GL: DON'T USE FENDER COVERS!

[allen]

> I heartily recommend you forget all about the plastic bag covers for your
> fenders.  They eventually tear off the fenders, drop into the water and
> sooner or later they will clog the valves on the next lock.

Or the cooling water intakes on boats.

We used fender boards on the Erie with good success.  They are easy to make 
and install.

Also, two capable and alert crew members with sturdy boat hooks must be on 
deck and active when locking through, since no fenders can protect against 
all the various things that can happen when a number of boats are twisting 
and moving in the turbulent rising or falling water inside the locks.