Air draft Trent

[Bridgeman]

Can any one please give me the max air draft for River Trent between Hull and Newark? or point me in direction of a suitable chart/guide.
Thank you.
Neil

 

[trouty12]

Can't remember the exact figures, (charts/books on the boat). However there is approx 4mtr. The low points are a bridge just after Newark Nether lock, the Town bridge in Newark and another bridge just after Newark Town lock, (all within approx 1/4 mile of each other.

I regularly do the trip in my flybridge, needing to lower the radar arch for the above obstructions, which means I need 4mtr.

Many large cruisers make the trip so unless you are in something realy big you shoukd have no probs.

Town bridge is quite narrow and arched so beam could be a problem but think your O.K. up to about 4.8mtr (check this).

"Trent Charts" series (paper booklets) are available from most marinas (including Hull). Nicholsons guide is also usefull.

Plan your tides carefully, keep to the outside of bends (especially as you get closer inland), and you will have no problems.

 

[Bridgeman]

Thank you trouty 12.
I will need to do a bit of accurate measuring. I was using 5 metres which allowed a bit. Looking to go to Newark marina when servicing due on the Volvo engines. I believe York marina service Volvos, so maybe that will be the answer.
Again thanks for advice.
Best regards.
Neil

 

[trouty12]

Yes, York (Naburn) marina do do Volvo servicing. You have no height restrictions on the ouse as the bridges all swing. However water depth and floating debris is often more of an issue than on the Trent. (especially at Acaster Selby).

On the Trent Gainsborough bridge is listed at 4.8m MHWS but there's usually more.

What kind of boat are you in and when are you making the trip? I am due to visit my boat in a couple of weeks and will look up the exact measurements.

On the other hand, if you fancy a crewmember, if it fits in I would be happy to come along and assist. Iv'e been up and down both rivers for the last 6 or 7 years and have a mooring at york and Newark.

John.

 

[towzer]

Hi
Try Ripon Motor Boat club book as reference for trips up and down the Trent and Ouse. I believe it can be bought through Ripon Boat Club . I have been up and down Trent,Ouse and Humber for last 18yrs. I still use the book for reference .It used to be for sale at Naburn Marina.

I moor at Newark marina and there are some biggish boats there that get through the bridges with radar arches down.

 

[kashurst]

If you contact british waterways they can give you the lock keepers phone number at Newark town lock. He will know all the dimensions. The lowest bridge is the concrete bridge just before the town lock when travelling downstream. If you can get under that the others are all OK. The old arched bridge by the castle looks small but the centre arch is bigger than you would think. If you are looking to decide York or Newark for servicing then I would go down the river Trent as it is generally easier with less rubbish in it. If you leave Hull Marina an hour before high water and travel @ 20Knts you will be at Gainsborough in 2 hours. after that you will have to slow down

 

[tinkicker0]

Hi
Try Ripon Motor Boat club book as reference for trips up and down the Trent and Ouse. I believe it can be bought through Ripon Boat Club . I have been up and down Trent,Ouse and Humber for last 18yrs. I still use the book for reference .It used to be for sale at Naburn Marina.

I moor at Newark marina and there are some biggish boats there that get through the bridges with radar arches down.

Last time I was in the chandlers at Naburn looking for the Ripon guide, all they had were the blue boaters guide, Trent chart series (Trent Falls to York). Still a good guide for the lower tidal reaches though with plenty of transits and bridge measurements.

 

[masterofnone]

river trent

what is the depth on the majority of the river. My boat was designed for the dutch/ french canals ie. 1.6m will I fit? Only asking as m.i.l lives in southwell, might be forced to visit sometime.

 

[trouty12]

what is the depth on the majority of the river. My boat was designed for the dutch/ french canals ie. 1.6m will I fit? Only asking as m.i.l lives in southwell, might be forced to visit sometime.

Non tidal depth usually greater than 1.8mtr. Tidal reaches obviously vary but other than at MLWS the Trent is generally navigable by most boats. The gravel barges seem to manage ok at just about any time and they must draw at least 2mtr when loaded. The amount of "fresh" coming down river also has a bearing. When there has been decent rainfall in the previous weeks then depths usually fine.

However time your passage with the tide and no need to worry about any of the above.

John.

