Hiring A Boat To Take On The Tidal Thames

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Capt. Ahab

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Hello,
We (3 friends & myself) would like to hire a cruiser to from about the Windsor area of the Thames to Paddinton/Camden for a week. The plan being to sail to Teddington Lock, moor up for the night then catch the early tide to Brentford & on to the Grand Union Canal.
The problem being that most of the rental companies I've seen won't allow the boat to be taken past Teddington Lock. Understandable but 1 of our crew is able & experienced to navigate this part of the Thames.
Can anyone advise on a rental company that we could use or suggest an alternative route + company using the inland waterways ending up in the same location.
Any advise would be much appreciated as I've worn out the Internet searching this so turning to experienced hands in the area who use the stretch.
As said any advise much appreciated.
 
Basically no. None of the hire companies have craft suitable for tackling the tides / conditions past Richmond. They are intentionally underpowered to make people behave on the upper Thames, so lack anything like the power to deal with a tidal flow. Your crew may well be competent, but the boats aren't I'm afraid.

Hobbs of Henley will rent you a rather fetching Linssen which would be capable of the passage, but they're in Henley and even then I doubt very much they'd let you take it past Richmond.
 
rosssavage said:
Basically no. None of the hire companies have craft suitable for tackling the tides / conditions past Richmond. They are intentionally underpowered to make people behave on the upper Thames, so lack anything like the power to deal with a tidal flow. Your crew may well be competent, but the boats aren't I'm afraid.

Hobbs of Henley will rent you a rather fetching Linssen which would be capable of the passage, but they're in Henley and even then I doubt very much they'd let you take it past Richmond.
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A Linssen is far to nice a craft to take anywhere near the canal system - even if the locks are wide enough.

London is - reported and actually - very full. All the moorings are taken up by liveaboards and there are no marinas where you can book a berth; certainly not at a reasonable rate and/ or near Camden.

You will / should be allowed to do the transit from Teddington to Brentford in a hire boat, but the boat would be a narrow - or broad beam canal boat. The only hire base in the area closed last year.....

It's very sad 'cos we'd love to do the ring again and stop and visit my old City haunts - but fear of finding nowhere to moor and possibly vandalism puts us off.

KrisCruisers at Datchet used to have a small NB - but I guess you've already asked them. It's not a matter of knowing the waters as the Brentford transit is easy IF you follow the instructions from T_L. However most small NBs might / could / would struggle to make the upstream turn into the creek at Brentford.

With the demise of the London NB hire base, there's nothing until you get towards the midlands, AFAIK Wyvern Shipping at Weedon is the nearest and that's 2-3 days cruising down to London.
 
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"London is - reported and actually - very full. All the moorings are taken up by liveaboards and there are no marinas where you can book a berth; certainly not at a reasonable rate and/ or near Camden"




Admittedly it was about 11 years ago and things may well have changed since then. We stayed at Willow Tree Marina on the Paddington Arm on our way to Limehouse.
It was like a sanctuary in the middle of rather uncertain cruising area.

I would concur it is not a cruising area for the feint hearted and probably best not attempted in a hire boat. I would now be reluctant to attempt it in any boat. It is however a great journey and lovely way to see our Capital City.
 
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I appreciate the response.
It does seem undoable in a company rented cruiser. Kriscruier's state in the Terms "not to be taken past Teddington Lock" as do many.
I was reluctant to think of venturing on the tidal waters with a less manoeuvrable narrow boat + the fact of a VHF radio etc etc.
Entering London via The Grand Union from Aylesbury direction was an option but have failed to find a rental company closer than Layton Buzzard. Being in Thailand I'm unable to physically look, but the trip would be late March & have time to keep looking.
If anyone knows of a company on this stretch (or private renter) again would be appreciated.
All The Best.
 
While London isn't full, it's not far off.

Rent a Hotel room. Seriously, why would you want to rent a boat for the three hour transit between Tedders and St Kats!? Mental.... :ambivalence:
 
@noregrets
When we were younger (some 20/25 years ago) we was always buying some clapped out boat & travelling up to Reading/Oxford etc for weeks at a time in the summer.
When I'm visiting home again in March we're going to meet some more friends in London. The obvious answer was to sail (with a bit more comfort this time) & enjoy our time as we used to.
We could drive in, get a hotel or rent a already moored NB, but where's the fun in that.
 
No Regrets said:
While London isn't full, it's not far off.

Rent a Hotel room. Seriously, why would you want to rent a boat for the three hour transit between Tedders and St Kats!? Mental.... :ambivalence:
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I guess John's emoticon is intended to be tongue in cheek - but no hire company - PLA regulations - will let you go onto the 'full' tideway, and for anyone not knowing the river, downstream for a first trip in a lightly powered boat is "not advisable".
It's not so much navigating but the amount of stuff that's in the river, fast trip boats with lots of wash, the turn into Limehouse or even St. Kats needs a fair amount of power and speed.
 
@Trueblue
Yes I read in a similar thread someone wanting to take a 1970's Fairline to Tower Bridge & beyond. Biggest point being have a spare engine incase of fouling etc.
Unless we can find a private renter with an adequate vessel I'm leaning towards a Narrowboat down the Union from Layton Buzzard. The Thames route would have been the best as time scale etc but looks out of sight. Sadly.
 
Just a thought but the Thames Clippers are fabulous way to see the river as it flows through London,far better than one of the dismal trip boats and at about £15,00 for a Rover day ticket blimming good value.
A chance to see London and its inhabitants at "very" close range.:)
Covers most of river from Westminster to the Barrier.
 
oldgit said:
Just a thought but the Thames Clippers are fabulous way to see the river as it flows through London,far better than one of the dismal trip boats and at about £15,00 for a Rover day ticket blimming good value.
A chance to see London and its inhabitants at "very" close range.:)
Covers most of river from Westminster to the Barrier.
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Absolutely. My favourite way of killing a few hours in London. You get it even cheaper with an Oyster Card.
 
I appreciate your replies & the time you've taken with this.
We have more than a month to sort something out & if we find a way I'll post it for future reference.
Much appreciated all.
 
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