Hive Opinion Please

I also have a barge with a vicious prop walk in reverse and therefore, I also favour mooring up on one side of a lock, or into any other mooring spaces. Sometimes in tight circumstances I have been known to turn through 270 degrees, when a turn of 90 in the 'wrong' direction would be so much more convenient.
However, moorings are not always available on the favoured side, the commercial, already in the lock is where you to go, and a lock keeper might, for reasons only they know, want you here, and not over there.
As stated elsewhere, I think this is an issue of convenience and I hope, not one of safety. 
As ever etc.
Chris

Hi Kevin

I know how you feel, have been there with some difficult éclusiers. France has regulations that we meant to obey.

RGPNI, (my latest copy is Sep 2019)  Réglementss de la Police (de la navigation intériure)

para 12 of  Article A. 4241-53-30 – Passage aux écluses

12. En vue d'assurer la sécurité et le bon ordre de la
navigation, la rapidité du passage des écluses ou la
pleine utilisation de celles-ci, le personnel chargé de la
manœuvre des écluses peut donner des instructions
complémentaires ainsi que des instructions dérogatoires
aux dispositions du présent article. Les bateaux doivent
se conformer, dans les écluses et dans les garages
d'écluses, à ces instructions. Les instructions visées au
présent alinéa peuvent également être données par un
système électronique mis en œuvre par le gestionnaire.
Sauf autorisation particulière du personnel chargé de la
manœuvre, il est interdit de débarquer lors du passage
aux écluses.

Seems like we are obliged to follow éclusi-(er/ère)'s in charge of écluse(s) instructions in France. It looks structured to allow enforcement radio or other electronic instructions too.

The USA has a nifty saying "Don't fight city hall" which seems apt here.

Regards
Chris

While not an issue on the Midi. Some larger locks fill from the side, if your boat has a keel this can produce a significant cross lock current.  A mindful lock keeper may be able to help you avoid this situation with a recommendation of the side of the lock away from the fill.

Craig

Unfortunately the RYA ICC us so easily acquired, even by people who have never seen a canal before, that I would not put much faith in that myself.

Tam

There is a convention to tie up one side in some of the old canals in belgium.  Some of the locks flood along the north side of the chamber and so te current crosses from one side to the other.  All boats are easier on one side than the other but you should really try to set things up so you can go on either side.  Of course you are right that the eclusier cannot force you but he also doesnt have to allow you through the lock at all if he decides that you are not following his directions. 

Wrong lockie. He was great.

This one

I agree but an 18m boat is being skippered by ICC qualified by law. But I do take your point.

Without passing any kind of judgement, Midi éclusiers have to deal with a lot of inexperienced (putting it diplomatically) boaters who have to be clearly 'instructed' on what to do / what not to do. Even then I've seen some truly heart-stopping, head-shaking manoeuvres and actions. I think they're also currently under additional pressure because VNF want to automate the locks and reduce the workforce. 

Midi.

Lock at PK 150.

Lockie was my side and there were no problems with the lock infrastructure. 

Which canal?