advice wanted for motor boat on the thames

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evans4190

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Hi everyone im new to the forum and boating and want some advive my wife has finally given in and given me permission to get a motor boat we actually live opposite thurrock yacht club and would love some advice on how to tackle the thames with a motor boat with the strong currents as im new to this and dont want it to be a disaster lol like what engine size what type of boat all would suite this part of the thames any advice would be great.

Thank you
Regards
 
Welcome to the forum...

What do you want to use the boat for, day boat, overnight, week away, just you and your wife, family, friends, dogs?

What is your budget? Otherwise it's a bit how long is a piece of string......
 
Sulley said:
Welcome to the forum...

What do you want to use the boat for, day boat, overnight, week away, just you and your wife, family, friends, dogs?

What is your budget? Otherwise it's a bit how long is a piece of string......
Click to expand...

From another thread the OP mentioned a budget of £5k

I think the important question, as well as those above, now has to be, is it gong to remain permanently on the river or does the OP ever envisage going tidal with it? No point it getting a big engined boat for the former and a boat perfectly suited to the river may not be any good for the latter.

Lots of choice of good little river boats for the budget. Freeman, Norman, Viking, Shetland etc etc
 
Whatever style of boat you decide upon will depend upon questions already posed by other contributers to this thread. However at this stage I would suggest either and outboard powered outfit or if inboard make sure it is on shaft(s). Avoid at all costs outdrive powered inboards. Great when new but expensive lumps of corroding aluminium to maintain when older.
 
Thank you all once again :) im steering towards non tidal thames as its only about an hours drive for me trailering a boat is a no go im afraid i will want a mooring and to your questions budget is around 5k thats with mooring the lot ready to boat and its me the wige and our 7 year old son who also wants a boat as much as me lol we would like it for qn all rounder really day trips and overnight no more than a weekend though. Any suggestions on places to moor on non tidal thames?

Thanks again :)
 
neale said:
I think the OP has expressed a preference for non-tidal. Was talking about canals on the other thread and not fancying the currents of the Thames at Thurrock. I suggested Non tidal Thames in preference to canals.
Click to expand...

Not having seen the "other thread" I was not aware of this...
 
My preference in your price range would be for a Freeman 22/23. Classic boat of the river thames with an enormous following and with fantastic backup and spares from Sheridan Marine up at Moulsford. Check out their website.
As for moorings cheapest around appear to be Saxon Moorings at Old Windsor
not far from J13 M25.

Also don't forget it's coming towards the end of the season for many boaters and it is very much a buyers market at the moment. If you budget is say 6k I would be looking to make offers on boats in the region of 10k. Sellers will do their sums and factor in not having to pay winter mooring fees/insurance and river licence.
 
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evans4190 said:
I dont know much about the lea im open to anywhere though i will look into the river lea :)
Click to expand...

If you're on a small budget then the Lea is the more sensible choice:-
  • CART River only licence wil be less that a Thames ditto
  • Moorings should be affordable - whereas on the Thames they are astronomic and really you should be in a marina as popping down to the boat is terribly practical, say Thurrock to Kingston.
  • The Lea is a canalised river - so bankside moorings (if available) are easier. Thames banks are not always very accessible.
  • You're in the right location for the Lea (same side of the Thames, both "ends" are a short distance for you by car - easier to pop down for a quick potter or fish...
  • The lower Lea is not very pleasant - but I've not seen how the Olympics have changed the river view but further up it's very nice indeed.
 
Sorry, can't help it. Please use these. . . . . . , , , , , , ,. I've left some out for you to insert at your convenience.

Not taking the p***, but I found the last post actually difficult to understand at one point!

Other than that, welcome to the forum! :)

Sulley will sort you out with the right boat.

A diesel Freeman is a good bet, it will last forever. O/B powered boats are also good (Viking, Norman etc..) - relatively lots of boat for the money, but a bit of a pain to service as you'll need to get the engine off or boat lifted for simple annual maintenance.

An inboard powered Freeman / any shaft drive can be serviced afloat.
 
As far as diesels are concerned yes every time; except in a little Freeman as their noise can be a little intrusive. In fact they are quite rare in a 22 or 23.
The majority are petrol, the old ford 100e engines and they purr like a little sewing machine.:)
 
Thats a cheap Birchwood 25!!

The River Lea will cost you circa £1000 a year for moorings and licence, lift-outs at Ware area are cheap as chips.

No manned or powered locks, but navigable from Hertford down to the Thames, meaning trips to St Kats are under two days away!

If the Thames ever gets too dear for me, I'll be straight down to the Lea.

The Lea and Stort Cruising club are active :)

Watch your airdraft, the B25 should fit, but no flybridges allowed! You'll have a great time on the Lea, and there are some very very pretty places too. I recently moved into a waterside apartment, and it's lush :D
 
I have seen Chat A Box (the boat Neale spotted on e-bay) out and about regularly on the Thames.

Birchwood 25s have really great accomodation for their size and would make an excellent first boat.
 
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Quite by coincidence I was asked to assist my son who was delivering a boat he sold to a person with moorings at Saxon Marina.
What a lovely rural little retreat it is. (easier to find by river than by road) There were several finger pontoons with spaces and signs stating moorings available. They advertise on the website £980 +VAT PA up to 27ft.
Need to negotiate a narrow inlet with low bridge but once inside it's a little haven.
I have no vested interest in this little marina but have passed its discreet little entrance many times over the years.Having now visited it, I have to say I was very taken by it for a small boat marina,not commercial; rather more a picnic site with moorings. Certainly worth a look for anyone with a boat that fits.:)
 
Seconded.

We kept our first two boats (Nauticus 23 & Birchwood 25) at Saxon Moorings. Its a lovely little place, just below Old Windsor Lock on the stretch that goes through Runnymede on the way down to Bell Weir Lock.
 
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