Boat hire on the Mudway .

[oldgit]

Years ago you could hire anything from a rowing boat to a proper cabin cruiser on the Upper Medeway.Suspect spanish sun sea and s***(sand) finished that off.
However the Allington Belle crew at Fords Wharf appear to be now hiring out day boats and a four berth cabin cruiser
www.allingtonbelle.co.uk

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I recall rowing/day boats available in a few locations in Tonbridge during my youth, but there may still be something just upstream of the Big Bridge.

 

[oldgit]

I recall rowing/day boats available in a few locations in Tonbridge during my youth, but there may still be something just upstream of the Big Bridge.

When up at Tonbridge last summer,the boat hire man was absent.

 

[Antony Collis]

The hire boats
I see them all the time and only being small they don't have the usual danger that you'd get somewhere like the Broards where novices are let loose with a 40ft boat. On the other hand this is their main trouble.

Because they are small they can get out of a lock by opening only one gate and the operators seem to not have been told about closing the paddles. Also they seem to open them all fully. Believe me this is hell when your not far behind one going downstream. On the other hand, I was once waiting in the river at Farleigh going downstream 'cos there was 2 hire boats on the dock. i waited for what seemed like ages longer than normal. It turned out they had only opened 2 of the paddles about 20cm each

The thing is I don't mind as I remember being new to it but still, it is annoying sometimes.
It's a shame you can't hire row boats from Maidstone town any more. Thats what got me into all this.

 

[Medway_Squirrel2]

When up at Tonbridge last summer,the boat hire man was absent.

Boat hire man is back this year (albeit a new boat hire man) and with new boats.

Medway Squirrel

 

[Phill]

When up at Tonbridge last summer,the boat hire man was absent.

Not 100% sure, but think he is now operating on the lake at Hever Castle near Edenbridge.

 

[oldgit]

Boat hire man is back this year (albeit a new boat hire man) and with new boats.

Medway Squirrel

Is that lock finished yet

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Lock finished? Do tell. Not been there in a year or two.

 

[oldgit]

Lock finished? Do tell. Not been there in a year or two.

Eldridges lock has under gone major mending over the winter and will not be open until 16th July.Delays caused by last winters floodwater,possibley eroding sheet piles or some such ? Work had to be redone,

http://www.allingtonlock.co.uk/

 

[Medway_Squirrel2]

The refurbished lock at Eldridges is looking very good. As you were aware half of the old look was closed due to the sinking lock island and other issues. Should be able to post some completed photos next week.

Medway Squirrel

 

[oldgit]

"The thing is I don't mind as I remember being new to it but still, it is annoying sometimes."

Welcome to forum.

My main whinge is about the blimming lock at Hampstead.The number of times I have entered the lock,usually at some unholy early hour of the morning (it annoys the wife no end,early starts),only to find after waiting ages for the lock to fill,that some ******** has left ALL the paddles fully up the previous evening.....Grrr.
Takes me at least 10 mins before it dawns on me to glance down at the winding gear at the other end of the lock.Have requently followed boats down that have left at least one paddle up at every lock.
Tends to be the small stuff with an outboard and a few bits of string for mooring.Hate to say it but the new EA rules and BSS are about to cull a lot of boats off the river.
The fact that you must has some sort of insurance will start the process.