Lower Thames

[Guest]

I have been boating on the upper thames for about 10 years. I visit the lower thames every year but have yet to find anywhere decent to stay or stop.

St Cats - Every time I have been there I have only had bad experiences with the lock keeper and services inside. Its only open between 9 -6 and high tide +/- 2hrs. I am not sure if there is anywhere for a tender to tie up

Chelsea - Run Very Well, but only open between 9-6 and high tide +/- 2 hrs, can stop on the jetty outside but pretty uncomfortable overnight.

PLA Bouys - aware of thembut never seen one. Where do you leave the tender ?

Restuarants - As far as I know there is not a single place to stop and eat. i.e. resturants with all tide moorings or any moorings come to that!

In general, the city has a lot to offer and I would love to base my boat there, but I just can't see how! Am I missing something?

Regards

Martin

 

[Guest]

You can moor inside of the Peir at St Kats but beware if you draw more than 3/4 feet on spring tides. As regards any moorings other than places like South Dock & Lime House, forget it. Even if there were alongside moorings you would be battered by the wash. Further downstream there are places like Holehaven (drys out) and Greenwich Yacht Club.
Can't understand your bad experiences, Ron, Ray and all the others at St Kats are great guys they can't do enough for you, at least thats how I find them. I love it there.

 

[Guest]

Martin

There are a number of other options, although I agree that boating on the tideway isn't as easy as it might be.

First of all there's Chiswick Pier. Not quite *central* London, but not bad. All tides access, and reasonably priced (it's run by a charitable trust).

There is often space on Hammersmith Pier by the Dove pub which can be used for short term moorings too. Also all tides access, but Fulham Reach below Hammersmith Bridge is very shallow at LWS.

Limehouse has much better access than the other central London marinas, with the lock operating at just about all tides except LWS.

As for the PLA bouys, I wouldn't want to spend the night aboard a boat moored to one, but they would be find for leaving your boat on. The main ones in central London are near Cadogan Paier, and you can leave tenders there.

There's more information about boating on the tidal Thames at Tideway www.thames-tideway.org

Cheers
John
--
John Kennett
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