I am crazy...dingy on The Thames!

Howard,
from those pics it looks as though you were in company with several other boats of various sizes?; and we noted your earlier post that it was hugely terrifying even under those circumstances......:eek:
 
It was back in the day of the carlsberg round London inflatable boat marathon , we were in convoy with tens of other inflatables of roughly the same size , but no support boats if I recall correctly. This was 22 years ago remember , before the days of intense H and S.

Everyone wanted the smallest lightest boat they could get because you had to carry them around the locks , most people used Metzelers ( remember them ? ) , but we scored a prototype Maestral 2 , named after its length in metres , don't think it ever went into production , it was just too small !

But yes , I stand by my earlier comment , it was terrifying , Richard and I went between the bow and the anchor chain of HMS Belfast , brings it home to you just how big things are down there , each chain link seemed half the size of the dinghy ! Lol

Got to Limehpuse and I went up the ladder with the ropes ( you weren't allowed to us the locks ) , we started hauling the boat up and realised that we hadn't secured our bags in the bottom of the boat , just as they disappeared into the bottom of Limehpuse cut. Probably still there !
 
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Hahaha ..... Practical !

Lots of fun , highlights I remember are nearly breaking my ankle at London zoo , Splashdown Matthew disappearing into limehouse cut , snow , the horrifying tunnel paddle , cans of lager dropped off bridges , the Vauxhall chevette , the hanwell flight , and you jumping into the mud at Brentford !

Quality , I wish they would reinstate it !
 
As a person who has taken my 14ft boat from Shoeburyness to Lechlade once and has been on the tideway through central London my advice is in one word. DON'T. My boat has a main engine and auxilliary and it is still a bit iffy making this trip.

In all probability you will be picked up by the river police as a hazard to navigation and yourself.

Water demands deep respect. The Thames Tideway is no place for your craft, the wash from trip boats is horrendous for small craft Take my tip and put it in the water above Teddington and enjoy your trip. The Tideway takes no prisoners and I belive most contributors to this forum would agree with me.

the_wanderer.
 
I understand, it was a nice thought however I will take all your advice on board.

Out of interest, roughly how much will it cost to hire a boat (ideally the cheapest/lower end of the safe boat scale) for an afternoon or a few hours to take out on the tidal section?
 
I really do not think there are any day boat hirers on the tidal Thames. As I said, put it in above Teddington. You can buy a license at most locks and for an unpowered boat it would be much cheaper than hiring a boat.

Anyway, this is my last post on this subject. You may be a troll or somebody who just does not understand what a dangerous place the tidal Thames can be for a small boat.

You have been warned.

the_wanderer
 
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Flyingdutchman10 said:
I understand, it was a nice thought however I will take all your advice on board.

Out of interest, roughly how much will it cost to hire a boat (ideally the cheapest/lower end of the safe boat scale) for an afternoon or a few hours to take out on the tidal section?
Click to expand...

NOBODY will hire you a boat to use on the tidal Thames.
 
Im well aware of that Byron , that's why I put the wink at the end of the post. That's also why I said 'they will take you out'

Funnily enough , I deal with Colliers pretty much every day , all of the brothers are good friends of mine.

:)
 
I know we live in England and I'm around London however how boring. Just trying to recreate some memories from time spent in the US.....wasn't even allowed to put my small dinghy in Highgate/Hampstead Ponds....swimmers allowed, fishing allowed, yet not a small inflatable. Boring country. And it appears you can't even hire a small speed boat and tear up the Thames. Looks like it's bowls and darts then.
 
Personally I'd put your dingy in a smaller river with no boats on it...you'll have a lot more fun and be a lot safer at the same time.
There are plenty of rivers around that still have nice area’s to picnic, pubs on the banks, deep pools to swim in, and small rapids to shoot.
 
prof pat pending said:
Personally I'd put your dingy in a smaller river with no boats on it...you'll have a lot more fun and be a lot safer at the same time.
There are plenty of rivers around that still have nice area’s to picnic, pubs on the banks, deep pools to swim in, and small rapids to shoot.
Click to expand...

Thanks, suppose if it's not the River Lea as people have suggested, then I'll properly have to venture out into the likes of Oxfordshire etc.
 
Flyingdutchman10 said:
Boring country. And it appears you can't even hire a small speed boat and tear up the Thames. Looks like it's bowls and darts then.
Click to expand...

Marked yourself out as a definite troll with this post.

Not wasting any more time on you , good luck with whatever you choose to do. Perhaps a jet ski off Brighton beach would be more your style ?
 
Flyingdutchman10 said:
Thanks for the guidance. I'm going to chill out on a lake/large ponds tomorrow.

Can anyone recommend where I start (postcode if possible) on the non tidal section? I've seen the non tidal part up close at Hampton and Bishams Abbey.....

The River Lea looks quite nice and local however I seem to remember from seeing it up close that the North London....Enfield, Edmonton sections weren't very nice...
Click to expand...

The Lea up towards Hertford, and the River Stort around around Sawbridgeworth are very pleasant
 
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