Any Thames recommendations

[Shifty]

l know it’s a long way off but we are planning on going to St Kats for New year 2024, three boats are hoping to make the trip up from IOW.
St Katt’s have quoted £150-00 a night (14.5m) we are fine with that for a few nights but it would make sense to stay probably a month or so having travelled that distance. So the question is, is there anywhere we could moor for a while within a tube hop of central London.

 

[Time Out]

l know it’s a long way off but we are planning on going to St Kats for New year 2024, three boats are hoping to make the trip up from IOW.
St Katt’s have quoted £150-00 a night (14.5m) we are fine with that for a few nights but it would make sense to stay probably a month or so having travelled that distance. So the question is, is there anywhere we could moor for a while within a tube hop of central London.

Limehouse is the only other sensible option otherwise is further up towards Chelsea.

Post in Thames forum too

 

[Shifty]

Limehouse is the only other sensible option otherwise is further up towards Chelsea.

Post in Thames forum too

Yes I had wondered about Chelsea, I helped a friend move a boat from Chertsey to south coast a few years ago and we stayed on some outer pontoons there and wondering if that’s an option.

 

[Time Out]

Yes I had wondered about Chelsea, I helped a friend move a boat from Chertsey to south coast a few years ago and we stayed on some outer pontoons there and wondering if that’s an option.

Imperial Wharf, Chelsea. Not sure on space or time restrictions. Full tidal access though.

 

[jrudge]

As above Limehouse. I had my boat on the Thames. The tidal Thames is basically a commercial waterway and the marinas are only accessible at certain tide states.

there is no where to stop. I once tried to drop passengers on the London eye quay ( would have been 1 minute ) they have bouncers who are not very nice people.

post on the Thames forum for a more U.K. to date view , it other than the novelty of going through central London I would give it a miss. December will be cold.

 

[Seastoke]

Also getting a tube , they will be on strike.

 

[Shifty]

As above Limehouse. I had my boat on the Thames. The tidal Thames is basically a commercial waterway and the marinas are only accessible at certain tide states.

there is no where to stop. I once tried to drop passengers on the London eye quay ( would have been 1 minute ) they have bouncers who are not very nice people.

post on the Thames forum for a more U.K. to date view , it other than the novelty of going through central London I would give it a miss. December will be cold.

Thanks for taking time to reply, I have traveled the Thames before by boat but thought it might be nice to use it as a bolt hole in London for a change, the cold weather is to be expected and wont be a problem.

 

[oldgit]

Our boat club recently attempted to arrange a visit to Limehouse this Easter.
We have been told that Limehouse will not be accepting any short term visitors this year, not sure about monthly or longer stays.
Only real alternative is St Kats.
A longer stay ie. a week is much better value, regretably the fact that Limehouse is not available has made getting into St Kats much harder during popular periods, not due to capacity within the marina but getting everybody in and out during the limited locking slots.
Shifting your arrival/departure back or forward a day can get you in.
South Dock is good value but out in a Gulag south of the river.
Gallions has long gone and West India only if you can actually discover somebody/anybody interested in communicating with you and you are resolute in wading through pages and pages of online paperwork specifically designed for your average 4 masted barque with no mention of small yachts or Mobos anywhere. Once you could pick up the phone and as long as you had a decent number of boats, they would tell you how much and when to arrive, occasionally they might even ask you to pop cheque in the post prior to arrival.
St Kats once-apon-a-time used to give you club discount.
Chelsea no longer accept visitors inside and the outer pontoons can get bouncy when Broom owners are in hurry to get to Teddington after leaving St Kats.
Anybody tempted to stop at the Hermitage moorings had better weigh at least 100 tonnes, constructed of riveted iron and have good collection of old lorry tyres for use as fenders.

So there you are , one of the most iconic capitals in the world, a night skyline to rival anywhere in the world , easily accessable by boat, on possibly the most famous historic river in the world and the most attractive first stop for anybody coming from Europe or further afield and ....................................!

 

[PlanB]

............ and, if he's still there, possibly the most user-unfriendly lock keeper - I was embarrassed at the way foreign visitors were treated.

 

[Shifty]

Our boat club recently attempted to arrange a visit to Limehouse this Easter.
We have been told that Limehouse will not be accepting any short term visitors this year, not sure about monthly or longer stays.
Only real alternative is St Kats.
A longer stay ie. a week is much better value, regretably the fact that Limehouse is not available has made getting into St Kats much harder during popular periods, not due to capacity within the marina but getting everybody in and out during the limited locking slots.
Shifting your arrival/departure back or forward a day can get you in.
South Dock is good value but out in a Gulag south of the river.
Gallions has long gone and West India only if you can actually discover somebody/anybody interested in communicating with you and you are resolute in wading through pages and pages of online paperwork specifically designed for your average 4 masted barque with no mention of small yachts or Mobos anywhere. Once you could pick up the phone and as long as you had a decent number of boats, they would tell you how much and when to arrive, occasionally they might even ask you to pop cheque in the post prior to arrival.
St Kats once-apon-a-time used to give you club discount.
Chelsea no longer accept visitors inside and the outer pontoons can get bouncy when Broom owners are in hurry to get to Teddington after leaving St Kats.
Anybody tempted to stop at the Hermitage moorings had better weigh at least 100 tonnes, constructed of riveted iron and have good collection of old lorry tyres for use as fenders.

