Deep draught boating on the river Thames

[Steve 59]

Anyone got any experience of deep draught boating on the river Thames

....... oh....... and when I say deep, it's 5' 6" that a potential new purchase would draw.

The EA say 5' 6" up the river as far as Winsdor

I know that getting anywhere near the side would be a problem but I'm used to that.

The thought process would be weekends on the river, any longer - out on to the lumpy water.

Also there's the problem of a deep draught mooring. Not being along side wouldn't be an issue. A set of off the bank dolphins would be fine. Does anyone know where to start looking?

 

[TNC]

Hi Steve,
To start the ball rolling, I have just spoken to one of the wooden cruiser owners that frequents here. Like tug Major, he thinks you will be OK up to Reading. Beyond that he thought you would start to have trouble above Goring, and certainly below Clifton Hampden Bridge. What with the width / shape of your proposed craft, he thought that mooring would be not quite as much as a problem as you envisage.
He mentioned, if you could get up that far, that the VM below Abingdon Bridge are around 2m deep (where the big cruisers moor)
As for air draught, AFAIK Cookham Lock cut bridge is the first of the lowish bridges.
It might be a good idea to search this forum, as this question surfaces quite often.
I hope this will persuade some of the locals to come out of the woodwork and rubbish this!

 

[DWT]

I keep my boat at Reading with a draft of about 3ft. I suppose there may be areas around a couple of the locks which have silted up and I have heard of problems above Abingdon bridge, but I would be surprised if my depth thingy ever read as low as 2'6 below the hull in the normal channel. There are plenty of bigger boats up this neck of the woods which must draw more and do not seem to have a problem.

I would have thoght the height of Windsor and Cookham lock cut bridges would be more of a barrier for you. What is the air draft?

 

[teddington_lock]

What size boat ? Any preference for location ?

 

[Steve 59]

Hi

Thanks for the replies so far

My thought process is to find a mooring within a days travel from Teddington (I don't mind long days either)

I'm looking for a lesure mooring. I don't need any amenities and I'm not fussed about being bankside either. I wouldn't mind having to use a tender to get it.

The boat is 48'6" x 14'6" x 5'6"

Air draught could potentially be the biggest issue. I've asked the owner if he can confirm the air draught with the masts down and in their cradles

Windsor bridge at 13' 2" is the first 'low' bridge and then it's clear up to Reading except Cookham lock cut at 12' 6"

 

[teddington_lock]

Teddington Harbour could accommodate this , pontoon moorings with electric and water. Draught would be no problem there , admittedly you are at the very end of the non tidal thames though.

It would depend whether they had the room though.

 

[Paddingtonbear]

Good god Steve, up for some proper boating now. looks a wonderful boat, good luck to you. I hope that I get Singapore launched soon and perhaps We can meet up. Currently ashore at Walton on the Naze where I will moor on a swinger. I have a fantastic wooden boat specialist surveyor if you need one and no not the halfwit that did the original survey.

 

[oldgit]

If we assume that you are looking for a permanent mooring you might like to start asking about local costs before getting too enthusiastic.
720 sq feet.

 

[shades]

Hi


Windsor bridge at 13' 2" is the first 'low' bridge and then it's clear up to Reading except Cookham lock cut at 12' 6"

BEWARE - Bridge Heights are set with the Head Water Level at 0" (Standard Head Water) - but NO lock normally runs at that level...
Cookham normally runs at +3" to +4", which would reduce clearance by 3 to 4".
Cookham lock cut water level, because it is so long, is affected by usgae of the lock, which causes the level to bounce up and down all day, going 3" either side of the recorded level.
This means that there is a SIX inch variance between the highest and lowest levels reached each day...
Worth knowing...

 

[ianc1200]

Looking at the Canal World Forum, this is the craft;

http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/core/li...15&ybw=&units=Feet&currency=USD&access=Public

Looks a really lovely boat!

Can't think for one minute there would be an air draft issue up to Oxfotrd, but depth at Clifton would be.

Buy the boat & book into the Trad Rally at Henley!

 

[TNC]

Looking at the Canal World Forum, this is the craft;

http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/core/li...=2402715&ybw=&units=Feet¤cy=USD&access=Public

Looks a really lovely boat!

Can't think for one minute there would be an air draft issue up to Oxfotrd, but depth at Clifton would be.

Buy the boat & book into the Trad Rally at Henley!

See...I told you it was nice!

 

[Paddingtonbear]

As I noted earlier what you will need is a 'proper' surveyor, well here is one and seems very reasonable too. http://www.eastangliayachtsurveys.co.uk/index.html. When does the circumnavigation start or more importantly the boat warming party . Probably coming down the Oxford this year so hope to meet up and definately next year as am organising an HNBC gathering down south.

 

[CX54WEK]

Now that is a nice boat.

 

[Paddingtonbear]

We will have to start organising banters if any more appear :-3D

 

[Steve 59]

Obviously I'm not the only one getting fed up with the overcrowded muddy ditch

The owners confirmed the air draught as 10' with the masts in the crutches, so that's not a problem.

The draught is causing boatyards and marina's an issue though

 

[Brayman]

Obviously I'm not the only one getting fed up with the overcrowded muddy ditch

The owners confirmed the air draught as 10' with the masts in the crutches, so that's not a problem.

The draught is causing boatyards and marina's an issue though

Not surprised really!

 

[TNC]

Obviously I'm not the only one getting fed up with the overcrowded muddy ditch

That's no way to talk about the Royal River!....boat on the Shannon, a proper, uncrowded river