Inland discovery...

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Tania Thomas

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Another forum member said it might reach a better audience in here than the live aboard forum...hope so..

Well... I’m at the serious consideration of a liveaboard on the Trent in the Notts/Derby area.... yep, i know this is the Thames forum haha... a brief guide to the bridge clearances locally here, so when I’d like to adventure out then I’ve a bit of work to get a 15‘ craft under a 22” bridge, etc but I’ve got that in hand for now.

The big questions I’ve got are what guides/books could be useful for boating inland in a bigger craft, and how far in and where I can practically go before the bridges become too low or i bottom out. I’m thinking rivers off the East Coast. Ouse, Humber, Calder, Etc..

Are there many of you living aboard in Bayliners/Carvers, etc, and inland?
 
Don't quite understand your query.
Surely the best craft for an inland liveaboard is a narrowboat which can negotiate most inland bridges. Or the 'old style' broads cruiser with the collapsible wheelhouse roof and windshield.
 
True. Though I find the physical limitations of a NB dont fit me that well. I’d like to occasionally host friends/groups, cross the channel and head into open water and take things abroad, so a 40-50ft flybridge is more where I’m aiming.
 
Tania Thomas said:
True. Though I find the physical limitations of a NB dont fit me that well. I’d like to occasionally host friends/groups, cross the channel and head into open water and take things abroad, so a 40-50ft flybridge is more where I’m aiming.
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On the Thames you might get as far as Cookham Lock footbridge where the air draft is 12' 6" depending on your cabin top, radar arch. More info here:
https://assets.publishing.service.g...tachment_data/file/289796/LIT_6689_3e9c5e.pdf
 
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If you can pass under Cookham footbridge at 12'6" or Culham Cut at 12'5" you can do the Thames up to Oxford.
Hammersmith is Ok too most of the time. There is a guage just up river which gives the clearance.
.
 
Most early flybridge boats will if the radar arch removed or hinged squeeze under a 13ft bridge.This will however limit your range .
You can then start to worry about the bit underneath . Virtually all flybridge boats of that size will have the props as the lowest part of the boat. Designed to be used offshore and protecting props and rudders from strking ther bottom was not a part of the design plan
Many inland river and navigations run across rocky terrain ie. Thames.
Its not the middle its when you are trying to moor up and get ashore
If you are "lucky" you might get away with a bent prop tip if not it could be bent shaft, either way its lift out.
You might have trouble finding a space to moor a 50ft boat as well especially on a public mooring.
Consider looking at a Broom. Many early models did have a keel and a most of the command bridge screens could be laid flat .
Finding anywhere to moor for more than 24/48 hours will be problem as well as disposing of sewage etc if you have any hopes of livng aboard long term
Folks who are using a 40/50 ft flybridge as home tend to found in tidal waters around the coast.
 
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We lived on my Princess 385 for two years in Windsor. We lived comfortably on that boat, although she is a true old boat in that the 385 was hull length, not including bathing platform and ridiculous anchor snouts etc...

We can squeeze under Cookham and get all the way up to Oxford, Hammersmith bridge is absolutely no problem as long as the tide is right, we won’t get under at high tide (I did once knock an anchor light off...!)

Oldgit is right about props - we have a spare set always refurbished, so when we do prang the bottom it’s a lift and hold for 30 mins to do a quick prop swap. I’ve lost count of the amount of times we’ve done it - I think we keep mr Norris in business. Best going is about 40 mins after a relaunch with new props until I bent one!! That said we haven’t hit the bottom (hard) for the last two seasons.

I loved it, it’s a fantastic life. Like you, I wanted a sea boat as we do venture out to sea whenever we can, at least once a season and more if we have the time.
 
rosssavage said:
Oldgit is right about props - we have a spare set always refurbished, so when we do prang the bottom it’s a lift and hold for 30 mins to do a quick prop swap. I’ve lost count of the amount of times we’ve done it - I think we keep mr Norris in business. Best going is about 40 mins after a relaunch with new props until I bent one!! That said we haven’t hit the bottom (hard) for the last two seasons.
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Henley, season or two ago. :(

Trying to get alongside. Its Lunchtime.
BANG. %$£&! ...............
Clonk Clonk clonk.
Phone call to B1
Help...need some phone numbers quick !
At end of the list is boatyard just across river.
An hour later boat is hanging in the strops and I am knocking 7 bells out of blade tips with a couple of 10 lb flogging hammers.
...carefully and delicately "dressing" a minor tip deflection with finesse.
Blade was hitting rudder stock.

Boat left in slings while we walk up to cashpoint.
Late afternoon moor up somewhere completely different for a beer.
4 hours from start to finish.

No idea why we ever stop there really .Expensive, crowded, nothing inherently of interest one of the least interesting towns on the navigation with precious little to recommend it architecturally or historically .
Not sure its even got a Poundshop. Strongly suspect the local town council has byelaw to prevent their existance. :)
 
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