Can I take my (small) boat on the tidal Thames?

I have also considered the London trip but was put off by a few boaters on my pontoon. They didn't say not to do it but with only having a year and half boating experience they did advise going with other more experienced boaters.
Stories of very choppy water and no place to moor until gates open would not sit well with the Mrs.
I have a 27' sports cruiser with a powerful v8 which I assume will be better suited to the stronger currents.
They suggested Lime house would be the better option for the first trip.
 
The 'Lock Window' thing is now absolutely defunct, just go through Richmond at any time you like, best getting the tide on it's way out, and stop off at Imperial Wharf overnight.

It's interesting enough as an overnighter, has free power assuming the last guy left some in, and Water.

Plenty to see on the bankside, eating drinking and shopping within a stones throw, and lovely scenery at night!

Then wake up, and casually get the next free ride to St Kats.

It saves all those early mornings, and nights on the towpath at Tedders...:D


P>S Limehouse is most pleasant, but not in the same league as St Kats, in terms of location and feelgood, let alone food and drink.
 
Whilst my experience isn't exactly vast, I've made the trip through London a fair few times now, generally Kew to Greenwich on a 5.5m RIB with a 2-stroke 60HP engine.

Here are a few things we learnt along the way:

1) Ensure you have more than enough fuel, stopping can be very difficult and arguably dangerous in places (not only that but finding a petrol station can be a complete knightmare)

2) If you don't have a spare engine then ensure yours is in perfect working order, stopping in the middle of the tideway could be very dangerous

3) Book ahead, you may get lucky and find a birth, but Limehouse, Poplar and South Dock are generally full, St Kats seems to have spaces more often, but don't risk it as its a long way back to find somewhere else

4) Don't miss your tidal window, otherwise you can be stuck for hours (also check with the relevant lock keepers that the gates are able to be opened for the advertised tidal window, we got caught out the other day as maintenance work was being carried out and had to wait for an hour or so to get in)

5) If you have a radio, use it, we have a radio but have no licence (hopefully only for another couple of weeks until we've done the course), but my understanding is that we can still listen in, just not transmit (except in an emergency)

6) The water is very choppy, due to the heavy traffic, but also when the tide and wind disagree, this makes mooring on a non gated (is that the right way to describe a pontoon on the actual tideway?) difficult and potentially hazardous to crew and vessel (our tubes have taken an absolute battering from mooring up on the tideway and thats with fenders!)

7) If you get really stuck for a mooring in an emergency/for a short period you could always try Greenwich Yacht Club and even the Clipper piers, both have helped us out on occasions.

8) There's not too much to see past Greenwich, but we are moored at Gallions Reach, its cheaper and there is generally space, its further out of course so maybe not ideal for everyone, but if you need an overnight stay it does have a quick DLR link into Bank/Tower Gateway.

9) I can't think of anything else, particularly London-centric, other than the usual boaty common sense things such as bring extra layers blah blah blah, oh and don't ever think about taking off your lifejacket, the currents (especially under bridges) can be horrendous, falling in without a lifejacket could easily be fatal.

Sorry if thats a bit waffley and repetitive, but hopefully at least some of that is useful!
 
All good advice, and don't forget to convert those tide tables BST/GMT!!

Best advice is get some more non tidal miles under your belt, join a club and go with other boats on an organised event.

I'll go alone with two engines, it's only 3-4 hours on the tideway, but I would have to think about doing it alone with one engine, the results could be lethal, and it's so pointless taking risks like that!!
 
Actually that is a very good point, I've never gone alone through Central London, I'd agree with you on that, I'd have to think very carefully about doing it on our RIB!

Oddly of course the PLA deems it perfectly acceptable to go through alone at high speed if you have Advanced Powerboat, yet if you bring a passenger (who could potentially keep lookout) it is apparently no longer safe (sorry couldn't resist a little dig there ;-)!
 
Hi Thames Boater / Mark

Are you the chap I spoke with when we both moored at the Riverside pub in Lechlade? Then a narrow boat got a bit close as you set off under the bridge - was that you?