 

[Bridgeman]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.
The boat is due service in March. It is a Beneatau 9.8 with twin volvos. No problem with the navigation side, but think it will be York as bridges seem too low for us to get to Newark. I will check out the guides recommended.
Thanks again.
Best regards.
Neil

 

[trouty12]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.
The boat is due service in March. It is a Beneatau 9.8 with twin volvos. No problem with the navigation side, but think it will be York as bridges seem too low for us to get to Newark. I will check out the guides recommended.
Thanks again.
Best regards.
Neil

Is the Beneteau 9.8 really 5mtr? I am surprised. I think I would speak to both marinas re the service and go with the one that instills most confidence and offers best deal. Newark are/were Broom dealers and have some pretty big boats in there. I bet they can advise on whether you could reach them. I suspect you could.
John.

 

[tinkicker0]

what is the depth on the majority of the river. My boat was designed for the dutch/ french canals ie. 1.6m will I fit? Only asking as m.i.l lives in southwell, might be forced to visit sometime.

Rarely see less than 10 feet mid channel above Naburn lock and past York, although judging from the depthfinder, in higher reaches, the river bed does seem to undulate a heck of a lot in not a lot of distance. Think the locals call the shoals mud hutts. Some have been known to clobber them.

Downstream of Linton lock, there is a marked channel as it does get shallow.
Mind you not had the time to get that far for a couple of years, so maybe it has changed.

As said though, below York, average rainfall, the depth goes from around 24 foot under the old railway bridge to about 12 - 16 feet at the top of the A64 straight and all the round to the millenium bridge.

Below Naburn lock, dunno, I refuse to take my boat into the mud that passes as water down there. My boat's raw water cooled and I don't want to silt up me engine block.

 

[nedmin]

As suggested 4 mtrs is a nearer figure than 5mtrs. You will not get thro. Newark with 5mtrs .R.trent is a much better river to go up than the Ouse altho. I use both.You usually have 6ft of water no matter whether high or low if you keep in the channel.The channel is usually on the outside of bends but there are exceptions.Mainly Marton Mill or Bend. DO NOT GO on the outside of this bend or you will hit rocks.Going upstream, As you go round a left hand bend you will see Marton Mill in front of you on the port bank Head for the port bank and look for a port hand marker which is partially hidden by some bushes,when you reach this head for the other side of the river (you will see some large vertical poles stuck into the river) head towards these and go round the inside of the bend( you have over 10 ft of water round the inside of this bend .Then head towards the middle of river.Another place to be careful is Laneham but if you get a chart you should be OK.Above Laneham the geography of the river generally tells you where the channel is.If you have a gently shelving bank and a steep drop on the otherside you want to be where the steep drop is.If it gently shelves both sides keep in middle.There are 2 sunken islands above Laneham where you keep right, thats why you need a chart.Dont know what the engineer is like at Naburn but the one at Newark Marina is good.He is even on this forum!If you want advice one of the best guys to ask is Sean at Cromwell Lock.He used to work on the barges.Tel 01636821213.Coming downstream is a different ball game.As a first timer its better to work the tides by stopping at Torksey.Then you will have plenty of water.If you cant get a chart PM me and I will photostat mine and send to you.

 

[volvopaul]

Pm sent re your service.

 

[PatrickH]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.
The boat is due service in March. It is a Beneatau 9.8 with twin volvos. No problem with the navigation side, but think it will be York as bridges seem too low for us to get to Newark. I will check out the guides recommended.
Thanks again.
Best regards.
Neil

Morning Neil,

We brought our Broom 44 down from Newark a couple of months back, if your in Hull marina we have the guides if you'd like to borrow them? We are 15' air draft and got through the town bridges ok, about 1' clearance. Was a steady day down with a stop for the tide at Owston Ferry. Going up to Newark sounds much easier... and they are a great bunch there.

 

[DAKA]

Pm sent re your service.

I was just about to suggest he finds a mobile mechanic

Crazy idea to head up/down Trent/Ouse just for a service.
Far better to get a mobile mechanic .

No point in spending £1000 for a service just to run aground and cause £1500 damage on the way home.

Once serviced follow another boat (with the charts) in order to gain experience.


Charts are not very helpful for air draft.

Many bridges are arched, in order for a chart to quote air draft they must assume your roof is wide and the measurement is taken from the widest part of the arch.
It is therefore possible for a 4.5m thin boat to get under a bridge marked as 3m but only local knowledge will tell you which ones are arched because the Trent has a mixture.

I wouldnt expect your boat to be an issue as long as you lower the VHF masts and avoid Gainsborough on the high spring tide and Town bridge during flood water.

If you cant make it under Gainsborough there is a waiting pontoon while the tide lowers and there is a marina before you get to Town bridge so your journey will not be wasted.

 

[Bridgeman]

Sorry for delay in posting I have been away. Thanks to everyone who posted and sent PMs, with information and advice. I have taken it all on board.
Best regards to all.
Neil