Anchoring on the Non-Tidal Thames.

[Kingfisher of Enniskillen]

Some advice please for a newcomer to the Thames based in Windsor.

I have previously done all my boating in Ireland, mostly on Lough Erne and some on the Shannon, where I would frequently drop the anchor for coffee and indeed often for an overnight stay. Can I anchor on the Non-Tidal Thames? I appreciate that it would be inappropriate in the narrower parts of the river, but there are occasional places where it looks quite wide enough to anchor without obstructing the navigation channel. Firstly, am I allowed to, and secondly, is it accepted practice?

On another point, is it considered reasonable or acceptable to make a short stop on the end of a long lock landing? This would only be the the 20 minutes it would take to eat a sandwich, and the boat would always be attended, and would only happen if it was not at all busy, and therefore not inconveniencing others.

I look forward to the advice and comments from others.

Andrew

 

[Gibeltarik]

Some advice please for a newcomer to the Thames based in Windsor.

I have previously done all my boating in Ireland, mostly on Lough Erne and some on the Shannon, where I would frequently drop the anchor for coffee and indeed often for an overnight stay. Can I anchor on the Non-Tidal Thames? I appreciate that it would be inappropriate in the narrower parts of the river, but there are occasional places where it looks quite wide enough to anchor without obstructing the navigation channel. Firstly, am I allowed to, and secondly, is it accepted practice?

On another point, is it considered reasonable or acceptable to make a short stop on the end of a long lock landing? This would only be the the 20 minutes it would take to eat a sandwich, and the boat would always be attended, and would only happen if it was not at all busy, and therefore not inconveniencing others.

I look forward to the advice and comments from others.

Andrew

Hello Andrew,

You can, legitimately, anchor or moor anywhere on the Thames for a reasonable period in the course of navigation.

You can anchor out of the fairway (navigable channel - the middle third ) for a similar time. Be prepared for passers by to ask if you are broken down! Legal but not common!

EA interpret reasonable as 24 hours on their moorings - Private moorings and frontages can set their own terms and charge as they wish.

Lock laybays are for transit but the Lock-keeper may be happy to approve your brief stop.

 

[Neil1300r]

I've never considered anchoring on The Thames, never even considered it. No idea. Re mooring up in the lock layby , ask the lock keeper and make sure you are at furthest point from the lock, facing the other way. Then its obvious to anyone approaching the lock, you are not moored, waiting to go through the lock

 

[DrakesH]

It's not unusual for smaller boats to anchor for a while, particularly for boats with outboards in shallow water out of the main channel. Fishermen after dark are the usual culprits, although this brave crew anchored in a very public place one sunny June afternoon!

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Thames navigation and general byelaws 1993.

57. Mooring, anchoring and vessels attached to moorings​

a) The master or person in charge of any houseboat or launch who causes that houseboat or launch to be anchored moored or remain stationary during the course of ordinary navigation shall ensure that no annoyance be caused to any occupier of a riparian residence by reason of the loitering or delay of that houseboat or launch.


-----

This was from Thames Conservancy days when a lot of influential people with big money had marvellous estates by the River and did not want to be troubled by the plebs too much.

Most of the old estates have been broken up but it is still technically a byelaw infringement to annoy a riparian resident.

Not sure how annoyance is defined but one imagines lewd acts such as necking or heavy petting, noise from broadcasting equipment and maybe smoke could be described as annoyances.

 

[Kingfisher of Enniskillen]

Thank you all for your comments. The opportunities to anchor are clearly few and far between, but it is useful to know that it is not a practice that is totally frowned upon.

With regard to very short term mooring on a lock landing, it appears that the best advice is to ask the lockkeeper first, and face away from the lock at the end. The only once I did it, I incurred the wrath of the lockkeeper, who marched up to us (quite a distance) and enquired if we were broken down!

I live and learn the practices of how to behave on a new waterway to me!

Andrew

 

[Outinthedinghy]

1993 Byelaws

49. Operation of locks weirs and sluices​

a) No person shall:

• (i) open or close or attempt to open or close the gate of any lock except by the means provided for that purpose or before the water is level on both sides of the gate;
• (ii) draw or operate any sluice until the lock-gates are closed;
• (iii) operate or leave open any sluice so as to waste water;
• (iv) operate or leave open any lock-gate so as to risk causing any hazard or unreasonable hindrance to other users of the river or its banks towpaths or footpaths;
• (v) operate any sluice otherwise than by means of the handle or other device normally used for that purpose;
• (vi) cause or allow any vessel in their charge to remain in a lock or channel or cut leading to and from the same longer than is necessary for the convenient passage thereof except when permitted by the authority.