London Cruising

[longjohnsilver]

Did a river trip over the weekend, from Tower hill to Westminster, all very enjoyable. Got me thinking about one day taking my boat up to London.

Are there any restrictions on pleasure boats using the river up to and including the city, if so what are they? Saw St Catherines Lock by Tower Bridge, looked ok, are there other good places to moor?

 

[broadbent]

Hungerford bridge (?) by the Millenium Eye has traffic control.

 

[BarryH]

All the bridges have traffic control of sorts, thats what the flashing lights are at the head of the arches. They warn of approach of large vessels or tows of lighters. The PLA do a booklet for pleasure boats using the Thames. The thames barrier is probably the worst part of the tideway. Woolwich radio controls all traffic movement between Blackwall and Dagenham (I think).

The tidal flow in the pool can be quiet strong, and the "seastate"!! can get quiet choppy with wind against tide, some of the bridge peirs get a sort of "standing wave" with spring tides.

All in all the river can be very interesting, had a good few trips up and down over the years, much underrated i think

 

[broadbent]

As I see it, due to the construction works, you need to inform

 

[rich]

once took lord H's boat from jersey to lambeth palace opp, h, o l, good trip, told to slow down opp can ary warff only doin 20ks,

rich

 

[hlb]

Think the rules are a bit similar to going to Fowey John. Untill you get there, there are no rules. Then once there, the harbour master gives you some rules, in amongst sites of interest and other stuff. Things that you can remember, you try to do, like. 6 KNOT SPEED LIMIT. On BIG sign. You take it a bit seriously!!! But the rest, just sort of add lib about. And promise to do it right next time. Err and if big ship comes. Scarper quick, but slowly cos yer going to be in the wrong anyway!!

Haydn

 

[byron]

Common sense rules. Get the handbook the PLA produce. If a white light is flashing over an arch you cannot use it, radio control at the Barrier and for the moment at Charing Cross. You cannot just moor anywhere indeed wash would be a major hindrance anyway. If you hang about near the Houses of Parliament be prepared for the 'Old Bill' regarding you with some suspicion (even before Sept 11th).

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Well worth doing, ljs. IMHO, London is absolutely fascinating from the Thames, day or night. Unfortunately you have to do the boring bit first from Medway to the Barrier. Watch out for debris, the tide runs very hard and, and despite the fact that there is no official speed limit below Wandsworth, the HM shouts at you if you create wash but use a bit of common sense and there's no probs
St Kats by Tower Bridge is definitely best marina for doing the sights

 

[miket]

Np licence required below Teddington Lock.
Speed limit Richmond to Wandsworth - 8 kts, below Wandsworth theoretically no limit, but as Byron has said, use common and watch wash.

Marinas at Chelsea Harbour, St Catherines Yacht Haven, Soth Dock, Limehouse and Gallions Poiny Marina. In my view St Cat's streets ahead of the others, primarily because of location, but be patient entering or exiting!!!

Done the trip from non tidal down through London many times, and never tire of it. Mind I quite like the boring bit to the Medway too, on a nice sunny day. Had lunch at anchor on (well not quite on) the Yantlet flats!

 

[oldgit]

Long john .When passing Medway,do not forget you can nip into Queenborough for the night for about £5.00.Last out post of civilisation before facing knaves and cutpurses of upper thames who think that all boats come with white carpet.

 

[paulineb]

Queenborough? Civilised ?

The last time we had to hold up there overnight, the water taxi skipper told us to post a 4 hours on 4 hours off watch on our dinghy and outboard to save it from being stolen - 'very common occurrence hereabouts' says he!!

Pxx

 

[oldgit]

Re: Queenborough? Civilised ?

Going cheap.a large selection of lightly used dinghys and outboards.
Ps all with nice white carpet.
Ooo and we steal fenders to order.esp to suit princess,s.please ring to reserve yours now.Cash only.

 

[byron]

Re: Queenborough? Civilised ?

The Water Taxi man gave wise advice, Queenborough is as bad as the outside pontoon at Calais for rascals.

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[martin]

oooh dont get me started...

I love visiting London and I work there too. Would love to keep my boat there but nothing to do once you come out of the Marina.

St cAts and Chelsea are fantastic locations but can only get in and out at approximately 2hrs eiter side of HW. Of course this means on a nice day there is a huge rush to get out and then back in again. Allowing 45 mins to queue for locks in and out!that leaves 2 hours (if first lock out and last lock in) to go where you want and get back...so probably not enough time to stop and get a drink. But no place to have a drink anyway!

After you have zoomed up and down twice, been shouted at by the fun police once you then have to get back in to through the lock. Have seen grown men cry outside ST Cats where lock keeper...poss the grumpiest man on planet...has been known to leave poor skipppers out over night cos its 20 mins to knockin orf time and he can't be bothered to cycle the lock again! Would not like to be stuck out on a swingin mooring all night around there..

I believe the up and coming place is Shadwell Basin...but keep goin by it on the DLR and it still looks like a marina in a council estate to me! By all accounts marina staff are more freindly than other parts and are open at all states exept 2hr either side of low water. Hope to try this out this year myself.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Thanks for all the knowledgeable replies.

As a complete novice when looking at boating on rivers is there any problems with depth on the Thames in London, I didn't realise just how tidal it all is!!

 

[martin]

Only bit where it gets dodgy is where the tidal meets non tidal...in front of the lock.. as you would guess..it runs out of water twice a day. YOu have to judge when is safe to proceed but lock keeper is very good at doing that and would not let you through if he didn't think there was enuf water for your boat.


After that bit ..EA are supposed to keep minimum of 3ft in the channel all the way up to oxford I think.. Which brings us on to the dreaded BSS.

You will have to self certify yor self if you want to get of the tidal bit.(worth a visit as this is where all the best bits are) not sure what this involves but best approach is probably turn up and blag your way through as nobody seems to have a definative answer.

Best bit of the Thames for me is Cliveden Reach...the river widens out and has four small islands in the centre. You can stay overnight on these, make a camp fire or barby.. costs about 3 pounds a night...

 

[byron]

"ST Cats where lock keeper...poss the grumpiest man on planet"
If you had ever helped out on the Lock (as I have) you would see why they get grumpy. Tadpole Brained boat owners not listening to instructions, people barging in thus stopping the Lock being packed to advantage, idiots who think they know more than the Lock Keeper does despite him running it 365 days a year. Dudes screaming into the lock at 10 knots or more with attendant wash, twats tring to leave before the gates are fully down or the bridge is fully up. I could tell you a zillion stories including people following Ron home pestering him for a different berth. Treated right the crowd at St Kats are a great bunch of guys. If Ron, Ray or any of them are reading this.... well done you do a great job under very difficult circumstances.

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[martin]

Sorry..We will have to agree to difffer on that one. My experience and several of my friends has been to the contrary.
I have no doubt its a tough job, and they may get more idiots there than elsewhere, but Lock keepers all the way down the Thames, including Chelsea, some how manage to get through the same nightmare with IMHO a better attitude.

 

[miket]

Martin, when were you last at Clivedon?

I thought it was nearer £8 a night now. Yes it is a beautiful spot but.....

 

[byron]

Probably last there with Christine Keeler and the Profumo affair ;-)

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