EA Moorings at Hurley Lock Island

[DogsBody]

Has anyone seen the moorings on Hurley lock island below the lock since the EA re did them?

I understand they have now redone the bank there to give a solid bank to moor to but that it has resulted in less overall mooring space for larger boats. We've got a club BBQ on the island there in June that I'm organising and I need to work out how many boats I'm likely to be able to get on the new moorings. Owing to a combination of factors I've not been able to get up there by boat yet this year.

Anyone have any useful information?

Thanks,

Darren.

 

[apollo]

I would have thought there were more moorings rather than less?

Certainly looks good! Will take some piccies when I can and post them here.

 

[DogsBody]

Thanks. I'd heard that because of the shape of the moorings (i.e. not very straight) that some of the old spaces were now too small to be useful.

 

[No Regrets]

Speak for yerself Pal!

I fit in these tiny places

 

[TrueBlue]

Thanks. I'd heard that because of the shape of the moorings (i.e. not very straight) that some of the old spaces were now too small to be useful.

Yes, you're right - they follow the line of the bank and twist and turn a bit, so you'll have to be quite innovative in fitting boats in.

They are very smart, with notices saying "keep off" or some such, as I haven't seen them from the landward side.

Best to wait for Apollo's pics.

 

[miket]

Overkill

Typical EA overkill.
All that was needed was a little dredging and tidy up the bank.
What we have is a complete self contained piled mooring with non-slip walkway that will survive 10 hurricanes and an impact from the QM2!
Very nice but totally OTT.

 

[apollo]

These any good?

 

[Chill]

Great pictures and not as bad as I thought they would be after reading some of the other posts. Should fit a good number of boats but guess getting people to leave small gaps in between boats will be the same challenge as is usual! Plently of rings to tie to and will not have to tie a line around the trees anymore when its windy.

Chill

 

[Chris_d]

Good piccies they look ok to me, not very NB friendly though

 

[TrueBlue]

Good piccies they look ok to me, not very NB friendly though

Hmm - I thought that was the general aim on the River. At least peeps can't complain about nb's pinching all the space at Hurley any more!

 

[boatone]

Hmm - I thought that was the general aim on the River.

Do you mean to be narrow boat unfriendly? I'm sure that's not the case officially and I doubt many river users really feel that way.

Persuading them that there is no need for at least 6 feet between them when mooring - or even to breast up when its busy - would be good though

 

[Chris_d]

Hmm - I thought that was the general aim on the River. At least peeps can't complain about nb's pinching all the space at Hurley any more!

I was only seeing if you'd bite actualy the zig zag nature of the bank will mean to get all the moorings full, just the right mix of long and short boats will need to turn up. Might be frustrating occasionaly but it adds to the character.

 

[jessie]

Hurley moorings

might be abit tight rafting two 35' plus's and leaving a wide enough channel to allow access for the people who moor there permanently.

 

[TrueBlue]

Do you mean to be narrow boat unfriendly? I'm sure that's not the case officially and I doubt many river users really feel that way.

Persuading them that there is no need for at least 6 feet between them when mooring - or even to breast up when its busy - would be good though

I usually keep quiet when the subject of LTTT's come up, but there is still an undercurrent of criticism - look at CliveShep's comments on the Wey and Nb's wash.

What has to be understood is that in their natural environment it is not terribly practical to breast up - even on the broader bits of ditch; unless one is a member of the IWA and attends their rallies when the whole canal is jam pack full, restricting navigation entirely

Also NBs don't do proper fendering, so the boats rattle somewhat. Again, the towpath on BW waters is owned by BW and a boat may moor pretty well anywhere, so no need to breast up.

So, it's a matter of culture, not one of being inconsiderate - the River has
a different set of rules and practices.

Somehow, the message has to be put across to those visitors, or even residents, and I think that's a major problem, as folks hardly ever read "instructions" let alone do any planning.

 

[TrueBlue]

I was only seeing if you'd bite actualy the zig zag nature of the bank will mean to get all the moorings full, just the right mix of long and short boats will need to turn up. Might be frustrating occasionaly but it adds to the character.

See my reply to B1 above!
I rattle my cage occasionally to clean the bits out...

Seriously, I think EA's effort are commendable as the previous bank was a bit of a challenge, and because the government (small "g") has made it uneconomic to dredge anything now, the solution is the most practical solution.

Perhaps the moorings will have to be numbered and allocated by the Lockie - to give a best fit.

The whole Hurley site has a buzz about it; the café attracts good custom, the island is always full of picnickers, and the Yoof camping site at the upstream is always noisy. It's bringing back some life to the riverside. Perhaps EA will make it a showcase of what people do and like.

I commend it to the nation.


Be advised that the area attracts some undesirable elements, the next boat to me had his tender's outboard nicked recently, and mine was almost stolen in 2008. OK could, and does happen anywhere, but popular sites focus things.

 

[apollo]

might be abit tight rafting two 35' plus's and leaving a wide enough channel to allow access for the people who moor there permanently.

I turned round in there which is 37' boat with tender on the back which was tight but made it.

So yes, I think you are right, with 2 X 35' alongside another could still go past. Aprt from the 33 foot Princess in the photos, most of the permanent boats tend to be smaller.

 

[DogsBody]

Thanks Apollo, just what I needed, though as it happens I made the trip up there by car on Sunday and paced it out / took lots of photos myself (in the rain!).

Nice job on the moorings and I'm sure the annual berth holders are happy, as will be casual visitors as you now have a good solid bank and rings to moor to instead of the previous mud bank and pins.

Problem is that for clubs, where you are expecting a large number of boats and would normally raft, you can't now as the only part still wide enough to allow rafting is the most downstream mooring. In some places, you have lost 6ft of width as the walkways are a good 3-4ft and stick out 2ft from the bank (presumably to guarantee suitable depth).

I reckon that allowing for an average size of 34ft, you can now get 10 boats on the temporary moorings there, BCC had 20 odd there last year.

Incidentally, the "break" in the moorings shown in your last picture marks the start of the temporary moorings, everything upstream of there is annual moorings and thus not bookable in advance.

Cheers,

Darren.

 

[apollo]

In some places, you have lost 6ft of width as the walkways are a good 3-4ft and stick out 2ft from the bank (presumably to guarantee suitable depth).

I reckon that allowing for an average size of 34ft, you can now get 10 boats on the temporary moorings there, BCC had 20 odd there last year.

Have to say I disagree, I turned round below the break and span round in the space there even with the dinghy on the back. If you have no more than two alongside, you will get 20 boats in there.

 

[DogsBody]

Fair enough, I was standing on the bank with no boats nearby to judge width, probably easier to judge with a boat or two there. There were a few places where I thought we might get another one or two rafted in addition to the last bit of mooring (where I was looking to raft 2 or 3 out) but I couldn't see 20 fitting from the vantage point I had.