Advice on trip down the medway

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Thallac

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Hi

I am planning a two day trip from London to Gillingham in August

I have a 18 ft speed boat/cuddy with a 90hp engine

I recently bought the boat and have it moored at kew.

I have experience of sailing and navigating in open water.

I would welcome advice from anyone who has done the journey, how long it takes, how the conditions compare to the Solent; I plan to take a 80lt of fuel will this be enough for one way? Which is the best marina?

Thanks
Tim
 
This isn't exactly 'Open water'!

London to the Medway is around 45 miles, I would want to take double the fuel you think you require as a safety margin.

You need a plotter: Follow a course, if you stray too near the bank (Which can be a LONG way sometimes!) you'll knock your prop up.

Single engine!? You sure you want to do this alone!?

Minimum requirements IMHO: VHF, Plotter, Chart, Secondary power source, Good crew and lifejackets.

Best do it in company...
 
Plotter???? In a speedboat??? You don't "need" a plotter in any boat.
What use are crew in a speedboat apart from ballast?
Down the Thames to the Medway "not exactly open water"? Right...

I'd be much more concerned that someone who claims "experience of navigating" can't apparently figure out the distance, time and fuel consumption of a simple trip like that. In such a case a plotter isn't going to help much, it's the RNLI he'll be needing.
 
More 'Busy shipping lane with plenty of shallow bits' than open water. I was down there (and back!) a couple of weeks ago...

Crew are handy for lookout duty, to help changing fuel tanks, untangling props etc etc....makes sense?

Navigation also makes sense, unless you know that stretch well. sudden fog or whatever isn't unheard of. I wouldn't want to be bobbing around in a single engined 18 footer with a running problem without a bit of back up.

I'm not disagreeing with you though :D
 
In good weather I have seen this done by a narrow boat. However, the Long Reach with wind over tide and off the Medway can be naughty at times. Endorse availabilty of VHF good advice.
 
Did this trip with Oldgit last year. Worked the tides and in my little Hardy 27 (twin diesels on shafts) it took just under 9 hours from Teddington to MDL Chatham at around 7 knots through the water.
Won't even attempt to guess how long it will take you but a lot less I guess?

Cant speak for the others but MDL Chatham was great and we stayed there for 5 weeks.

IMO VHF is a must plus lifejackets (wear them !!!) and an anchor. Plotter not essential but could be as simple as an iPad with the Navionics or similar app.

I also bought a nearly new 4 man life raft - but then I'm a belt and braces sort of guy :D
 
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Thanks for all your advice. I will be going with some one else, and have all the things you recommend apart from a plotter. I will post some pictures of the trip. Thanks again
 
Hi did anyone consider a Depth Sounder, as both a safety aid and a navigational aid?

Might suggest a small out board as an Aux power source!

Did that trip, from Marlow to Rochester, quite a while ago (to long to recall??) and sheltered from blustery winds in the Yantlet Creek for a couple of days, attracted the attention of local Policeman who pedalled (yes they used to) across the farm land to ask if we were doing a drug run! or something? cause, no one comes up here in a boat these days!
 
A.Just pick your day with decent forecast.Its a long way back once you get to Southend.
Until you have been in Sea Reach or the Swatch with the wind against the tide you have no idea how just miserable life can get :)
Once round the corner and inside Medway you can enjoy bashing the waves to your hearts content.
B. Fuel.
C.Fuel
D.Fuel
E.Monitor Ch 74 when in Medway for commercial traffic.Only wimps and upper Thames boat clubs listen to 16.
E.Anchor and sufficent rope,at least you can bung it over the side and stop things getting any worse.
F.Yes...... we know its summer but we really need warm and dry clothing aboard..just in case.
You really really do need to know how much fuel your boat/engine combination uses.
Around 10 knots down to Barrier and then say 20 knots after that if memory serves me right you will cover about 60 (ish) miles in total.
I would want about 50% extra fuel to cover cock ups etc.
Is engine 2 or 4 stroke,2 strokes can get horribly thirsty at WOT.
There is NOWHERE to get fuel until you get to Gillingham.
Keep a good lookout (including behind) some of those RoRo ships could be going as fast as you and the wash can be impressive.
Do not be put off,give a go,and a get real sense of achievement when you do arrive.:)
 
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If your engine is reliable, it's easy and should be enjoyable. You'll never be out of sight of land and the deepest water will be about 10m, so it's easy to drop the anchor and shout for help! Do your tidal calculations - you can catch some relatively fast currents at various times along that route and that can make a big difference to your fuel consumption.
 
maby said:
If your engine is reliable, it's easy and should be enjoyable. You'll never be out of sight of land and the deepest water will be about 10m, so it's easy to drop the anchor and shout for help! Do your tidal calculations - you can catch some relatively fast currents at various times along that route and that can make a big difference to your fuel consumption.
Click to expand...

Apart from the 24 metres off Garrison Point at Sheerness :)
http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbo...horages/chart/660162BA157F1/medway-2012-chart
 
:D

Re landing places suitable for small boat on this Thames trip!

At Gravesend, there is (or used to be), a shingle/ sand beach just downriver from Pier with access to/ from local roads. Last time I was there, there was a Petrol Station in town, within a long walking distance from this beach. Just might be useful to bear in mind if finding yourself running low on fuel before you embark on the trip round Isle of Grain into Medway.

Anyways, enjoy your trip, lots to see, just do not tie up to a Ship bearing sign, Richard Montgomery, could be bad news, within 30 miles radius!;)
 
maby said:
OK - there are a few deep bits, but you'll never be far from shallow water - often uncomfortably close!
Click to expand...

Yup often a tendency to keep close to the shore out of the only to find at some point you are stirring up mud even tho shore is some distance away.
From a quick internet search that Evinrude engine appears to like around 5/6 gallons per hour running at 20 knots or so.
Have not bothered with GPM as wether going with or against tide will alter calculations.
If the boat carries 80L or 18 gallons and we assume you cannot get to bottom gallon or so ..thats 17 usuable gallons or 2 .75 hours running time. you may make it ....just.
I would reckon on carrying full spare portable tank with snap loc type fast connection to be on safe side.
As many of us know trying to transfer petrol from cans into a filler hole via funnel reluctant to stay still is fun/smelly and poss dangerous.
Anybody else like to work out some figuires ....have allowed all sums to err on the safe side.
You could creep round ..but weres the fun in doing that in your type of boat.
Let us know when you are coming round.
Ps. MDL at Chatham Dockyard is the nicer of the Medway marinas and Tracy will look after you.
:)
 
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