Anyway, I have a 9.9HP on my 16.5" boat and would not contemplate taking that arrangement through the middle of London. But perhaps you are braver / better than me :-)

If you decide to go up river instead I'll extend an offer made to some other forum members of a support service to deliver petrol etc around the Lechlade area.

Stephen.
 
Wow, loads of useful info and advice thanks all.

We have decided to forget about the tidal Thames for now. Will rethink if I we get a bigger engine or boat, and can go with others!
We will still be heading down towards London for the week and will see how far we get before heading back to Oxford.

Hi Stephen, yes that's me!
 
ThamesBoater said:
Wow, loads of useful info and advice thanks all.

We have decided to forget about the tidal Thames for now. Will rethink if I we get a bigger engine or boat, and can go with others!
We will still be heading down towards London for the week and will see how far we get before heading back to Oxford.

Hi Stephen, yes that's me!
Click to expand...

at high water the river gets quite rough due to heavy traffic especially the waste barges who put up a heavy bow wave that refracts off of the sea walls
 
It's the sort of trip you could do many times, and then something goes wrong, and it's the last time...

The size of the boat is no issue, but experience and a single small outboard would be the potential weak links.

Good call though, there's so much to explore on the upper Thames :)
 
ha ha - I thought it must be you. Good to see you here. But I thought you had a large Johnson?


Not a 9.9 :-)




Edit to add:

I now realise it was a different couple who I met in the same place, with a similar boat, who had a large engine. I think it was a 75HP!
 
Last edited:
Good call, as no regrets says, the boat is fine, the engine is also but not for the first time. Take a trip to Putney this time, only an hour or so from Teddington and places to stop, you will still have to time your trip with the tide and you will be experiencing the tidal waters of the Thanes. One of the contributors to this thread insinuated that the pleasure boats would give you no room or time. this is not true, regardless of my feelings toward the "professional" boaters they always have safety in mind and often wait behind private vessels to pass bridges etc. Your only worry really is making headway in the current and the chop from the wash and wind. If you breakdown, help is at hand from every vessel on the river, one of our members had his steering go (brand new boat) under a bridge, a passing fire boat had him in tow before he hit anything passed him to a police boat who towed him back to Putney.
The tidal Thames must be treated with respect at all times, as any water should be, but is not taboo at all. My boat lives on the Tidal Thames, is only 26' but does have two engines of 100hp. With the tide behind me I traveled back from the barrier on tick over on both engines without incident because I sucked polystyrene into my raw water inlets. These are the things that will catch you out on the tidal parts, rubbish trees tarpaulins litter bins.
I think I have covered every thing, so be prepared and experienced but not scared.
Let us know if you decide to do Putney, perhaps we could meet and adventure a little further.
 
I'll quantify my commercial skippers comment.

The pleasure boats are pretty good.

The Thames Clippers are in a rush to keep to a schedule and expect you to know what you and they are doing (i.e try not to hinder their approach to scheduled stop offs) but will give you room if needed - they are happy to communicate on VHF 14 to help coordinate their movements with yours. They are fast, so you MUST keep a good look out behind you as well as in front.

The huge rubbish tugs can be towing two massive dumb barges weighing many hundreds of tons. They can't stop quickly, and are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, especillay near bridges. Stay clear.

The RIBS are friendly but can be very fast.

My point is that you won't have come across this level of commercial traffic before, and you will need to maintain a more vigilant watch than the upper Thames. The speed limit up here is 4ish kts so people aren't used to watching out for 30kt+ RIBS approaching from behind.

It's not dangerous or scary as long as you have your wits about you.

Alruss' comment of doing it bit by bit is very sensible, as is Boatone's idea of taking a pleasure cruise yourself to actually see the river beforehand.

I really really don't want to put you off - I love it down there, but it is VERY different and that surprised me first time I went - I was probably not as prepared as I should have been.
 
Moxon said:
Hi Thames Boater / Mark

Are you the chap I spoke with when we both moored at the Riverside pub in Lechlade? Then a narrow boat got a bit close as you set off under the bridge - was that you?


