Just had five great days on the Thames but........

harvey38

harvey38

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Why don't folk move up at locks?

We have a Freeman 26 with a single engine and when we have to hang back, mid stream when going down river 'cos two NB's can't be bothered to move up really puts me off cruising /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

We navigated a couple of narrow cuts, just above Cullham to mention one, so overgrown and not managed at all. Hire boats (and others) come steaming up river and we have to reverse thrust big time time avoid a collision /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Still, dear wife, the cat and I still had a great time. No rain whilst moving and managed to get a tan. Shame we live so far from the Thames.

Rob Shepherd /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Yep, pull in, and if they whinge, tell them you couldn't park behind them, and there was a huge gap, so you filled it.

They may learn... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Do get something with a pole in the middle and get out and have some real excitement. Or do you find supermarket trollies a bit fast these days?
 
as said; just pull in. Assume that they have left a gap because their boats are too big to manouvre easily, you can always wave them past when the gates open and tuck in behind in a good old British queueing sort of way.

More importantly, how did you train the cat? Does it bugger off when you moor up, or stay on the boat? Litter tray or bilge pump?
 
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Do get something with a pole in the middle and get out and have some real excitement.

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Enlighten us, do you mean singing in a barber's shop quartet or working on a road gang?
 
...even more irritating is the increasing habit of people stopping on lock moorings to have their lunch, feed the ducks, look at the scenery...I have been caught out twice at Sandford by people doing that. Have the lock keepers lost interest? It would be understandable if they had I suppose, but it can make life difficult for us.
 
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More importantly, how did you train the cat? Does it bugger off when you moor up, or stay on the boat? Litter tray or bilge pump?

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No, Harvey (the cat) loves the boat, he's an old boy at 16 yrs but really enjoys everything about boating. When he's in the cockpit, he's always on a harness and extending lead. Each time we stop at a lock, he thinks it's time for him to go ashore and explore.

We try to moor in quiet area's where there's plenty of grass and little chance of coming across dogs. He does have a litter tray onboard but he rarely uses it and generally waits until he can find a 'Suitable place' ashore. Shame I can't adopt the same practice!!!
 
My perspective on the 'not moving up' thing is slightly different. Yes, it's shockingly bad manners. But, given that my river boating is done in a classic old twin diesel job, I stand off in the stream, without bothering too much how often I have to clutch and de-clutch, or rev up, nor the smelly smoke each operation produces...
 
If I were tied up (and I do try and be considerate) and there were not enough space, then I'd be more than happy for you to tie up to us... and I can't recall ever having a request to do the same turned down. As long as you're courteous with your request and considerate with your manoevres!

H
 
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