Advice on tidal Thames

[MartinBailey]

We have enjoyed a 21 foot Shetland 4+2 with a 20HP outboard engine for the last few years now, but have yet to venture onto the upper tidal Thames.

Does anyone have any advice (or links to advice) on anything to watch out for ?

We have found the Out and About guides to the non tidal Thames invaluable but unfortunately, they stop at Teddington. Any recommendations (books or web) for similar information on the tidal reaches ?

Thanks,
Martin.

 

[Ramage]

The River Thames Book by Chris Cove-Smith

Published by Imray.

Spiral bound, costs about £10.

 

[byron]

You will be OK. The forerunner of the 4+2 which was the Shetland 610 and the 2+2 were blooded on the upper tidal Thames although they were fitted with 120hp inboard/outboards.
As a 'just in case' I would reccomend you have an auxiliary outboard as a get you home measure. Bear in mind that with a 20hp on your boat you will be best advised to use the tides. Working against the tide with that size engine on that size boat will be both costly and hard.

 

[TrueBlue]

PLA have a

very nice booklet entitled "The Tidal Thames -
A Guide for Users of
Recreational Craft".

You can download it as I have, but apologies, I don't have the time tonight (noises from the culinary department), but I can point you to the PLA recreational users page

which has a lot more information besides.
The guide is well worth downloading when you've found it.....

 

[ms1]

Re: PLA have a

There is a practical Thames Tidal feature here
http://www.waltonbridge.org.uk/
as stated above I would be inclined to travel with the tide as much as possible with an engine of your size.
Take an anchor with you. If you go beyond, say, Putney then have a VHF radio and monitor London VTS on channel 14.
As a tester you might like to try an overnight at Chiswick Pier (bookable) - this will at least give you somewhere to go rather than just going beyond the Richmond Barrier and stooging around for a few hours.

 

[joejo]

As a first trip perhaps try Brentford, aprox one hour from Teddington, stop on the BW moorings and come back next day with the tide. Best to book passage with Brentford Lock who will give locking times etc.

 

[MartinBailey]

I'd like to thank everyone for their responses. I have ordered a couple of the books mentioned and taken a look at the online resources. I'll start planning a voyage - maybe even this year if it ever stops raining :-(

 

[oldgit]

A trip down into the centre of London is an amazing experience,a few things to watch for,keep an eye out for trip boats,tugs towing barges and the Clipper fast ferries,they can outrun anything on the river.
Ps Can get very very bumpy at times,early morning or late evenings is best.