4ft Draft on non-tidal Thames

Gavi

Gavi

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 Jun 2006
Messages
2,637
Visit site
This may seem a stupid question, but in what circumstances might such a draft cause problems. E.gs...

- Geoff had problems with less draft than that going around our little island
- mooring on the Eton side
- getting to that nice little pub by Thames Ditton (Swan?)

Is there anything less obvious that I should consider if moving to a boat with such a draft?
 
I think there are a number of places on the Thames where 4ft would be a real problem. I can remember touching bottom in a few places that I thought were in the middle of the navigation.

I seem to recall, just below Clifton Hampden Bridge, just by the green lateral near the entrance to the River Ock, Abingdon, and just above Folly Bridge Oxford. As well as round the back of Church Island, that wasn't just touching botton, it was full stop, must have been less than 0.5 metre.
 
B1 is the man you need to speak to.
He has more experience than anyone else I know in the finding the bottom department.His boat regularly draws about 4ft according to legend.
 
Mine has 4' draft too but I manage to get all the way up as far as Christchurch Meadow in Oxford. Sure there are places where I need to be careful and Clifton Hamden is one of them, there are some moorings that cause problems but you get used to it and choose the ones you can use. I've even been up the Kennet to just past Blakes lock.
 
Hi

As this is the first year in last 10 that I may actually make it up there, can you be a little more specific as to where the "hotspots" are at Clifton and Abingdon?

Can you mark Red crosses on here?

3461496017_e539880b6b.jpg


One thing that always puzzles me is why EA dont at least mark these places so we know to stay away, that must be very simple and cheap to do and yet we have to rely on local knowledge?

Cheers

Mike
 
It's a bit difficult to do but I'll have a go later. Basically, when coming up stream and approaching Clifton Hamden you will see an old wooden boathouse on your right, there should be a green marker buoy just opposite it. Keep to the left of that buoy about midway between it and the left bank, head towards the centre arch of the bridge, very slowly and just left of centre of the river. Near the bridge it is deeper wider. Through the arch it is possible to carefully go to the moorings on the right, they are shallow too, but you should be able to pick your way across, head for the mooring above the tree if you want to moor. (A bit expensive for you £3! goes to the local primary school for swimming lessons - a worthy cause). Continuing up towards the lock cut I find it best to keep just left of centre, do not cut the corner off when entering the cut.

We took the big Misty C up one year and he came back on his own and managed to go hard aground between the lock and the bridge - towed off by a NB I believe!

Perhaps we can have a chat at the TVR if you still have concerns.
 
She is a bit different... actual draft is 3'11" and our offer was accepted today. Seagoing, but not very quick. Steel, but modern.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What on Erath are you looking at getting, come on, spill the beans?!

[/ QUOTE ]

...and she MIGHT look a bit like this:
3463879876_6b131c291b_s.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
What on Erath are you looking at getting, come on, spill the beans?!

[/ QUOTE ]

We have a trial on Saturday. It occurred to me that you will know the answer to the most important question: How much depth is there at The Swan!?
 
I used to take my Princess 435 in there no problem as long as I used the upstream portion of the jetty. Of course things may well have changed now.
 
[ QUOTE ]
We have a trial on Saturday. It occurred to me that you will know the answer to the most important question: How much depth is there at The Swan!?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't even think about the right hand (going upstream) arch of St Aines bridge on your way home!!
 
Perhaps I am being too pathetic about this. I see the advantages of a deeper draft for London trips.... but as I want to do this, should I buy semi-displacement and have half a chance of keeping up with the Targa 2? However, I like the displacement approach...
 
Forum power! Bradtarga34 kindly tested Swan depth for me and sent me an MMS:

3475355063_f9a2af7016.jpg


Cheers Brad /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top