A lovely weekend on the Thames

[LeeME3]

I'm pretty new around here and only have a basic 24ft cruiser but I've already learnt a lot from the forums. I do see a fair few comments about lack of use so just thought I'd say I had a great couple days on the Thames weekend just gone.

Set off from my mooring on Fry's Island (Reading) intending to only do a couple hours but it was so nice we just kept going, stopping for a swim on the way. Ended up overnighting at Wallingford and getting fish and chips!

On the way back stopped for a cold one at the Swan at Pangbourne. After some recent fuel bleeding and starting issues the old girl ran really well and the whole experience was exactly why I got into this lark in the first place!

Oh and every single lock was manned and without exception the lock keepers, both paid and volunteers, were pleasant, chatty and helpful (especially when I made a right biff of my entrance to Goring lock - got stuck on the wrong side and fluffed using the stern drive to get me over - it's a learning curve!).

And I learnt the value of keeping a few basics on board for when you end up spending the night unexpectedly. A few random pics (of probably the least glam boat on here, but she's a work in progess!) - and yes, I do need to learn to keep my lines neater!

At the mooring before departure

Near Beale Park

Alongside at The Swan

 

[thamesS23]

Some nice photos, thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum

 

[oldgit]

excellent account and pix.

 

[Actionmat]

Don't knock her, she's a nice little boat! It's good to see an old cruiser being used and looked after:encouragement:

 

[LeeME3]

It's good to see an old cruiser being used and looked after:encouragement:

Actually we think her basic structure was laid up in 1994 making her one of the last Palomino 24s to come out of the Beaves Marine yard before they packed up shop. Certainly the paperwork we have seems to support that. The restoration is mainly cosmetic although some mechanical fettling has been needed to get her running sweetly. I think most of these had homebrew / DIY interiors although this one, if DIY, has certainly been well fitted. It's really just a case of tidying her up and getting all the various bits working plus a few improvements, mainly to the cockpit area. The relatively large deck in front of the windscreen is proving popular with the kids for sunbathing though!

 

[Viking23]

Great pics and always good to hear experiences. My view is that it’s important to get afloat and about - you can have great fun whatever boat you have. It’s probably true that the more expensive the boat, the more worry you have though!

 

[LeeME3]

... It’s probably true that the more expensive the boat, the more worry you have though!

There is certainly a limit to how much value I want sitting largely unattended in the middle of Reading...!

 

[Viking23]

LOL! I could add a few other places too, but at the end of the day there is always insurance! Used to worry a lot, but not now.

 

[Big John]

I'm pretty new around here and only have a basic 24ft cruiser but I've already learnt a lot from the forums. I do see a fair few comments about lack of use so just thought I'd say I had a great couple days on the Thames weekend just gone.

Set off from my mooring on Fry's Island (Reading) intending to only do a couple hours but it was so nice we just kept going, stopping for a swim on the way. Ended up overnighting at Wallingford and getting fish and chips!

On the way back stopped for a cold one at the Swan at Pangbourne. After some recent fuel bleeding and starting issues the old girl ran really well and the whole experience was exactly why I got into this lark in the first place!

Oh and every single lock was manned and without exception the lock keepers, both paid and volunteers, were pleasant, chatty and helpful (especially when I made a right biff of my entrance to Goring lock - got stuck on the wrong side and fluffed using the stern drive to get me over - it's a learning curve!).

And I learnt the value of keeping a few basics on board for when you end up spending the night unexpectedly. A few random pics (of probably the least glam boat on here, but she's a work in progess!) - and yes, I do need to learn to keep my lines neater!

At the mooring before departure

Near Beale Park

Alongside at The Swan

Hope you put this years licence plate in the front window and removed the 2017.

 

[LeeME3]

Hope you put this years licence plate in the front window and removed the 2017.

The 2018 one is in there - just curled up! I've since moved it into the holder that came with the 2017 licence. Interestingly (and, for me, reassuringly) a lock keeper did actually ask to see it recently!