Cowes chain ferry now working

Surprised that no local tradershaven't started a class action and issued proceedings against the council for negligence by now which might serve to flush out some information . There must be substantial loss of profits for many local businesses.
 
Giblets said:
Judging by it's current jaunty angle it looks like it is grounded. Could be fun in an hours time at LW!
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Yes they obviously grounded it on the slip way during Saturday night Its been like that all day including Sunday morning LW. I guess they cannot now raise the prow so it has to rest on the slipway.

I expect Mainstay Marine will be there on Monday.

Apparently not expected to be back in service until at least Wednesday.
 
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Looks like all four ramp chains have been replaced by chain blocks. That'll keep the crew pretty fit then! :encouragement:
 
CHC have published their January Commissioners Meeting minutes finally, and it mentions their involvement with stopping the chain ferry.

It also states that the tender for the water taxi service was once again awarded to Cowes Water Taxi, who are the same partners as the Folly Taxis. If you read the Cowes Harbour Advisory Committees minutes too, one of the partners of Cowes Water Taxis had already been put on the committee during the tender process.

It all makes for some very interesting reading. Lets hope both the chain ferry and the water taxis have a marked improvement this year, as we can only imagine how bad the other tenders must have been to have lost to last years debacle.

http://www.cowesharbourcommission.c...869/CHC_BOARD_PUBLIC_MINUTES_JANUARY_2018.pdf
 
Did I hear that the chain ferry was not working again over the weekend ? I was safely moored in Shepards who were very helpful in berthing us BTW so dodged the new chain barrier issue which I have heard has also re emerged To catch the unwary heading down to the lifeboat inn and EC marina.
 
ashtead said:
Did I hear that the chain ferry was not working again over the weekend ? I was safely moored in Shepards who were very helpful in berthing us BTW so dodged the new chain barrier issue which I have heard has also re emerged To catch the unwary heading down to the lifeboat inn and EC marina.
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There is now a revised timetable.

Normally runs 0700 ( 0630 on Sundays) - 2225

However, it does not run for the 2 hour period before LW springs. See https://www.iwfloatingbridge.co.uk/timetable/ for exact times and days affected

Apparently due to the problem with lack water depth over the chains which has caused a number of yachts to hit them recently.

The launch runs during these times and 0500 - 0700 Mon - Sat
 
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Giblets said:
Still not running during very low spring tides though.
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AFAICS it will be suspended for the two hour period before LW when the predicted height of LW is 1.0m or less. In practice that means for 2 hours during the afternoon or evening for 4 to 8 days in a row once, sometimes twice, every lunar cycle and some late starts in the mornings too.

Crazy situation ! I noticed them surveying the chains again earlier this week so maybe there is a solution but I think I just missed seeing a yacht hit them very early this morning.
 
Giblets said:
Methinks the IOC councillors and the designers of the Floating Bridge should take a look at the Shelter Island South Ferry in New York. They seem to have a far higher tidal flow rate than the River Medina. ;)
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No chains though :)

Better off taking a closer look at the old bridge, that worked :D

Pete
 
prv said:
No chains though :)

Better off taking a closer look at the old bridge, that worked :D

Pete
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But why are the depths over the chains suddenly such a problem with FB 6 ......... They are the same chains that FB 5 used
 
When Sally Water Taxis still took us up and down the river, he had pointed out this was happening with the old chain ferry where the tides were so much stronger.

He showed us some videos of it happening on the spring tides.

CHC appear to have gone to a lot of effort to silence people.
 
VicS said:
But why are the depths over the chains suddenly such a problem with FB 6 ......... They are the same chains that FB 5 used
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Presumably because the boat has more drag in the water so drifts further up or down river and pulls them tighter.

The chain depths aren’t the only problem; it also doesn’t land on the slipways properly (especially the western one) and its ramps are difficult for cars to negotiate.

Pete
 
prv said:
Presumably because the boat has more drag in the water so drifts further up or down river and pulls them tighter.

The chain depths aren’t the only problem; it also doesn’t land on the slipways properly (especially the western one) and its ramps are difficult for cars to negotiate.

Pete
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Ive seen yachts hit the chains several times. Each time it has been when the Bridge has been stationary on the west slipway so difficult to blame the drag pulling them tighter but perhaps they are tighter anyway to limit the sideways drift

They made some changes to the way in which the ramps operate which seem to have made some improvement but still seems to need an angled approach by many cars ( funny to watch some drivers zig zag their way down the ramps and then straighten up at the last moment!) No signs of the longer fingers which they originally said they'd fit
The slipways have different gradients. 1:8 east, 1:10 west
 
I wonder how FB6 is coping with Cowes week? Another triumph for the council or is it the wrong sort of water ? Thinking of going to East Cowes later this month so will we be stranded again?
 
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