Wansworth
Well-known member
Report in Spanish news reports problems for navigation on the Rhine for barges and authorities warn that September will be the big problem as with Fog barges will be more concentrated in the deeper water.
Canals and rivers shallower
- Thread starter Wansworth
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MoodySabre
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I was wondering if this would lead to some locks in Holland being closed, as happened a few years ago.
waynes world
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happens a lot on the ditches over here. bit of sun and locks shut. and thats for the shallow draft aswell.
LittleSister
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I read somewhere a day or two ago that they're on stand-by to declare the Danube closed to freight traffic due to lack of depth. 
Presumably it only applies to part of it, and they didn't say which part(s).
Presumably it only applies to part of it, and they didn't say which part(s).
The Q
Well-known member
Luckily the broads don't generally have that problem. A greater change in water level is caused by:
Air pressure, when we have high air pressure the north sea is pushed down letting more water out of the broads.
Wind direction, a southerly or easterly pushes the north sea away from the coast.
A big low gives the opposite problem, add a northerly and we get floods.
What happens with low rain fall is the salt content of the broads expands from the coast further inland.
We are about to experience a big "salt surge" where after days of high air pressure we are about to get a low on Monday or Tuesday, that combined with the low rain fall will mean a surge of salt water coming into the broads killing many fish...
Air pressure, when we have high air pressure the north sea is pushed down letting more water out of the broads.
Wind direction, a southerly or easterly pushes the north sea away from the coast.
A big low gives the opposite problem, add a northerly and we get floods.
What happens with low rain fall is the salt content of the broads expands from the coast further inland.
We are about to experience a big "salt surge" where after days of high air pressure we are about to get a low on Monday or Tuesday, that combined with the low rain fall will mean a surge of salt water coming into the broads killing many fish...
Blueboatman
Well-known member
Does it affect algae levels too ( in a helpful way?)
The Q
Well-known member
At the moment the blue green algae appears to be confined to a couple of broads in particular Barton and South Walsham broads, neither of which is particularly tidal.
But few broads themselves are near the sea, Hickling broad and Horsey mere are nearest, and they get a small amount of tidal flow through / under the sand dunes. Those broads don't often get the BG algae so maybe there is something in the salt helping.
The thing this year in particular and has it has been increasing over the years, is weed and lilies. Since the rivers have been getting cleaner, slowly, the water has been becoming optically cleaner. With centuries of human waste, farming fertilizer on the river beds, the weed has said thank you very much and been growing like mad. I can see weed growing on the river bottom 25ft out from the river banks, never been able to see 3ft out before, it's becoming a major problem for sailing and for motorboat water intakes.
Twice last week I had a disaster of a race during regatta week, due the weed caught around the rudder.
I was going to build a new rudder for next season , it now won't be a high aspect super performance rudder, but something to reduce weed problems...
But few broads themselves are near the sea, Hickling broad and Horsey mere are nearest, and they get a small amount of tidal flow through / under the sand dunes. Those broads don't often get the BG algae so maybe there is something in the salt helping.
The thing this year in particular and has it has been increasing over the years, is weed and lilies. Since the rivers have been getting cleaner, slowly, the water has been becoming optically cleaner. With centuries of human waste, farming fertilizer on the river beds, the weed has said thank you very much and been growing like mad. I can see weed growing on the river bottom 25ft out from the river banks, never been able to see 3ft out before, it's becoming a major problem for sailing and for motorboat water intakes.
Twice last week I had a disaster of a race during regatta week, due the weed caught around the rudder.
I was going to build a new rudder for next season , it now won't be a high aspect super performance rudder, but something to reduce weed problems...
DanTribe
Well-known member
This is a bit of a worry. Planning on heading home soon from Friesland. 4 years ago the lock at Spaarndam was closed due to low water levels. We had to do the Amsterdam night convoy, and that had problems too.
Blueboatman
Well-known member
Thanks , interesting to hear ‘ on the ground’.
Water clarity plus nutrients, ha?
Can’t imagine how to build a weed cheater rudder!
Sail with it trailing almost horizontally ??
I’m sure you have something interesting in mind.
