Hopefully on the Thames soon.

Blackfeather

Blackfeather

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 Dec 2004
Messages
2,220
Location
Now on the Thames
www.blackfeatherboatcharter.com
We are progressing arrangements to get Blackfeather on to the Thames, based at Val Wyatt, Wargrave.

They tell me that all their boats are taken out for the Winter but have given us a concession to stay in if we want to. We have a romantic notion of having days out under chilly, but blue, skies. Is that madness over the Winter? I understand the need to be vigilant when the river is flooding but are there other monsters I don't know about?

I've joined the TMBA, is there anything else I should join?

Sorry for the questions - I'm sounding like a newbie. Hopefully by next summer i will be worldly wise and have grown a beard.
 
No reason why you shouldn't use the boat during the winter months as long as you pay sensible regard to the conditions and don't mind the cold/wet!
Bear in mind that some locks are closed for maintenance work - details here:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/135254.aspx

River seems to be open for business as usual above Shepperton up as far as Whitchurch but you may well find you need to work many of the locks yourself.
 
get out on the boat great in the winter, plenty of monsters in the river.....................
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Blackfeather said:
We are progressing arrangements to get Blackfeather on to the Thames, based at Val Wyatt, Wargrave.

They tell me that all their boats are taken out for the Winter but have given us a concession to stay in if we want to. We have a romantic notion of having days out under chilly, but blue, skies. Is that madness over the Winter? I understand the need to be vigilant when the river is flooding but are there other monsters I don't know about?

I've joined the TMBA, is there anything else I should join?

Sorry for the questions - I'm sounding like a newbie. Hopefully by next summer i will be worldly wise and have grown a beard.
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Make sure you leave it until after the New Year or you will be stung for an EA licence for just a few days!
 
Blackfeather said:
We are progressing arrangements to get Blackfeather on to the Thames, based at Val Wyatt, Wargrave.

They tell me that all their boats are taken out for the Winter but have given us a concession to stay in if we want to. We have a romantic notion of having days out under chilly, but blue, skies. Is that madness over the Winter? I understand the need to be vigilant when the river is flooding but are there other monsters I don't know about?
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I went by at the weekend and yes: look like most of their boats are out. Do make sure you're a mooring on the actual marina as opposed to the muddy far bank with the need to cross by tender both ways!
A few of us here at T&K just a little further up in Reading. Look forward to seeing you out on one of those lovely cold winters days.

Flask of coffee....slab of cake....bottle of something to hand in case of hypothermia:)
 
Blackfeather said:
Hi Phil, yes it is.

Just having thr radar arch hinged and then hopefully we will be on the move.
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You might also want to visit a fender shop on the way round to Ye Thames, and buy least 10(per side) of the biggest fenders you have ever seen. This will allow you to blend in nicely and more importantly prevent the lockie from getting anyone else in the lock alongside you.
Hide any decent man sized ropes you have aboard and replace with slightly undersized washing line,preferably a metre or so to short to be of any real use at all especially in locks etc. This must be left in tangled mess at all times.
One could surmise this is because Thames boaters cannot handle their boats for toffee or maybe perhaps the locks do have some rough edges.
One could not possibly comment. :)
 
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oldgit said:
One could surmise this is because Thames boaters cannot handle their boats for toffee
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Always amazes me when I leave the Thames and go seaward how badly coastal based craft are handled. I guess it's because Thames users are constantly handling their boats at close quarters that generally speaking they are super at it.
 
Blackfeather,
I may be commenting on the blindingly obvious,
but are you aware - if coming by water, that Shepperton lock is closed for the "winter season" ??

I assumed from the start that you'd be transporting the boat by road. However, the way that posts are going here suggests that you might be motoring round?
 
byron said:
Always amazes me when I leave the Thames and go seaward how badly coastal based craft are handled. I guess it's because Thames users are constantly handling their boats at close quarters that generally speaking they are super at it.
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Couldn't agree more, see the looks of amazement on the coast when the crew lassoo bollards and step off rather than taking gigantic leaps into the unknown when coming alongside! :)
 
H,mm....Talking of Locks !

Brayman said:
Couldn't agree more, see the looks of amazement on the coast when the crew lassoo bollards and step off rather than taking gigantic leaps into the unknown when coming alongside! :)
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Yea yea.....just the tinyist bit of tide/wind and watch the fun begin.
Chatham Lock when BCC arrive is the best 30 mins free entertainment you will ever get:):):)
 
boatone said:
I don't recall having any problems ........ although I seem to remember finding the bottom several times upriver when you assured me there would be "plenty of water" ! :D
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Talking of water.
In the process on empting and cleaning out diesel tank at mo........blinking Fuel bug Innit !
 
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