day mooring on the thames

thamesS23

thamesS23

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as I'm looking to buy our first inland cruiser for use on the thames I have looked into an annual mooring at various places around the marlow area. What I'm intrested to know, as this is all very new to me, is what do we do about mooring up at other places on the thames when we go out for overnight stays. What I'd like to do is head out one morning from our perm' mooring base and then come the evening, just moor up at wherever we end up. Is this actually allowed, or do we have to plan well in advance and pre-book an overnight mooring at another marina. Or can we just moor up anywhere?
any advice is greatly appreciated
 
it really depends on where you are heading, and at what time of year. There are plenty of areas where you can simply moor alongside the bank, and enjoy a quiet evening. In other areas you will have to use designated visitor moorings, which are interspersed at varying frequency. Upstream of Marlow is probably easier than downstream, though that could simply because I know upstream better.

For instance between Wargrave and Sonning, there is a largely uninhabited area with no houses, and it's very easy to find a quiet mooring on the banks. You do need some stakes and a hammer though
 
Downstream from Marlow there comes the delights of Maidenhead and expect to pay unless you are fortunate. I have spent a night just above the road bridge, next to the little park, for nuppence. Conveneient petrol station 100m away if needed. Empty bit down to Boveney with some designated mooring just above the lock by the rowing centre. Then Windsor and expect to be chased for moeny on both sides. You will probably need pins. Beleow Windsor the boatyard at Datchet does moorings etc, for dosh and the other side is prohibited for a long way due to it being HMQ's "back garden". Runneymeade is free mooring with a time limit, but can be noisy due to aircraft.

Remember, the edge can be quite shallow and the banks high and steep so casual bankside mooring where permitted can be a bit of a lottery. I'd strongly suggest you get one of the various Thames boating guides which do show official mooring points.
 
Haven't been there for the past 3 or 4 years but much of the river bank around Runnymead used to be National Trust property, with the 'mooring fee charged' notices carefully hidden in the bushes. Have they stopped charging now?
 
thanks for the advice and keep it coming. With regards to the annual mooring, if anyone has any suggestions then please let me now. So far the only place I have actually gone and looked at was the harleyford estate (only because I was being nosey), and as planning to buy a boat of about no more then 23ft, have worked out a cost from there website of about £1800. Now there might be loads of extras which I haven't allowed for, so I could be wrong. Not really wanting to pay that much to be honest, although the place did look nice. I noticed there was a campsite in HUrley that offered moorings, and according to the website I would be looking to pay about £900 for the year.
Can anyone suggest anywhere? probably between henley and maidenhead. Wouldn't really need a great deal of facilities, just somewhere that was secure, and perhaps had an area where I could do some tidying up to the boat / repairs come the winter.
 
Harleyford is very nice, easily accessible and with all the facilities on-site. But of course you have to pay for these luxuries. If you can get a Thames mooring for £900pa I should jump at it.
 
I currently moor at Wargrave - Val Wyatts which is nice, with very freindly staff, but moving to Harleyford (Marlow) in March. It is a tad more expensive, but a cracking site. We have managed to get on the island for added security and peace! I think it is hard to get a site there, so book early. i have heard they tend to be picky and go for the quieter looking people - I guess that means older???
 
Most of the marinas and moorings in that area are between Maidehead and Windsor. You can always go up river one lock to Wargrave, where there are two 'marinas' (well, loosely) in a very pretty area of the Thames, with plenty of areas to moor alongside the bank at no cost.
 
Hi,
Our first boat was moored at Harleyford and we really enjoyed the area around there. A day trip to either Henley or Marlow and then lots of options for a longer holiday either up or down river. The only thing about Harleyford is that is between 2 locks that are close together so you get lots of practice at locks, this is also an advantage if we ever get a lot of rain again as the river levels are kept fairly constant.
Have fun,
FenderGirl
 
Get that A5 spiral bound river Thames book. This has all the "accepted" mooring places marked. As you go up and down the river then make your own mark in the book as to where you see other boats moored up. Once you get to know your "stretch" then it won't cost you cos you know where they are! . Best decision we ever made (without knowing it) was to buy a cruiser that would go under Osney Bridge - it's a different and idyllic world if you can get into those reaches.
 
Yes, believe mine makes it under Osney with the radar & Windows down. Want to try that this summer, as I have heard and read how nice/quite it is. Can't wait for my 1st summer on the boat, just got her back end of last year and had 4 gr8 weekends before she was lifted. Longest dam winter I have had!!
 
The lock-keeper used to (and perhaps still does) have a measurement scale on the far wall and can advise you whether your boat will go under Osney bridge. Some years ago, I asked him to check ours and altho' he said yes, he seemed a bit uncertain. 'I need to be sure' said I 'because the windscreen doesn't fold' 'Don't worry' he replied 'if I've got it wrong, it will!!' /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
0007211155.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


Is this it?
 
We have cruised the Thames for many years without difficulty over moorings. The Environment Agency provide various free moorings, mostly restricted to a maximuk stay of 24 hours. You should also be able to find plenty of other, less officail moorings with the size of boat you are considering. Moorings provided by local councils usually cost no more than £5 per night. Many farmers also allow mooring and are usually cheaper. The council moorings at the park in Henley are expensive. You should try to moor up early to be sure of finding a good spot during the peak season, especially when yo do not know the river very well.
Your details show that you live in Hertfordshire so you have a good selection of permanent moorings within reasonable reach. Bear in mind that you will be cruising the area around your morring every time that you go out. Harleyford is very attractive, but it is in the shortest reach so you will have very little distance to go without reacing a lock.
If you are new to boating you may want to consider joining a club so that you can benefit from the support from more experienced boaters. I belong to the Walton Bridge Cruiser Club (http://www.waltonbridge.org.uk). We are based around Walton-on-Thames, although we have some members who moor in Harleyford. Send me a personal message if you would like more information.
 
Looks like the one to me - updated a bit as we came off the Thames in 1999 to try our hands on the sea - and look where that got us!
FYI: we had a 1976 24' Eastwood with the Ford petrol engine and had to fold the windows down for Osney. In the summer months then friends would have to join us on the riverbank.

To "inlandnewbie" then two bits of advice:
1. Enjoy and take your time. When you get to a lock with a bit of a queue then treat it as a chance to talk to, and get to know the people in front of, and behind you. It's God's way of slowing you down and you will feel all the better for it.
2.Do buy one of the BBQ stands so when you moor up and get the disposal BBQ out you don't end up burning the grass.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Try D B Marine at Cookham bridge, you will pay less than Harlyford. Electricity water, only accessed through a locked gate, security lights, mechanics on site (a VP Service & parts franchise)
Only downside is I`m there
 
Hampton Court springs to mind.

Just a tip from a Thames newbie.
MOOR EARLY.
The later in the day you leave it to moor the more rubbish the mooring.All the good public stuff is gone by mid to late afternoon.
This means you will either be squeezing your 30 ft boat into a 29 ft gap with loads of narrowboat types watching your every move or having to moor in the shallow rock infested bits at each end.
You not only go ashore to the restuarant in a foul mood cos you have bashed your props but also you lady wife has to leap a 6 foot gap twixt boat and riverbank. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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