Is this a realistic possibility?...

[PEJ]

Although I am a Solent boater I love the Thames and would like to cruise all of it.

Do you reckon I could buy a smallish boat in April/May preferably near Teddington. Cruise, say, one weekend a month working my way to Lechlade leaving it in Marinas while I'm not on it and then sell it at the end of the season.

My thinking is to have 5 or 6 weekend cruises from a boat rental place is going to cost what? - 2 or 3,000 quid. If I sold the boat for £2k less than I paid for it it is still better than renting. But what about mooring / berthing. Is it easy enough to get 3 to 4 week visitor berths and what would it cost?

I am being realistic?

 

[sarabande]

That sounds like a really fun idea !

If it's any indication of "parking space" issues, the main marinas round Staines and Windsor seem to have spaces at present, but whether that's overcapacity or boats not going in the water...

Why not get together with someone else, so that the boat is used for two weekends out of four, and share the capital and running costs ?

 

[boatone]

Absolutely everything you might want to know about the Thames HERE including info about marinas, boatyards etc etc.

If it were me I might feel inclined to do it the other way round and finish down at Teddington. Might get something suitable cheaper upriver and more places/easier to sell as you get nearer to London - not to mention possibly doing a trip or two down the tideway into London.

 

[No Regrets]

I'll bet the rental option would be cheaper when you factor in the possible mechanical failure, insurance etc etc, and the fact the rental is fully equiped and licenced.

~When you say 'Small' are you thinking 32' or under 20'? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I have a Shetland 570 for sale which is relatively risk free, as it has a new four stroke engine, hood, total re-perspex and recent retrim, with BSS and licence till next year. It's in the for sale section, and so far I have ben offered £200 and a Chocolate bar. Nearer £5K would be nice though.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

It ain't big...... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

A rental would be more comfy though, but the Shetty would be genuinely cheap, and make it under any of the bridges (And is licenced for some of the Kennet & Avon if you fancied being a Water Pikey too)

Moorings are easy enough to find in most places if you're not fussy, and most Marina's have plenty of visitor berths available (In fact, I pulled into Racecourse last weekend and nobody cared where I berthed, or if I did in fact have guest entitlement, which as it happens I did...) for under a tenner, which is nice if you want a Shower and Water/ Toilet cleaning facilities.

The Thames is very pretty in places, just keep it on the plane through Reading... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Or cost up a Freeman which will pretty much always find a buyer, just be sure that Osney is possible.. Thames Yacht Clubs may be worth approaching over temporary moorings.

If you are really canny it should be possible to get a boat that, in the right weather, can go from Lechlade to Sea Reach and then you really have done all of it.

 

[akirk]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are really canny it should be possible to get a boat that, in the right weather, can go from Lechlade to Sea Reach and then you really have done all of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

All though you will have missed the additional hour+ you can cruise above Lechlade - some of the best part of the Thames as all hire boats are banned and NBs can't get up there... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Wait for a sunny day and you may come across me on the old boat, mud weight over the bow, wind-up gramaphone on and the odd bottle or two being studied carefully /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gumpy]

[ QUOTE ]
All though you will have missed the additional hour+ you can cruise above Lechlade - some of the best part of the Thames as all hire boats are banned and NBs can't get up there... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh yes they can!
I know of at least two that have got to Hannington bridge and in 2003 I had Parglena within sight of Hannington Bridge before we ran out of depth on a shoal between the last two bends. Mind you at the time she was only 50ft x 11ft6 and I only had to reverse a hundred yards in order to turn.

Dont know that I would try it now having had the boat lengthened as it would mean a long reverse to get somewhere where i could turn.

Has anyone got a larger boat furthur up the Thames?

Julian

 

[PEJ]

Good advice given, thank you.

I was thinking about something like an Antaris 520 http://www.bushnells.co.uk/boat_46.htm

What do you think?

I might be able to persuade a friend to half share it with me.

 

[PEJ]

[ QUOTE ]


All though you will have missed the additional hour+ you can cruise above Lechlade - some of the best part of the Thames as all hire boats are banned and NBs can't get up there... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif



[/ QUOTE ]
Pardon my ignorance but what is an NB?

 

[Steve Clayton]

[/ QUOTE ]Pardon my ignorance but what is an NB?

[/ QUOTE ]
Narrow Boat

 

[byron]

NB = Narrowboat
Damn! Now I have to wash my KB (keyboard)

 

[byron]

[ QUOTE ]
Good advice given, thank you.

I was thinking about something like an Antaris 520 http://www.bushnells.co.uk/boat_46.htm


What do you think?

I might be able to persuade a friend to half share it with me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that is a pretty boat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif However I'm sure if you shopped around, looked on boatsandoutboards.co.uk and spoke to people like Val Wyatt Marine etc. you will find something similar for ½ the price.

 

[whisper]

Yes I like these Dutch launches too. However you are not going to sleep in/on it are you? Think there would be a lot more room in a tent, or a much better room in a local hostelry.

 

[No Regrets]

The problem with open boats is going to be your exposure to the weather. You'll either cook, or end up sodden.

We had our first open boat for a matter of two months before we realised it's practical limitations, and it was soon our last.

A Toilet is also a handy thing to have, and possibly somewhere to take a nap /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[byron]

[ QUOTE ]


A Toilet is also a handy thing to have, /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't need one you can take a leak over the side, no one will notice and even if you were picked up for indecent exposure it would be thrown out for lack of evidence /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[akirk]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
All though you will have missed the additional hour+ you can cruise above Lechlade - some of the best part of the Thames as all hire boats are banned and NBs can't get up there... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh yes they can!
I know of at least two that have got to Hannington bridge and in 2003 I had Parglena within sight of Hannington Bridge before we ran out of depth on a shoal between the last two bends. Mind you at the time she was only 50ft x 11ft6 and I only had to reverse a hundred yards in order to turn.

Dont know that I would try it now having had the boat lengthened as it would mean a long reverse to get somewhere where i could turn.

Has anyone got a larger boat furthur up the Thames?

Julian

[/ QUOTE ]

well, yes, you are right, but every year it becomes more difficult, and besides it isn't recommended unless you are a very good driver /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif turning a NB once up at Hannington would be a nightmare, and the last winding point for a full length NB is the are by the round house at Lechlade, where the Coln, Severn-Thames canal and Thames come together, so possible, but not advisable!

 

[Gumpy]

I ommitted to say that both the two that I know are under 60ft.
There is a scour just before the last two bends where you can turn 57ft, just. I wouldnt attempt it now being over that.

J

 

[PEJ]

[ QUOTE ]
NB = Narrowboat
Damn! Now I have to wash my KB (keyboard)

[/ QUOTE ]
Duh! Obvious now you have said it! I thought it might refer to inexperienced holiday boaters since I got a slight sense of disdain for them.

As for no cover / no toilet - I was planning 2 or 3 hours to a pub then another 2 or 3 hours to a hotel / B&B for overnight and then ditto the next morning. Also only going when the forecast was dry.

So thats dry weather, a marina at each end, two pubs at the quarter points and a B&B in the middle, all the way from one end to the other. Don't want much do I!?

Its the dry weather that is going to scupper the plan isn't it!