Mooring 'Depth' on the Thames

[GAJ52]

The lowest part of my Birchwood 37 are the Props and are approximately 1.0 metre below the water line. While mooring up overnight near the railway bridge in Maidenhead last weekend I heard a worrying metallic sound as my props were obviously touching the gravel on the final point of mooring to the bank - hopefully not damaged !!

Has anyone got a method of testing the depth close to the bank, being fairly new to boating on the Thames I don't yet know which sites are safe for mooring with a boat that has a 1 mtr draft.

Glen

 

[boatone]

Has anyone got a method of testing the depth close to the bank, being fairly new to boating on the Thames I don't yet know which sites are safe for mooring with a boat that has a 1 mtr draft.

Basically, its called "being careful" ! I draw about the same and usually put bow in first - that will reveal whether there a serious problem - and then with engines in neutral let the back end drift in. A sounding pole can be useful over the bank side of the boat but its mainly a question of gradually building your own "database" of OK places.

Bear in mind, also, that its not unknown for depths to rise or fall several inches with weir movements. I have several times been afloat when I went to bed and on the bottom in the morning !

 

[GAJ52]

Although it might be blindly obvious, I didn't think of going 'nose in' then letting the rear end drift in in neutral, that's one of the problems of being new to boating.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Flynnbarr]

Wooden boat hook or pole,scar fine 1ft depth marks on it using a metal hacksaw blade then put some paint in the scars.you have an old fashioned depth sounder!
Was it the council moorings below brunel's bridge ?you should have been fine,depths are usually ok there unless in drought conditions.maybe just unlucky,we ain't in drought conditions!

 

[Brayman]

Wooden boat hook or pole,scar fine 1ft depth marks on it using a metal hacksaw blade then put some paint in the scars.you have an old fashioned depth sounder!
Was it the council moorings below brunel's bridge ?you should have been fine,depths are usually ok there unless in drought conditions.maybe just unlucky,we ain't in drought conditions!

It does fluctuate along there. The best we found was near the little inlet or right at the downstream end, but who knows now after all the self-scouring.

 

[Actionmat]

I draw just under a metre and haven't encountered any problems between Teddington and Cookham. I'm more wary of town centres and the underwater menace of the dumped shopping trolley.

 

[Flynnbarr]

I draw just under a metre and haven't encountered any problems between Teddington and Cookham. I'm more wary of town centres and the underwater menace of the dumped shopping trolley.

You can wind your legs up and sit in a puddle

 

[boatone]

I draw just under a metre and haven't encountered any problems between Teddington and Cookham.

Then you haven't stopped bankside in many places or you've been dead lucky! Although, TBF, around one metre seems to be where the problems start.
Fortunately, my Hardy has a keel and the rudders are also slightly below prop depth. The keel can be a problem though if the boat settles into the mud - damn near impossible to pull out sideways !

 

[Chill]

We tinkle the river bed when mooring below the Sounding Bridge come to think of it we tinkle the bottom in most places but in the 5 years owning a shaft drive boat and regularly tinkling the bottom our props have never been damaged. As others have said nose in first then bring the stern in slowly.

 

[Actionmat]

Then you haven't stopped bankside in many places or you've been dead lucky!

I forgot about the bank at Eton, especially when you're hit with commercial wash. Come to think of it, The moorings at Mill Meadow Henley can be a bit hit and miss if you need a metre.

 

[Actionmat]

You can wind your legs up and sit in a puddle

. That is a very good point

 

[teddington_lock]

We used to moor at Mill Meadows with a 4ft draught back in the day. Gets shallower though the further toward Marsh Lock you go from the bowling green though.

 

[Actionmat]

That's where I was last summer, I thumped the bottom in front of a chap who had his hand out for a mooring fee. And suggested he should have a shovel in it.

 

[teddington_lock]

I'm talking 20 years ago mind , there may have been a bit of 'deposition' since then..