Dry Docks

Have you ever wondered what happens to all the boats in winter? Well,most of them go to a dry dock to getrepaired.

A dry dock is sort of like a dock where they fix boats. The boats enterit just like a lock. The lock tenders open the lock doors and water comesin along with the boats.

Once the boats are in the lock, tenders let the water out without theboats. Then the boats slowly sink down onto props to hold them up.

After all the boats are in, the workers drain all the water out andbring machines and tools down in it and start working on the boats.

Dry docks aren't found very often on the whole Erie Canal, which iswhy their maximum capacity is about 18 boats.

In the spring, all of the boats usually fully repaired and ready togoSo if it wasn't for the dry dock, lots of boats on the Erie would goto the dumps when they could be easily repaired instead.