Limehouse to Teddington

Opsguy1979

Opsguy1979

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Hi all,

I currently have a Freeman 22 based on the River Lea. I have been thinking about next summer and I would like to do a couple of weeks on the Thames. I have thought about paying to put the boat on a trailer but I would really like to come down via Limehouse and then take the tide down to Teddington.

I know of someone that has done it in a narrowboat but is this trip ok with one engine? Or would i need to rig an outboard. The boat should hold 6 knots but I intend to go with the tide and not press against it.

Other things I think I need to be doing is gain a VHF licence and get hold of a hand held VHF. I will also make sure I have a decent ammount of anchor chain just in case.

Is this trip visable ? Do you have any gotchas that I might need to be aware of?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers Karl
 
Taking the tide up to Teddington from Slimehouse with your Freeman is absolutely not a problem. Of course a secondary motor is always safer but people do it all the time on a single engine. I have often seen small Freemans going downstream to the Medway. Technically you do need a VHF but if you are in company with someone else who has one this will suffice.
 
Should be a cracking trip,perhaps a really really early morning tide out Bow Creek to avoid the trip boats,nice to be above Chelsea Bridge before 7ish and avoid the lumpy bits ?
Early.jpg

DSCN3624.jpg
 
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Excellent now the cogs are turning. I was thinking exactly that about going early to avoid the big stuff. How long does it roughly take? Fantastic pics by the way.
 
Trip takes about 3 hours and is a great journey through the Capital.
It really does make a difference going early which I would recommend as it can get quite bumpy once the traffic starts.
I would suggest VHF is a good idea espicially if you are travelling without other boats.
Plan and enjoy.
 
No requirement for a VHF if the boat is under 45 feet.

It's a good idea to have one though , but if you don't a mobile phone will suffice. Any problems dial 999 and ask for London Coastguard.
 
DraBW have three excellent guides for you to download from their London site giving you all the details.
Exit from Bow creek is said to require two tides, and the recommended route is via Limehouse.

You are only required to have a listening watch on VHF - so that you can hear London VTS's bulletins, otherwise you can ring them on your mobile if you're in trouble etc. Anyway isn't the lower limit 8m?? look at the booklet.

Listening doesn't require a license; only transmitting.

It is safer to go in a group and that's easier if you congregate at Limehouse, if you choose the tide and day sensibly you'll find others going upstream anyway.
A BW lady of my acquaintance says the lockkeeper at Limehouse is nice, knowledgeable, and very helpful.

As you're a BW customer you should know all this anyway....


Fabulous trip so do it on a sunny day!!
 
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No problem at all! I did it many years ago a number of times with my Birchwood 25. It had an old 1600cc petrol engine in it, I cruised from Teddington to the Medway and back! It is wise to carry a good anchor and a decent amount of chain because there is a lot of rubbish in the Thames and its possible to get something round your prop.

Have a good trip,

Barry
 
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