Anyway, I have a 9.9HP on my 16.5" boat and would not contemplate taking that arrangement through the middle of London. But perhaps you are braver / better than me :-)

If you decide to go up river instead I'll extend an offer made to some other forum members of a support service to deliver petrol etc around the Lechlade area.Stephen.
Click to expand...

And although I've yet to do our famous RIB camping trip, you can be sure I'll take you up on that!! :)
 
Best have a look on ebay for a spare fuel tank. Make sure it's clean before you use it, but that should give you a 10 gallon range, enough for quite a few days cruising, and the chance to fill the empty one up at the first possible opportunity, removing all stress...:o
 
if you go have an anchor rigged and ready for use---i had to stop 3 times between houses of parliament and just below tower bridge to rid prop of thick plastic bags (fertiliser type)----15 hp yamaha----regards lenten
 
ThamesBoater said:
Hi all

Have been lurking on this forum for a while, and would like some advice if anyone can help?

Can I take my boat on to the tidal Thames? I have a 1970s Fairline 20 with a 9.9HP outboard. The wife and I are taking a week or so off work and are looking to cruise from where we moor in Oxford down towards London and maybe down through to Tower bridge to see the sights before turning around to head back.

Can I do this or is my boat too small or under powered for a trip through London and back?

Any advice would be appreciated!


Thanks

Mark
Click to expand...
I have done this trip with more or less the same set up but feel it is the operator of the boat that you mostly need to consider. In other words, are you up to it?
I had a 1970's Fairline 19 with a Mariner 9.9Hp Bigfoot, 4 stroke engine.
I realise this question was asked for this summer but will put my opinion, anyway.
Rather than go down to Tower Bridge, I would suggest going to Brentford, going via the Grand Union and Regents canal to Limehouse, then enter the Tidal Thames at Limehouse. One reason for this is that the tide flows faster going out the coming in.
I had a 7.5kg Bruce anchor with plenty of chain, a VHF radio and all the safety equipment you should have for this journey.
I was also in a group of boats, so if I had rope wrapped round my propeller, help was at hand. One opinion of a person who regularly takes boats on a tidal trips is there is generally less rope, etc in the middle of the flowing tidal Thames.
If you are not going in a group of boats, I would recommend an auxiliary engine on a bracket. Perhaps a 4hp, 2 stroke engine, that works and you have tested for half an hour prior to going through central London.If you need to be given the lecture about having enough petrol and allowing extra time for the closing time on locks due to the tides, I would politely say, don't do it.
Also I notice you mention about turning round and coming back up at Tower Bridge. This is when your engine will not have enough power as you will be fighting the tide at some stage.
I have done this in my new boat but it has a 50hp outboard, a 4hp auxiliary engine and is better in rough water than a Fairline 19 / 20.
To summarise, yes you can do it (at your own risk) in a Fairline 20 with a 9hp but you need to either be in a group or have an auxiliary engine, know you cannot just go to Tower bridge and come back unless the tide just happens to be changing then. You also have to ask yourself if you are up to it.
 
Hello
I am new to this site, I live by the Norfolk Broads and have a RIB with a 90HP Honda outboard which if used on the Norfolk broads is rather boring.
Ever since I was a child I have wanted to take a boat along the river Thames, perhaps launching somewhere near the mouth of the Thames and spending a few days on the river heeding as far as possible into and through London. I just enjoy looking at whats going on at boat yards, marinas etc and will have lots of time to do this trip, probably in the summer of 2014.
I will be looking to stop off at riverside guest hoses etc with no deadlines to keep. Has anyone done this and it would be interesting to read of any suggestions or experiences from other boaters.

Many thanks
 
Hi Chris,

There is realistically no stopping on the Thames through London, bar marinas and a couple of Wharfs (imperial wharf, dove pier etc..) but you aren't going to want to stop there for long on a rib.

Best bet would be go through London on day one (it'll only take 2-3hrs) and get up to Richmond or teddington for night 1.

Don't underestimate London - read the rest of this thread, it's busy and can be very rough, especially through the pool of London up to Chelsea area.

Also don't be put off - if you have a bit of experience and know your boat and crew well, it's a great trip, which I've done many times myself.

Bit of an eye opener for an upper Thameser first time!!
 
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