Navigation problem: Mooring on/off at Isleworth

[changeman]

I intend to dry out at Isleworth alongside Church Street and would appreciate some local knowledge.
We have an 18 meter barge and when coming downstream at high water should not have a problem.
However, when coming off the mooring on the rising tide, we could have problems with the flow of the stream.
Barges, being flat bottomed, are not the easiest to turn round as they always go sideways.
So, if I am moored facing downstream, I could warp the bow off and when pointing in the right direction, engage forward gear.
The tide could then sweep me sideways, right into the front of the adjacent island, or push me up the side channel.
If facing upstream, I may have problems turning fast enough to get into the main channel and find myself again in the side channel.
As this seems to have a 90 degree bend at the far end, any fast current would take me sideways into the boats moored there.
Questions:
1. How fast is the stream likely to be when I get water under my flat bottom?
2. Which is the strongest stream - the main or the side channel?
3. Question for experienced bargees - how would you get out of there?

Thanks in advance.

 

[boatone]

Best time to get off would be at, or near, slack water, so how would pulling off shortly before high tide work out for your subsequent intentions? Not far to get to Teddington from Isleworth if that is your intention so bucking the early falling tide might be acceptable?

Speed of stream will very much depend on whether spring or neap tide.

 

[changeman]

Nav problem

Slack water is not a problem.
Mid tide is the time I expect to depart or else face a nighttime passage.
Not a problem except for finding a mooring.

 

[teddington_lock]

Did you manage to book a slot with the PLA in the end ?

Good to meet you this morning by the way .... did you find a takeaway ?

 

[changeman]

Isleworth

Did not need a takeaway, but we found the number to book the Isleworth dry out at the PLA.
It's 07711 640 095 and we have booked for the 27th and 28th August.

Regards
Chris

 

[Forbsie]

If I were you, I'd phone Karl at www.cathja.org/contact-us. He moves his 38m barge from there every year.