Hello and Question

[PaulTG]

Hello!

I've been reading around on the forum for about a week now and figured I should finally sign up and say hello properly.

I also have a few questions and they boil down to "where to go?"...

I was introduced to boating by my wife's parents. They have a 72 foot canal boat on the K&A and we took her out several times including down to the Thames.

As we live in Bray we decided to splash out on a 1980s Sealine 285 and have had great fun over the last couple of months bobbing up and down the Thames. We've mainly been between Windsor and Cookham but have ventured up to Oxford and Chertsey (on separate trips out).

Now, we have a holiday booked at the end of September. I'm very keen (but very apprehensive as well) to try some coastal waters. My ambition would be to make her to France at some point and maybe visit the Channel Islands and other parts of Europe. My apprehension stems primarily from the "unknown" and whilst I am incredibly ambitious I do prefer to do things sensibly and safely. I want to know that I'm doing things correctly and not putting ourselves or others at risk from my naive actions.

As far as locks, the non-tidal Thames, and canals go I'd say we were very comfortable and at ease with proceedings. We don't rush at anything and we are safe, but most importantly relaxed

However, without anyone close to hand to teach me anything further from first-hand experience I'm hoping that you lovely folks can give me some pointers on the two things that I am considering for our end-of-September adventure.

1) Do we go coastal? Do we go out of the Thames and enjoy the Southern coast of England?
2) Do we save that trip for later and go onto the Grand Union Canal and head north? I'm worried about headroom, draft, beam limits for which we are 1.8m (5'11'"), 0.9m (2'10"), 3.1m (10'2") respectively (Sealine 285).

So, hello and a question! Any advice, thoughts and (if needs must) criticism is welcome!

It's possible that it's a "no" to both 1) and 2) so alternative suggestions would be awesome in that eventuality...

Paul

 

[markc]

Hi Paul

Welcome to the forum & to boating. Is the boat you have bought Dolce Vita?

To answer your question, heading to sea is a lot of fun albeit with unpredictable weather! My best advice would be to find some fellow boaters, or join Bray Cruiser Club, and make your first trips to sea in company with 1 or more other boats. It will give you confidence and the ability to learn from some 'past masters'. I'm really not sure about the Grand Union Canal - you may have a bit of a squeeze in some places!

We're in Bray too, on Pier I, come & say hello

Mark

 

[Victoria Sponge]

I would strongly suggest you do the theory and practical Day Skipper for Power. You'll cover a good range of topics including navigation and collision regulations. I mention these two in particular as you will need good knowledge of them for your adventures. Good luck.

 

[PaulTG]

Hi Paul

Welcome to the forum & to boating. Is the boat you have bought Dolce Vita?

It is indeed, I wasn't aware we'd been so noisy ;-)

We're in Bray too, on Pier I, come & say hello

We're on A. What's the name of your boat?

To answer your question, heading to sea is a lot of fun albeit with unpredictable weather! My best advice would be to find some fellow boaters, or join Bray Cruiser Club, and make your first trips to sea in company with 1 or more other boats. It will give you confidence and the ability to learn from some 'past masters'.

That's a really good idea - I wasn't aware it existed but I shall have to look into that! Thanks very much!

I'm really not sure about the Grand Union Canal - you may have a bit of a squeeze in some places!

I have been reading around a bit more and I think we should be OK up until Camp Hill Locks where the beam becomes 7 foot. There are a couple of tunnels where you have to book passage at 8am if you're over 7 foot beam and if you miss your slot you have to wait 24 hours... So unless anyone says otherwise I think it's a goer.

Cheers Mark!

 

[apollo]

Hi

I dont think you mention whether your boat is diesel or petrol?

Its a lot easier to go downriver if diesel as there are places that actually sell it!

Petrol will involve walking to filling stations with Jerry Cans.

Agree with others, better to do some RYA training, local colleges will start evening classes in September, as you will need to know some navigation skills.

Also agree with the club idea, if you have wife and kids, they will feel a lot more happy safely in the knowledge that help is close at hand.

 

[mlines]

The only issue with the south coast is how far away it is both in terms of time and fuel. You could spend most of your holiday just getting there (assuming you mean the West Sussex/Hampshire/Dorset coastline) as well as a lot of fuel. Of course, the "getting there" could be half the fun.

