Easter trip up the Thames

dabsolute470

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 Jan 2010
Messages
639
Location
wickford essex, boat fambridge
www.coverdalegroup.co.uk
Hiya
we have made our minds up and heading up the thames on Friday 22nd bank holiday to St Kats, then going up as far as we can get and back down to St Kats for Tuesday 26th and 27th (as its our daughters 18th and she wants to meet us at st kats and cruise up the thames drinking champers with her new boyfriend. this could change at a moments notice though if she gets a better offer...lol )
we are then thinking about maybe rochester or gillingham then maybe ramsgate and back home to fambridge 2nd or 3rd weather permitting.
anyone else going ??
heather and steve
 
We went up to St Kats last year. We had a brilliant time. We stopped at Greenwich Yacht Club for a night on the way up to St Kats, to catch the lock right. They are a very friendly club although the pontoon is a bit bumpy.

Have a great trip!
 
Hi
Unless you have already booked their web site says

"The Marina is fully booked between 20th April 2011 - 3rd May 2011."


I fancied it but I've just retired, so now I'm not so time constricted. We went once b4 & stopped @ Chelsea marina but eventually stayed on the inside of the pontoon outside on the river . Bit tight for depth --just OK! We stopped at St Kats the next day :D Came back out through the lock with the biggest Sunseeker ever!!

Stuart (Essex Marina)
 
if st kats is full has anyone been to, or can recommend any of the following

south dock
chelsea
limehouse
gallions reach

dont know of any others near tower bridge with ease of access.
thanks

We still plan to go Steve. I think it's go down on Friday for us too and come back Monday.

We went last year and stayed at Gallions Point, i couldn;t advise against staying there enough. Terrible place, to say the least.

We were advised against staying there, but it was the only place we could get, due to tidal constraints. The general consensus was that Limehouse was a good 2nd best to St Kats.

Anyone know of anywhere to refuel ? We filled up in Gallions Point, but that was a performance. Long story, but they didn't want to sell us any diesel because they couldn't work the VAT and duty out. Told us for a start that the pump was broken, i suspected they were lying and made a fuss (had to really, didn't have enough fuel to get home). Finally got some diesel midday and missed the best of the tidal flow for the trip home.
 
Last August we took on fuel from the Fuel Barge just down river from St Kats. The marina/lock manager from St Kats helped us by calling the barge up but when we arrived the lift pump was knackered so he couldnt get fuel to us.
A few minutes later and he had taken 20 litres off down below using gravity feed, a shake of the hands and away we went if you know what I mean!
Was a bit worried it would have the bug and it was bilge wash etc but did me ok until the next fill up.
Worth checking as you pass if he is operational.
Otherwise its a lug from a road garage I believe.
 
hi Paul

i will try and call st kats tomorrow and see if i can get you and i booked in there if not i will give limehouse a call, have you been to chelsea as a last resort ??

Only place we stayed was Gallions Point Steve.

Will definitely need to check the fuel situation, with Gallions Point messing us around we were almost in a muddle. We used most of our 230 litre tank up just getting there (having been previously told by them they would refuel us), the 100 litres of reserve i'd taken in cans would not have got us home.

According to this MBM article, the barges are closed weekends http://www.motorboatsmonthly.co.uk/galleries/featured/25714/1/0/london-marina-guide

I'll ask on the Thames forum.
 
Last August we took on fuel from the Fuel Barge just down river from St Kats. The marina/lock manager from St Kats helped us by calling the barge up but when we arrived the lift pump was knackered so he couldnt get fuel to us.
A few minutes later and he had taken 20 litres off down below using gravity feed, a shake of the hands and away we went if you know what I mean!
Was a bit worried it would have the bug and it was bilge wash etc but did me ok until the next fill up.
Worth checking as you pass if he is operational.
Otherwise its a lug from a road garage I believe.

Cheers Ben, don't fancy lugging 200 litres though lol
 
Hi Paul and all

we have fueled at the barge by st kats a few times, can be a bit lumpy though.
just called st kats and they have room for 26th and 27th although friday 22nd is full, they might be able to fit us in and going to call me back.
they only have locking in between 19.15 and 20.00 at st kats
we are open st ideas for an alternative marinas for friday 22nd
 
Hi Paul and all

we have fueled at the barge by st kats a few times, can be a bit lumpy though.
just called st kats and they have room for 26th and 27th although friday 22nd is full, they might be able to fit us in and going to call me back.
they only have locking in between 19.15 and 20.00 at st kats
we are open st ideas for an alternative marinas for friday 22nd

Greenwich Yacht Club:

http://www.greenwichyachtclub.co.uk/
 
I thought you guys may need a great deal more than my Bukh 20. I know that if the pump had been working it could deliver a decent tank fill as this is the barge refueller for commercial vessels on the Thames. 2 litres per hour 5kn -different kettle of fish for us!
 
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