Cowes Floating Bridge Removed from Service

[Greenheart]

Why not stick an engine in the boat and call it a ferry? Like most other places do?

Grumpy _o_g's humorous reply to this, ought not to be the last word...unless Dave himself only asked in humour.

Are there insoluble difficulties in the ferry being free-floating, rather than chained? Wouldn't it just need increased skill from the crew?

Granted its mechanicals would need substantial change - possibly azimuthing propellers rather than a simple clanking windlass - but that's got to be better for the future, than temporarily reviving the old floating bridge. And cheaper than removing the breakwater.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Granted its mechanicals would need substantial change - possibly azimuthing propellers rather than a simple clanking windlass - but that's got to be better for the future, than temporarily reviving the old floating bridge. And cheaper than removing the breakwater.

Presumably propellers would have to protrude beneath the hull, increasing the draft substantially. The similar-ish CalMac ferries all have Voith-Schneider propulsors which don't stick down much and are offset so that the keel is deeper:

(taken from https://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/the-food-may-be-awesome-but/)

 

[mainsail1]

Yes, why not stick an engine in.? With modern thrusters it could surely cope with the tides

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes, why not stick an engine in.? With modern thrusters it could surely cope with the tides

The Cumbrae service is now back to half-hourly with one ferry again, so the Loch Riddon is tied up at Largs doing nothing. Maybe she could do a month or two in Cowes to see if a non-chain ferry would work.

 

[mainsail1]

Hmmm. she looks as if she might touch both sides of the river without moving?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Hmmm. she looks as if she might touch both sides of the river without moving?

According to the technical specifications, Failing Bridge No 6 is 37.40m LOA and according to Wikipedia Loch Riddon is a mere 30.2m. The crossing (technical spec again, and I'll guess mid-tide) is 165m.

 

[mainsail1]

Ah. I meant if she was moved to theMedina river.

 

[ProDave]

What is the actual length of the crossing across the Medina?

I was basing my "put an engine on it" on something like the Corran ferry up here. I guess the Medina crossing is somewhat shorter?

 

[chrishscorp]

The Cumbrae service is now back to half-hourly with one ferry again, so the Loch Riddon is tied up at Largs doing nothing. Maybe she could do a month or two in Cowes to see if a non-chain ferry would work.

Never mind putting an engine in her look at the length of the loading ramps compared to Boaty Mcboat faces ramps, I think therein lies the main issue

 

[mainsail1]

What is the actual length of the crossing across the Medina?

I was basing my "put an engine on it" on something like the Corran ferry up here. I guess the Medina crossing is somewhat shorter?

About 140 meters slipway to slipway.

 

[Greenheart]

Perhaps these Isle of Wight tunnel enthusiasts could solve the Medina problem to prove they're not loonies, assuming they aren't:

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/our-reg...unnel-between-isle-of-wight-and-m27-1-7969955

 

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I would have thought a tug lashed alongside would do the job temporarily, a la Dartmouth.

 

[dunedin]

Hmmm. she looks as if she might touch both sides of the river without moving?

Perfect then - for what is after all labelled a "floating bridge".

Though if the crossing is that small would a lifting bridge, as used successfully all over Europe, not have been long term cheaper and simpler.

 

[Seajet]

It would have to lift so often no car would ever make it - pretty much like the latest job.

 

[burgundyben]

I would have thought a tug lashed alongside would do the job temporarily, a la Dartmouth.

I'm not very familiar with the Dart tidal curve. But study the Cowes one carefully and you'll see that on Springs the young flood, the stand, flood, two high waters take the best part of 9 hours, most of the ebb is in 3 hours, add to that the narrowing of the river where the ferry is and its goes at quite a rate. I doubt a tug could do it.

 

[ProDave]

If you want to see a ferry operating in a strong tidal stream, take a look at the Jura ferry.

 

[Keen_Ed]

Is it a chain ferry?

 

[dunedin]

If you want to see a ferry operating in a strong tidal stream, take a look at the Jura ferry.

..... or the Skye one at Kyleakin. Neither being chain ferries

 

[mainsail1]

The bridge idea is difficult because of the lack of space each side. I still think they should install a pedestrian and bike tunnel. Forget vehicles they can go around the top of the Medina or the occupants can leave the car and walk.

 

[Seajet]

So where would people leave their cars in West Cowes then ?

NB the ferry isn't just for us to get from East Cowes Marina to the pubs and restaurants at weekends, it's a vital link for locals getting to and from work.

The previous chain ferry worked very well, they just need to sort this one out, or even bite the bullet and admit to a mistake ( never gonna happen with politicians involved ) and either refurb the old one or get something like it - I imagine the market for slightly secondhand lemon chain ferries is somewhat niche, but maybe the new thing would work well at somewhere like King Harry in Falmouth.