So there you are , one of the most iconic capitals in the world, a night skyline to rival anywhere in the world , easily accessable by boat, on possibly the most famous historic river in the world and the most attractive first stop for anybody coming from Europe or further afield and ....................................!

This really is useful knowledge, a major rethink is underway, maybe I’ll ring St Kats and ask what the monthly rate might be.

 

[oldgit]

Recently they appear to be lot more interested in finding a way of getting you in.
Have in past been told they are full but on arrival have spotted several nooks and crannies that we would have been prepared to squeeze into if required.

 

[Time Out]

Claire Frew ( ex Motorboats Monthly) is the sales and marketing manager there. Always a friendly voice and very helpful.

What about Imperial or Chiswick ? I know a lot further up but still very much in the tidal / access zone. If not I have a very good contact at Teddington Harbour which is where I keep my boat.

 

[Shifty]

Claire Frew ( ex Motorboats Monthly) is the sales and marketing manager there. Always a friendly voice and very helpful.

What about Imperial or Chiswick ? I know a lot further up but still very much in the tidal / access zone. If not I have a very good contact at Teddington Harbour which is where I keep my boat.

Thanks for the tip, I’ll look into the suggestion.

 

[jrudge]

Claire Frew ( ex Motorboats Monthly) is the sales and marketing manager there. Always a friendly voice and very helpful.

What about Imperial or Chiswick ? I know a lot further up but still very much in the tidal / access zone. If not I have a very good contact at Teddington Harbour which is where I keep my boat.

I used to moor in chiswick. It needed dredging such that when a bit of water went out you were pushing through mud. It is full of old boats.

Brentford is better, but they are both interesting to get into if any tide at all is running.

I got quite good at it - happy - big push of power followed by neutral. The first time I did it it took some 9 attempts and I was stressed by the end of it.

The tidal thames is sadly a very unfriendly place.

 

[Shifty]

I used to moor in chiswick. It needed dredging such that when a bit of water went out you were pushing through mud. It is full of old boats.

Brentford is better, but they are both interesting to get into if any tide at all is running.

I got quite good at it - happy - big push of power followed by neutral. The first time I did it it took some 9 attempts and I was stressed by the end of it.

The tidal thames is sadly a very unfriendly place.

Sounds like fun! However once we are tied up we don’t plan to move until we head back. Just had a quick look at Chiswick, seems nicely positioned for what we want to do, is it run by a marine type of operation?
Also just thought will we need a river safety certificate? Obviously something we don’t need here in the Solent.

 

[jrudge]

Not really. It was run by a live aboard guy next to the lock.

The issue is the marina looks a mess and costs money. When they sold the houses I am sure it seemed glamorous, but it is just an eye sore. Then they want money of the residents for dredging etc and they say no. The moorings on the tidal thames there are cheap cheap ( non total thames is expensive). Cheap moorings attract cheap boats etc.

Brentford has a shop and used to have a club house don't know if it still does. Nicer place to be. More shops in walking distance, but do post on the Thames Forum - they will have note up to date info

 

[Chris_d]

Sounds like fun! However once we are tied up we don’t plan to move until we head back. Just had a quick look at Chiswick, seems nicely positioned for what we want to do, is it run by a marine type of operation?
Also just thought will we need a river safety certificate? Obviously something we don’t need here in the Solent.

You only need a Boat Safety Cert if going onto the non-tidal above Teddington, Chiswick is operated by a Charity and the visitors' moorings are very limited, smallish boats only, we only just squeezed in last year in a 32footer and we were the only visitor. Forget Brentford the marina is max 30ft I think and height restricted.

Your best option is still St Kats the long-term rates aren't too bad, check their website. As mentioned above the tideway is not pleasure boat friendly at all your presence is tolerated but not encouraged.

 

[Shifty]

You only need a Boat Safety Cert if going onto the non-tidal above Teddington, Chiswick is operated by a Charity and the visitors' moorings are very limited, smallish boats only, we only just squeezed in last year in a 32footer and we were the only visitor.

Your best option is still St Kats the long-term rates aren't too bad, check their website. As mentioned above the tideway is not pleasure boat friendly at all your presence is tolerated but not encouraged.

Thanks for that, I’ve emailed St Kats for a monthly rate.

 

[jrudge]

You only need a Boat Safety Cert if going onto the non-tidal above Teddington, Chiswick is operated by a Charity and the visitors' moorings are very limited, smallish boats only, we only just squeezed in last year in a 32footer and we were the only visitor. Forget Brentford the marina is max 30ft I think and height restricted.

Your best option is still St Kats the long-term rates aren't too bad, check their website. As mentioned above the tideway is not pleasure boat friendly at all your presence is tolerated but not encouraged.

Unless they have changed it you don't need one if you do a temp registration at Teddinton lock for the weekend etc.

It was only for permanent registration.

 

[Time Out]

That is correct, for reference if you do want something more scenic, then Teddington with a slow commuter train to wloo (35 mins) or tube from Richmond is not a bad place to be. In fact, it was voted the best place to live in the UK Tedd harbour is downstream of Tedd lock so no paperwork is required. Safe and secure pontoon moorings. Just another option if the lower tidal options do not work out.