When I used to tickle sailing dinghies right up shallow creeks on the riding tide , I remember that with lifting rudder almost horizontal and centreboard too, one had to use ones weight a lot more ( exclusively oft) to get the boat to tack. And be careful to use gentle slow rudder and balance do as not to wrack the rudder blade in its cassette mount. ( Quite a while back now?)
I have never sailed on the broads , lovely I’m sure and possibly racing all year around I might imagine.
johnalison
Well-known member
I have heard that in the past many river cruisers spend as much time in buses as in the boats, which will no doubt be even worse this year.I read somewhere a day or two ago that they're on stand-by to declare the Danube closed to freight traffic due to lack of depth.
Presumably it only applies to part of it, and they didn't say which part(s).
MoodySabre
Well-known member
Good luck Dan. Looking at the Waterkaart Live app it seems to be ok at the moment.
The Q
Well-known member
Yes racing all year round, For me it's Horning sailing club march to Oct, Horning Sailing Club and snowflake sailing club Snowflakes – Snowflake Sailing Club, Horning, Norfolk Oct to Mar, same premises.. there a video of our waters at the bottom of the Horning front page.
Weed cheater rudders, traditional local boats round here have spoon rudders..
View attachment 140654
Close the gap between hull and top of the rudder and you'd have a starting point, that's all steel by the way.
I'm thinking a rudder stock at the leading edge at the top of rudder to prevent weed getting in the gap, but well inside the rudder further down to provide Balance...
A video of our 3 Rivers Race.
Another video of the race. But from a drone showing Ant Mouth,
Going straight on at the junction leads down to Thurne mouth to which we race have lunch at a pub and race back.
Attachments
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LittleSister
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I'm thinking rather a 'skeg' type projection from the hull, immediately ahead of the rudder (but not attached to it), filling in the triangle in front of the upper part of the rudder, such that there is a continuous aftward and downward sweep from the hull of about 45 degrees. Trouble is it would ideally want to be blade thin to retain the full responsiveness of the rudder.
Or maybe a short, stiff bit of rubber moulding that closes the small gap between the top of the leading edge of the rudder and the hull.
The other way of going about it would be a closable well above and in front of the rudder, so that one could reach down and easily remove any weed that gets trapped.
If only someone would invent transom hung rudders!
Wansworth
Well-known member
Never catch on?I'm thinking rather a 'skeg' type projection from the hull, immediately ahead of the rudder (but not attached to it), filling in the triangle in front of the upper part of the rudder, such that there is a continuous aftward and downward sweep from the hull of about 45 degrees. Trouble is it would ideally want to be blade thin to retain the full responsiveness of the rudder.
Or maybe a short, stiff bit of rubber moulding that closes the gap between rudder and hull
The other way of going about it would be a closable well above and in front of the rudder, so that one could reach down and easily remove any weed that gets trapped.
If only someone would invent transom hung rudders!
Wansworth
Well-known member
Of course the Vikings had a steer board which they could withdraw at first sign of Orcas
LittleSister
Well-known member
Or steering oars, as used in ancient vessels.
LittleSister
Well-known member
Wansworth
Well-known member
?Posted near simultaneously.
Clearly great minds think alike!
The Q
Well-known member
I've about 3 months before I need to start building so all ideas are helpful..I'm thinking rather a 'skeg' type projection from the hull, immediately ahead of the rudder (but not attached to it), filling in the triangle in front of the upper part of the rudder, such that there is a continuous aftward and downward sweep from the hull of about 45 degrees. Trouble is it would ideally want to be blade thin to retain the full responsiveness of the rudder.
Or maybe a short, stiff bit of rubber moulding that closes the small gap between the top of the leading edge of the rudder and the hull.
The other way of going about it would be a closable well above and in front of the rudder, so that one could reach down and easily remove any weed that gets trapped.
If only someone would invent transom hung rudders!
Having spent hours on the retrousse stern, a Transom mounted rudder is not top of my list.
One problem if the rudder collects weed while not in a straight line behind the "skeg", it then could jam behind / between the skeg and rudder when it returns to centre.
LittleSister
Well-known member
Hmm. Good point.
You need the 'LittleSister Inc. Patent Weed Flapper' - a pair of electrically arms that come down from the underside of the hull to brush away downwards weed from the rudder.
Or more biddable crew.
