MickJ
New member
Thanks to everyone that gave advise about my first trip away from the confines of the Crouch in Essex. This is an abridged version of events if you get a minute or two with nothing better to do...
Picked up my new boat from Shepperton on Friday. I nervously moved it off its ridiculously tight berth, between the bow of a particularly pointy Sunseeker and an unruly hedge that seemed to be reclaiming the land at the edge of the marina, and onto the diesel berth. So far so good, I've never had the pleasure of driving a duo prop outdrive before, I cant believe the level of control compared to a small outboard.
We set off towards the city and arrive at my first ever lock, no problem! Finally arrive at Teddington lock, oh boy are these duo prop thingies good!! I'm getting confident now, even ferry gliding against the slight pull of the weir instead of mooring up to wait for the lock to open. I moored up in Teddington marina for the night and marvelled at the madness from the pubs, bridges and walkways around me. A different world from the mud flanked Crouch.
Next morning the city of London went in a blur, our 25ft boat between the fast ferries didnt feel too safe. A rubber duck in a splashing bath is the best analogy I can think of. From the Isle of dogs to Tilbury it was dead flat, and we managed 25 knots on average all the way. We didnt meet a single boat, and only slowed a little for the Thames barrier. Then I made my first mistake. Just past Tilbury we past a large container ship, for some reason I didnt see the 6ft trough behind the 1ft ripple that preceded it. I took it beam on and wasn't popular with the crew! We lost of few cups, but everything seemed to survive.
The 10ish miles from Southend pier out to the Whitaker buoy was horrible, really choppy with the wind over tide, but we made it to Burnham, moored up and had a pint. Then the last stretch home, where having moored up, and revelling in lack of issues encountered, a visiting yacht ploughed into the back of me! Biggest lesson learnt - protect your own boat to the determent of others. Whilst I was taking their bow lines on the opposite pontoon, they were using my flag staff to fend off their boat. I ended up with deep scratches in the bathing platform and cracked gel coat around the base of the flag. I didn't notice the extent of the damage until they had left as their boat was obscuring the view. They didnt say a word to me, even though they must have known they damaged my boat!!!! They didnt even pay the marina for the overnight stay apparently. So, TIGRESS, the bill is in the post, if I can find you that is...
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Picked up my new boat from Shepperton on Friday. I nervously moved it off its ridiculously tight berth, between the bow of a particularly pointy Sunseeker and an unruly hedge that seemed to be reclaiming the land at the edge of the marina, and onto the diesel berth. So far so good, I've never had the pleasure of driving a duo prop outdrive before, I cant believe the level of control compared to a small outboard.
We set off towards the city and arrive at my first ever lock, no problem! Finally arrive at Teddington lock, oh boy are these duo prop thingies good!! I'm getting confident now, even ferry gliding against the slight pull of the weir instead of mooring up to wait for the lock to open. I moored up in Teddington marina for the night and marvelled at the madness from the pubs, bridges and walkways around me. A different world from the mud flanked Crouch.
Next morning the city of London went in a blur, our 25ft boat between the fast ferries didnt feel too safe. A rubber duck in a splashing bath is the best analogy I can think of. From the Isle of dogs to Tilbury it was dead flat, and we managed 25 knots on average all the way. We didnt meet a single boat, and only slowed a little for the Thames barrier. Then I made my first mistake. Just past Tilbury we past a large container ship, for some reason I didnt see the 6ft trough behind the 1ft ripple that preceded it. I took it beam on and wasn't popular with the crew! We lost of few cups, but everything seemed to survive.
The 10ish miles from Southend pier out to the Whitaker buoy was horrible, really choppy with the wind over tide, but we made it to Burnham, moored up and had a pint. Then the last stretch home, where having moored up, and revelling in lack of issues encountered, a visiting yacht ploughed into the back of me! Biggest lesson learnt - protect your own boat to the determent of others. Whilst I was taking their bow lines on the opposite pontoon, they were using my flag staff to fend off their boat. I ended up with deep scratches in the bathing platform and cracked gel coat around the base of the flag. I didn't notice the extent of the damage until they had left as their boat was obscuring the view. They didnt say a word to me, even though they must have known they damaged my boat!!!! They didnt even pay the marina for the overnight stay apparently. So, TIGRESS, the bill is in the post, if I can find you that is...
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