Moorings on the Thames

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boatingdave

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OK, this has been done to death but this is really a little more focussed. I'm thinking of coming back to the Thames later on this year (sorry all....). Currently the boat is in Cardiff but we are frustrated with the small number of places we can visit within a weekend and also often impacted by the weather. Although the coastal experience has been fantastic and the marina is superb (so from that perspective we would be sad to leave).
I'm looking for somewhere that can take a 43' cruiser within a short drive of Farnborough. Windsor Yacht Basin (Ting Deane) is full, Windsor (MDL?) is quite cramped, Penton Hook (MDL?) may be viable. Tried Shepperton, have discounted that one for now. Anyone think of anywhere I haven't considered?
Thanks.
 
Surprised you say RYB is full as they have enlarged the place and are putting in new pontoons. Or it may be your boat is too old and scruffy! The turfed out a lot of boats for that reason a few months ago.
 
Chris_d said:
Bourne End Marina, Harleyford, Bray ?
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Thanks Chris - I was trying to get a balance of distance/time. According to a very popular search engine and their maps, Bourne End is 1hr and 36 miles, HarleyFord is also 1hr but 30 miles, Bray is 40 minutes and 21 miles. Ive just searched on T&K which is also 1hr but only 21 miles (so clearly very slow traffic). Both Penton and Windsor are both about 21 miles but are 30 minutes and 40 minutes respectively. I work in Farnborough so would use as a bolt hole during the week but live in Wiltshire so whilst penton is best for work, its worst for distance from home but the likes of Windsor and T&K etc are much better for travelling to from home. :-)
 
boatingdave said:
Thanks Chris - I was trying to get a balance of distance/time. According to a very popular search engine and their maps, Bourne End is 1hr and 36 miles, HarleyFord is also 1hr but 30 miles, Bray is 40 minutes and 21 miles. Ive just searched on T&K which is also 1hr but only 21 miles (so clearly very slow traffic). Both Penton and Windsor are both about 21 miles but are 30 minutes and 40 minutes respectively. I work in Farnborough so would use as a bolt hole during the week but live in Wiltshire so whilst penton is best for work, its worst for distance from home but the likes of Windsor and T&K etc are much better for travelling to from home. :-)
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Guess the M3/4 helps get to Marinas at Windsor and below, however the best bits of the river are all above Windsor so worth the extra travel time.
 
Chill said:
Surprised you say RYB is full as they have enlarged the place and are putting in new pontoons. Or it may be your boat is too old and scruffy! The turfed out a lot of boats for that reason a few months ago.
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Quite the opposite, she's too big for the spaces they have currently. I'm still interested when they put the new pontoons in though if they would consider me. The staff seem very nice.
 
Penton Hook may be able to accommodate you. MDL Windsor is pretty chock full - taken me well over a year to get a berth there and I'm only 34 feet but beam was a problem.

Having difficulty thinking of any other options unless you're prepared to consider Thames and Kennett - looking at the map not much difference in distance from Farnborough
 
boatone said:
Penton Hook may be able to accommodate you. MDL Windsor is pretty chock full - taken me well over a year to get a berth there and I'm only 34 feet but beam was a problem.

Having difficulty thinking of any other options unless you're prepared to consider Thames and Kennett - looking at the map not much difference in distance from Farnborough
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That was the problem, T&K is only 21 miles from the office but the roads are a nightmare. We may just have to find somewhere that can take us for now, if we like it, stay, if not then we move on when the logistics allow. But thanks anyway. :-) If we do manage to make it back, I'd like to join you all on the annual escape from the river if I may so I can give the engines a good blast at least once a year. Apparently WOT coming out of a lock is frowned upon lol... (THAT WAS A JOKE in case anyone takes it seriously....)
 
Ah - just been reading another thread re air draft. I need to do some further investigation. I can drop the s/s gantry on the arch but still have the fixed arch and radar to worry about so this may impact where I can moor!
 
How about Abingdon ? However best result would be if you moored at Gloucester or Worcester - plenty of interesting cruising even in the bad weather and Cardiff becomes a desirable destination !
 
Oo, nice boat!

Can Fairline advise on air draft with gantry down?

Boats I know will fit under Cookham lock cut bridge include Fairline 43AC, Sealine F43, Sealine T46 (with flybridge handrails modified, eh Chill?) and my P385. My airdraft with bits down is 11'9", and I clear by about 4" give or take.

I know the F43s can't get under if the water level is too high, but can only remember one occasion about five years ago when people were stuck for a few days upriver...
 
rosssavage said:
Oo, nice boat!

Can Fairline advise on air draft with gantry down?

Boats I know will fit under Cookham lock cut bridge include Fairline 43AC, Sealine F43, Sealine T46 (with flybridge handrails modified, eh Chill?) and my P385. My airdraft with bits down is 11'9", and I clear by about 4" give or take.

I know the F43s can't get under if the water level is too high, but can only remember one occasion about five years ago when people were stuck for a few days upriver...
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Thanks. I've done a search and a lot of the 'ads' for similar vessels quote air draft as 3.66 metres which is a smidge over 12'. The gantry dropping probably takes 0.5m (this includes leaving the radar in place) so by the sounds of it I should be OK. Grateful for the response - might see you on the river some time soon. :-)
 
Is that airdraft to top of fixed structure (radar arch) or gantry?

I know Princess state to top of fixed structure, in which case you will have an issue!

Hope to see you up here too :)
 
rosssavage said:
Is that airdraft to top of fixed structure (radar arch) or gantry?

I know Princess state to top of fixed structure, in which case you will have an issue!

Hope to see you up here too :)
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Aha - you are correct. I've spoken to Bates Wharf Marine at Chertsey, it is 12' (3.7m) to the top of the RADAR ARCH. The Radar itself is probably another 0.3m (with the gantry down). Therefore to get under Cookham (and possibly Marlow) I'd have to try and 'flip' the radar on its hinges to get the vital couple of inches to go underneath it. I need to speak to various folk as I think it will be 'doable' with a little thought. Thanks for that snippet.
Dave
 
rosssavage said:
Official bridge heights: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-bridges-locks-and-facilities-for-boaters#bridge-heights

Bear in mind the head water is usually a couple of inches higher (my 11'9" is really a bit of a squeeze on occasion!) but in theory 12' will fit...

How often will you use the radar? Get some connectors made up and just remove it all together when you're not playing salty?
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Connections are already there as it was removed last time she did a trip on a low loader - the problem is the retaining bolts as they drop down inside the arch when the base is unbolted so I may look to remove it and make the bolts 'captive' so I can bolt it back on without having to take the silicolned access plates off underneath. But its a solution given this is so tight :-)
 
On the boat now. Just measured with full tanks of diesel and half tank of water. With gantry dropped and radar still up, 13' (3.96) and with radar section hinged open we are 12' (3.66). We have a 3.8m rib with engine on the davits so that may be helping. So only a couple we may have problems with.
 
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