Boat Stuck on Chertsey Bridge - Sat PM

The BBC Website story was updated this morning.

The "News Item", if such it can be called is so distorted compared to the facts which were pretty clear by this morning that it makes me wonder just how much faith I should place in the accuracy of BBC reporting.

Judge for yourself HERE
 
The BBC Website story was updated this morning.

The "News Item", if such it can be called is so distorted compared to the facts which were pretty clear by this morning that it makes me wonder just how much faith I should place in the accuracy of BBC reporting.

Judge for yourself HERE

Thats as bad as the Mail...
 
If it turns out to be a Super van Craft, as I suspect it will, it will be worth quite a bit of money. Half a mil. is stretching it though.
 
That looks to be the same boat that was moored in Penton for a while on the finger pontoons backing onto the hanger near gate 4. It had a big plastic sheet over the wheelhouse then. From the pictures it seems she's had a fair bit of work done on her. Not sure where she is now as she's not back on that mooring. Lovely boat and can't be many of her marque around.

BTW "Deux Poissons" was known to me back in the late '60s/early '70s when John Buckingham owned her. Another classic Dutch boat and one that cruised the continent extensively when John owned her. Hope she finds a good home.
 
So the Sportsboat did it! Well done.

My only criticism is based my off-road driving and recovery experience. They should have had some "damping" on the rope to prevent the rope whiplashing and injuring the people in the sportsboat or the cruiser when it broke. An old blanket or I guess even a fender would have done it. Had a cleat or loop failed but remained attached to the rope it would have become a missile without some damping. This could have affected people on the bridge in the line of the pull.

Still I guess it was not considered in the heat of the moment.

Martin
 
:):)

Thank you for the Video 'Erik C', great watching and waiting to see what / when it happens! :)

Just as an aside, this sort of rescue was a normal affair on the Tidal Thames performed by River Police in the older Tough launch's with their Perkins engines and 3:1 reduction :)
 
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:):)

Thank you for the Video 'Erik C', great watching and waiting to see what / when it happens! :)

Just as an aside, this sort of rescue was a normal affair on the Tidal Thames performed by River Police in the older Tough launch's with their Perkins engines and 3:1 reduction :)

The 'duty boats' as they were termed are rarely used today, most having been sold off. A few are available for the 'specials' to use however. The Targas seem now to be the duty boat and backed up with black ribs full of 'ninjas' from SO19. Elegance has been superceded for speed more's the pity but the practicalities of modern day policing have dictated the change.
 
The last RDB in use on the Thames was based at Teddington until a little while ago. It was called Thames Trainer , and as far as i know is up for sale at Wapping at the mo for around £15k.

Currently the police boat lying at Teddington is the new 'Robin Locker' which is a fast response boat , looks like a rib with a cabin but isn't.

photo_policerobinlocker1.jpg


The big black ribs are not just SO19 , they are used by all the river police.
 
The last RDB in use on the Thames was based at Teddington until a little while ago. It was called Thames Trainer , and as far as i know is up for sale at Wapping at the mo for around £15k.

Currently the police boat lying at Teddington is the new 'Robin Locker' which is a fast response boat , looks like a rib with a cabin but isn't.

photo_policerobinlocker1.jpg


The big black ribs are not just SO19 , they are used by all the river police.

Indeed - SO19 can barely be trusted with bullets let alone boats. :D
 
Boat stuck at Chertsey

For some years these style of cruisers were fitted out here; Wilson's at Sunbury and Meakes of Marlow fitted out Dutch steel hulls.

A favourite of ours was called "Billow" often would be in the Henley area late 60's early 70's.

Hello everyone. This is my first post on YBW.

The motor boat that got stuck is definitely a Van Lent (n.b. the crest) but she is definitely not Billow - Billow is a 1960 50ft Van Lent that I know from her days on the Norfolk Broads. I reckon this lovely vessel is around 40ft (maybe 45ft) and judging by the lack of raised sheer and lack of flare at the bow, and especially the rectangular port lights, I'd say she was built in the 1970s. FYI I have a 62ft Van Lent called Alto Volante (pka Tiky , and Lenten Rose) built in 1961 and now coming to the end of a 3yr total rebuild on the UK east coast. If anyone is interested in seeing loads of pics of the rebuild take a look at http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/g...-classic-1961-62ft-feadship-alto-volante.html
 
The last RDB in use on the Thames was based at Teddington until a little while ago. It was called Thames Trainer , and as far as i know is up for sale at Wapping at the mo for around £15k.

Currently the police boat lying at Teddington is the new 'Robin Locker' which is a fast response boat , looks like a rib with a cabin but isn't.

photo_policerobinlocker1.jpg


The big black ribs are not just SO19 , they are used by all the river police.

One wonders why they need fenders, with all that black rubber! LOL! :D
 
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