Anybody see Tim and "Pru" go down The Wey.

[oldgit]

Last night on the telly.The Wey is certainly a hidden gem.
Just how far could you get down in "proper boat " drawing a metre or so ?

 

[Actionmat]

I don't know about a big boys boat, but friends of mine did it in a Freeman. They enjoyed everything but the hostile attitude of many NB's that they came across, who wondered what a river boat was doing on their river!

 

[boatone]

Last night on the telly.The Wey is certainly a hidden gem.
Just how far could you get down in "proper boat " drawing a metre or so ?

First cruiser was a Norman 32 narrow beam which we kept on the Wey and depth was rarely a problem as far as Town Bridge at Godalming. Lots of low bridges though so no chance of a 'normal' cruiser using the Wey Navigations at all if air draft more than 7 feet or so.

 

[oldgit]

First cruiser was a Norman 32 narrow beam which we kept on the Wey and depth was rarely a problem as far as Town Bridge at Godalming. Lots of low bridges though so no chance of a 'normal' cruiser using the Wey Navigations at all if air draft more than 7 feet or so.

Possible to "do" any of it with a flybridge ?

 

[boatone]

Read all about it:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wey_and_Godalming_Navigations

Don't think you'd get a flybridge through the first lock leaving the Thames at Weybridge.
http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/wey_nav_10.htm

 

[Hugh Foulis]

I watched it, I even saw my boat although I knew what I was looking for and where. Why is there any animosity between n/b and cruiser? I dont have any and do not come across it. There is no way to explore the Wey navigation on a flybridge boat, even if it could pass Thames lock, there is a fixed clearance entering Weybridge town lock that will defeat anything with a larger air draft.

 

[Actionmat]

Why is there any animosity between n/b and cruiser? .

No idea on the Wey, I was just passing on what I was told. On the Thames it's a different story, but with a little Freeman taking up 1/3rd of a NB space for the night I was surprised to hear it.

 

[Capt Popeye]

No idea on the Wey, I was just passing on what I was told. On the Thames it's a different story, but with a little Freeman taking up 1/3rd of a NB space for the night I was surprised to hear it.

Ahh, perhaps size matters to some NBers

Anyway a good programme to watch and poss an eye opener to many.

 

[oldgit]

Why is there any animosity between n/b and cruiser? I dont have any and do not come across it.

a personal view only.
Once apon a time....Everybody knew their station in life, their place in the world order and could afford to live in a in a house.
They also did the decent thing and expired about 3 years after retirement.
Canals were a muddy ditch at the back of the industrial estate and very useful for getting rid of your Astra GTE or your old Formica table.
A recent trip to a bit of the Medway by dinghy under the 6ft airdraft bridge in Tonbridge town revealed loads of NBs.Had no idea that so many existed unseen on the Medway.The Wey TV programme simply confirmed that hundreds of them lurk in the back waters and bywaters of our navigations.
Quietly and unrealised they have proliferated like an alien species until they were everywhere.
All of sudden we have a generation,with the time,the money and the inclination not just to fade away but to do something and what better than a canal boat to enjoy this new found liberty.
This was fine all the while they stayed in Macclesfield or Industry on Tyne.But they got adventurous and started to move south and even worse still insisted in speaking Birminghamese.
The glistening Thames lay there under used in all its glory,warm climate and lock keepers who actually worked your lock,what better way for those with more aches than ambitions to spend a summer.
After all there is nobody there but a few well heeled gin palace owners who rarely use their boats and seldom venture
out of the marina.
Suddenly the Thames mafia could no longer find somewhere to park 40ft of shiney white plastic outside Hampton Court on a Saturday evening and the grumbling started.
Here endeth the first lesson.
By the way how much does it cost to buy a NB and believe the Cart charges are very reasonable indeed.

 

[Actionmat]

Very poetic, OG:encouragement:

 

[TrueBlue]

We were on the Wey for four years until we discovered The Thames and not being locked in after 6 O'clock...

IIRC The bridge below Town Lock is even lower than Osney - I had to duck when standing on the rear deck on my bit of tin, so no roon in a flybridge....

 

[alanch]

Did the Wey as far as the anchor pub at Pyrford on a Bounty Sovereign 30 Sunbridge a few years back. Draft about 2ft 6ins and official airdraft of 7ft 6ins. To say it is tight is an understatement with that airdraft. The highest point on the boat was the throttle lever. Coxes lock is the fun lock as it flows across the lower gates. Bridge at Weybridge is about 1 inch clearance. If I knew how to post a picture on here I have one of us moored at the pub.

 

[alanch]

IIRC The bridge below Town Lock is even lower than Osney - I had to duck when standing on the rear deck on my bit of tin, so no roon in a flybridge....

So am I right in assuming that if I can make it to Pyrford I can get under Osney? Would love to try.

 

[oldgit]

No bites on my well presented bait then ?...go on ...

 

[Gumpy]

Took the barge to the head of navigation at Godalming. 3ft draft 6ft4 airdraft with wheelhouse down. Made it under Broadford bridge ( which is the lowest on the river) with ease on the way up, unfortunately river came up 3" overnight on the way back had to hit reverse to drop the bow under the bridge and then full forward to get the wheelhouse base under, couldn't get a fag paper between the bridge and the boat.

 

[Wavey]

I live by the Wey and often cycle the towpaths. Yes, it's very pretty but Freeman 23s are about the largest I've seen around in terms of air draft. You do have to keep to the centre of the navigation in places. Had to help a NB that had run aground by Pigeon House Bridge near Pyrford a month or so ago. They do seem to dredge fairly regularly (unlike the Thames!) and carry out repairs to the banks.

If you do venture that way can also recommend the Basingstoke Canal, also very pretty.