a few dumb questions about the Thames....

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CalmSkipper

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Hi

Never used this part of the forum before. I'm a newbie who sails the solent having chosen to do something memorable (as opose sensible) with an inheretnece - I bought a sailing yacht despite the fact this time last year i'd not stepped on anything larger than a wayfarer dinghy, studied nav over the winter and after a litlle bit of OBT started sailing in easter. I've learnt so much through the other forums and I just thought, why should the good people of the Thames forum be immune, so here are a few questions!!!!

1. How far can you sail up the Thames before big bridges (I have a 36 foot sloop) or the need for special exams/certificates stop you sailing further. I'm assuming its StCatherines dock???

2.where is the point at which the Thames becomes non tidal??

3. Is there anything stopping me driving to a part of the Thames (say Hampton/Richmond) with my 2.4m tender and an outboard in the boot and simply plonking her in the river and and motoring off??
 
St Kats is as far as you can get with your mast up. In theory you can have Tower bridge raised but that just gives you a few hundred yards more. No certificates or any other official nonsense are required on tidal or non tidal thames.

The Thames technically is non tidal after Teddington but tides can affect the river as far as Hampton Court.

You can drop your tender in anywhere on tidal or non tidal. Once on non-tidal Thames you should have a licence (similar to a car tax). Due to an idiocy called the BSS your dinghy will need to be tested by an appointed Inspector, you can then buy a years licence. Alternatively you can buy a one month visitors licence without the test. Lastly you can just pop your boat in, chances are you will not be challenged unless you try to go through a lock.
 
Are you sure about the BSS? I buy a years licence for Arctic Fox X and because it has no accomodation, sanitary facilities or cooking facilities BSS is not required.

From the EA licence form notes:

Privately owned outboard engined open launches – definition
A Boat Safety Certificate is not required for the above mentioned type of launch provided it is not
carrying or fitted with domestic cooking, heating, refrigerating or lighting appliances and provided it
complies with the requirements of Parts 3, 4 and 5 of the Boat Safety Scheme, as appropriate. It is
strongly recommended that fire extinguishers are also carried aboard.
A launch which has any form of enclosed accommodation or which is decked over the greater part of the
hull is not regarded as an open launch for Boat Safety Scheme purposes
 
ok, so notwithstanding the discussion re whether the license is needed or not what on earth is the logic of needing it in the NON tidal areas?? I would have thought there were more hazards, and therefore more need to worry about the vessel in the tidal areas????
 
Boat Safety Scheme is required by the Environment Agency (who control the Non-Tidal Thames and some other rivers) and British Waterways who control the canal network. They also require you to have a licence to navigate. The licence fee pays for upkeep of the waterways and locks etc.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) are responsible for the tidal Thames up to Teddington. They do not require any licence.

There is nothing to stop you using your tender on PLA waters. You could leave your sloop at St.Kats and explore upstream as far as Teddington at no charge. If you wanted to carry on through Teddington Lock, the Lock Keepers will sell you a day licence to carry on...
 
[ QUOTE ]
Are you sure about the BSS? I buy a years licence for Arctic Fox X and because it has no accomodation, sanitary facilities or cooking facilities BSS is not required.



[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry! I stand corrected /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
ok, so notwithstanding the discussion re whether the license is needed or not what on earth is the logic of needing it in the NON tidal areas?? I would have thought there were more hazards, and therefore more need to worry about the vessel in the tidal areas????

[/ QUOTE ]

The whole thing is a debacle. When it first came out you had to make certain boats unsafe at sea to comply with their rules. They've made various amendments since then. In the first year it came out they lost something like 20% of boaters who moved coastal. There was no 'Grandfather' clause and the whole shebang seemed to have been thought up by a dingleberry that thinks a Hull is a town up north.
 
As mentioned above.. BSS cert not required for privately owned open outboard powered launches meeting conditions as listed above. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Had a lovely cuppa and slice of cheesecake down by the lock today! Hope your gardens recover from all that building work /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
So - where are peoples favourite spots on the Thames?? I'm looking for a 4-6 mile stretch with a decent accessible pub at either end!
 
I'm up at Thames and Kennet marina.

It's an hour and a half cruise to Henley, or going upstream we can be at Pangbourne in two hours.

Upstream is quieter, there are less locks, and the Swan at Pangbourne has free mooring, in fact there is plenty of free moorings all the way up. The St George and Dragon is worth mooring at too, and we often pull up at Sonning too.

Downstream towards Windsor is pretty too, but mooring costs nearly all the way down....
 
Don't even mention the gardens ...

We discussed with them before they started , that they would move the shrubs and plant them in the pile of topsoil that they were going to create by skimming the island..

I come in to work to find a 60ton crane parked on top of the shrub bed .... WTF ... no one had an explanation ...

They have promised to re-instate them as they were , but i think we are probably going to go for a more manageable layout of the back beds ( the circular bed was a pain to mow round ) ...

Glad you enjoyed yourself down there , the views a bit miserable at the mo ....

H
 
It was very nostalgic.... I am a Teddington lad. My parents lived just opposite the Royal Oak in the High Street from the late 1950s until about 2 years ago. Some of my earliest memories are of feeding the ducks down at the locks.

My daughter (15) was with us, and she commented that she used to feed the ducks there with Nannie! Obviously my Mum was sticking with a winning formula...
 
Just left the Oak bout 20 mins ago, well the new one, not sure on it yet, looks good but need a few nights in there to really make my mind up.....Fed the ducks this morn, none around though so the fish ate it..
 
I have not tried the new "Oak" yet, I tend to use the Abercorn Arms these days.

Took "Carli" out for a spin this pm. We were overtaken on the inside by a coxed four. My lad was helming at the time.

Thing is, Alex is a keen rower (rows with Walbrook RC down at Trowlock Island, Teddington). He had a real go at them in Robo language...

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
The pub with new owners would probably be the Queen Dowager in North Lane (behind Tescos). It is a Youngs pub.

The Abercorn Arms is in Church Road, and is also a Youngs pub. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
You will prob find copies of Boat international and The yacht Report in that pub as the Ad managers for both live within 10 yard of it! All a bit strange for a little boozer on a small road!
 
Yes, loads of Boat Internationals! Who on earth buys that magazine? Roman Abramovich, Eddie Jordan & Sir Donald Gosling?

All of whom are regulars (NOT!). /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Have to encourage your patronage, then the mags will be worth reading!

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
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