.
When the locks open, boats will come out. Stay out of their way. Then you will hear on a loud speaker, the lock master identifying what boat he wants in first. Usually this is a big boat.
If it is the big lock: Be ready with the 50 foot lock lines. In the large locks you give the lock attendant your 50 ft line and he puts the loop over the bollard. You have the free end and have to let it out slowly as the water drops. That's if you are on the wall. If you are rafted up then you merely tie to the boat next to you.
If it is in the small lock: Proceed under the instruction of the lock master. You will have somebody on your bow line who can listen for instructions and relay them back to you. You might not be able to hear very well because of the loud outboard engine. Have someone ready on the stern line too. Once you get in there, figure out where the lock attendant is and keep your eye on him. He will tell you where to tie. Proceed slowly but not too slowly. Everyone will be waiting on you.
Once you get in there, the attendant will shout down to the bow and stern line person exactly what floating bollard number they want you to lasso. " Bow on number 23, Stern on number 17." Bring the boat in close so that your line handlers can lasso their assigned bollards. The bollards in the small locks float up and down with the level of the water so you don't have to let line out as the water drops ( like you do in the large locks.)
To lasso the bollard, hold a loop of line and spread you arms apart about three feet with the loop hanging down to about your knees. Then flip the loop over the bollard and pull in the line. Then tie the other end to a cleat. The line will go from the cleat, around the bollard and back to the same or a different cleat. If you miss, and you will, then try again. If you really blow it, don't worry, the lock attendant will toss you a line. Catch it and do what he says.
Stand there and be ready to adjust the line if you are instructed to do so by the lock attendant. Secure bow and stern. Turn off the engine if you are sure it will restart.
Another smaller boat might come raft up to you. If so, take her line, put it around a cleat then hand it back. That way when she wants to release you don't have to untie it. Same for you if you end up rafting off someone else. Just come alongside and hand them your line. Ask them to put it around their cleat and hand it back to you. Many boaters know to do this. Some don't have a clue.
If you are rafting to another sailboat, don't tie next to them so that the masts line up. If you rock the boat, the two masts might collide. Move one boat forward so that the swinging masts can't touch. If you are on the wall, don't rock your boat and crash your spreader into the lock wall. Those walls are way up there by the time all the water is let out of the locks.
As the water recedes or rises, enjoy waving at the spectators. Keep and eye out on your lines and the proximity of other boats. Keep in mind that there will be a constant current going from east to west. That current will increase once the lock doors open.
When the lock doors open the lock attendant will tell each boat when to leave the locks. Help cast off anyone who is rafted up to you. Remember "Lake line Last." If the drunk guy in the speedboat rafted up to you tries to take off his Lake Line first, encourage him to take that line off last. Be careful when fending off other boats. Better to let the boats crash together than to get your foot crunched.
When instructed by the lock attendant, let your Puget Sound line off first, the Lake Line Last. Push away, put it in gear and get going! You need to be moving through the water in order to have any steerage. If you are not moving faster than the current then the boat will tend to spin around. If you are headed for the wall, let it crash, don't fend off with your hands because the wall could be covered by barnacles that will cut up your hands.
Power out of the locks and out into the channel. Keep to the right and let the big boats pass you. Stow lines and fenders.
Locking through can be really fun and sometimes you see crazy things happen. Keep your cool and stay alert and enjoy the circus.
Scott V.