An alternative to consider would be to pay to transport the boat down to the coast. Whilst that may initially appear extreme it gets you there in a day and actually compares quite well with the fuel bill/marina charges you would have incurred by boating around the long way. Some people move the boat to the coast for the summer period using this method.

RYA Powerboating Level 2 (Coastal not River) will give you the initial skill for inner coastal waters.

Also look out for group trips as these help build confidence, this one is too short notice for you but something similar would help the initial fear.

Alderney Cruise

 

[joejo]

Question 2

My advice for your Grand Union trip is to borrow your wife's parents narrow boat rather than take yours. NB's are by far the best type of boats for the canals.

I do not know too much about Grand Union bridge heights, but the canals are shallow and in places have more than their fair share of debris, and would be more than a challenge for your stern gear props etc. IMHO you do not have the correct boat for the UK canal system. [I am a fellow Sealine owner]

 

[thames cruiser]

In the boat!

Hi Paul,

You already have some pretty good advice here from some very experienced boaters. What I might add, for what its worth, is that I have had a similar-sized petrol sports boat myself for the last few years. As a complete (coastal / tidal) novice, we joined the Bray Cruiser Club and ventured incompany out on trips to Limehouse and Rochester. Running out of petrols was a concern, and we did do the leg-trip to petrol stations to keep tanks brimmed, but being in company gave that extra level of security. So we simpl,y enjoyed the blast out. Same is true from an experience point of view even if your boat is deisel, its just nice to get out in company with helpful fellow boaters. You can do this even before doing the theory and practical course, though you will need these for independent cruising.

Good luck and have fun.

Paul

PS: also in Bray. Claire Anne (soon to be renamed). H pontoon.

 

[oldgit]

Join the club,the first trips are always more fun in company.Once you have been somewhere with the back up of a group of people you know ,setting out on your own can be done with the knowledge of whats in front of you.
BCC often do trips down to the tidal Thames Marinas and this is an ideal first shortish trip to experience the delights of being bounced around by other traffic in salty water.
If you can "enjoy" this bit of the river the bit beyond is not that much worse.

 

[guernseyman]

Someone suggested evening classes. Brilliant. Do it this winter/autumn.

Next year potter around the Thames estuary and near coast, getting used to the tidal environment. Then do another course.

The following year go further afield, still sticking to the coast.

After that you may be ready to cross the channel towards France or the Channel Islands, with Brittany beckoning in the future.

In other words, a gradual increase in experience and theory, all the while thinking of your boat and equipment which will need your attention with the changing cruising.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

With planning, training and confidence your boat will do a very nice run to the Medway via a London marina. Its a sensibly pain free introduction to tidal planning, pilotage, tinsy bit of navigation and keeping out of the way of big ships.

Strongly recommend Day Skipper as an evening class.

But Grand Union? Not really and I suspect you will be looked at in an odd way because you will use up enough of a lock to need it solo on what, to the canal boaters, is a titchy boat.

 

[markc]

It is indeed, I wasn't aware we'd been so noisy ;-)



We're on A. What's the name of your boat?

I guessed your boat was Dolce Vita because a friend of mine viewed it at Penton Hook at easter and I tagged along & had a good poke around ... I then saw it in Bray at the weekend and guessed it had a new owner

Our boat is called Jinto

Mark

 

[Richard Shead]

That boat is Petrol, so availability will have to be taken into account when heading down, but the boat is more than capable.

 

[PaulTG]

Thanks for all the advice. I've started a Day Skipper Theory course with SeaNavigate.com and that seems to be going well.

I think we'll scrap the idea of the Grand Union idea - considering the River Wey instead.

 

[Ramage]

If you do join the Bray Cruiser Club, several members are going to the ATYC Rally in London Docklands over the August Bank Holiday weekend. That will introduce you to the tidal Thames in company with some other club boats.

http://www.atyc.co.uk/

(Another boat on I pontoon at Bray..ours is "Silver Dragon".)

 

[Dave_Seager]

River Wey

I doubt whether a Sealine 285 will get very far up the River Wey. Bear in mind that recommended draughts are 3' up to Guildford and 2'6" to Godalming. Air draughts are 7' to Guildford and 6' beyond.