Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston)?

[Superflid]

If anyone is heading out of the River Witham through the Grand Sluice during the next week or so, they may be in a position to help me out.
I have an engineless boat moored in Boston marina which needs to be towed downriver about a mile to it's permanent mooring.

Other option is to bolt an outboard to it and take it myself, problem is that my 4hp just isn't going to push a 25 footer with a 10 foot beam!

See grovelling, begging, outboard post.........

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[Roy]

Would it be possible to have someone tow you alongside to your new berth? Should be simpler and easier to arrange as most folks don't like lending out motors etc. Roy

<hr width=100% size=1>What does this mean then?

 

[Superflid]

Re: Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston

Would be grateful in the extreme for either a tow or an engine. I can understand the problems with either, but I'm almost getting down to begging level!

Had thought about standing on the boat with my thumb out and a rope in hand..........

The real annoyance is that I've got friends with fishing boats moored at Boston who would be happy to do it, but they are all too big to get under the road bridge!

The joys of boating.

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[Roy]

Re: Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston

Sorry can't help personally as too far from you but perhaps if you got one or better, two dinghy/rib owners to tug you bow and stern as it were, then you would all clear the low bridges and or locks?? Just a thought. Roy

<hr width=100% size=1>What does this mean then?

 

[Talbot]

I think you might be surprised by the ability of the 4 hp with a boat of that size. I have pushed my 9m catamaran (beam 14 ft) with a 2hp for over 3 miles without problems. The real issue is whether you have any current to push against, or whether you can arrange things to have the current with you.

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[Superflid]

Re: Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston

Might have found an engine to borrow, but still not certain.

If all else fails, will try the 4hp on the non-tidal early next week and make a decision on that.
The current will be with me, the problem might be stopping it at the mooring when I arrive!

Might be able to arrange for fishing boat to meet me.......

Sorry, thinking out loud!


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[Superflid]

Re: Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston

I've managed to get hold of a 9.9 Tohatsu, which should be more than up to the job. Just have to arrange things with the lock-keeper at the Grand Sluice and should be frightening boaters sometime early next week!

Stand back! Coming through!!!!!

Will let you know how much of a disaster we cause........

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[Talbot]

Re: Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston

Good luck!

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[Superflid]

Re: Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston

Thanks, we might need it!

Highly amenable lock-keeper has arranged 2.30pm Tuesday to be a good time to be nowhere near the Grand Sluice.............

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[Superflid]

Re: Are you going through the Grand Sluice (Boston

Now I can relax!

After finding that the boat steering was in a sorry state of repair (things were fine until turning was needed!) and bodging together a makeshift tiller for the outboard, things went surprisingly easily.

After sitting ready to go for 10 minutes waiting for the River Chaplain (Father,Son and the Holy Boat?) to come through in the opposite direction, then being told he wasn't there yet, went through waving to crowds of onlookers (probably wondering just exactly where we were going to sink!). Exchanged pleasantries with a speeding waterborne religious congregation.......
Downriver through town was a pleasant, if short, trip. Thunderclouds threatened but stayed far enough away. Even managed a graceful turn to moor facing up river.

For the record, the 10hp outboard I borrowed was more than up to the job, I might have gotten away with using my 4hp. Somewhere around 3.5 tons with a 10 foot beam, barely needed more than tickover to reach 4mph. Any more power and the home-brewed outboard bracket was turning into a poor imitation of a banana....

All I have to do now is put an engine in the thing!


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