alpha
New member
We'll be bringing our (very beautiful) Freeman 32 to the Thames in May, to keep her at Bray, and wonder what advice or tips anyone has to offer regarding boating on the Thames?
Fire away, friends!
Fire away, friends!
New to the Thames - advice please....
- Thread starter alpha
- Start date
G
Guest
Guest
Lots of fenders ;-)
trev
New member
Get to Bray lock EARLY during the summer months.
Beware of scullers.
Tescos at Caversham - moor up outside and good breakfast !
Its all pretty laid back and easy - been on the Thames since I was fifteen and I'm now ** - a long time and still no where near tired of it.
Like to get to sea a couple of times a year.
Where are you coming from?
Enjoy!!
Trev
Beware of scullers.
Tescos at Caversham - moor up outside and good breakfast !
Its all pretty laid back and easy - been on the Thames since I was fifteen and I'm now ** - a long time and still no where near tired of it.
Like to get to sea a couple of times a year.
Where are you coming from?
Enjoy!!
Trev
byron
RIP
Have they moved the Narrowboats who seem to think the moorings at Tescos are for their residential use? ;-)
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trev
New member
I know exactly what you mean, Byron, and ain't it a pain when folks have finished the shopping but stay on the mooring over lunch, just when your down to the last bottle and getting desparate!!
Trev
Trev
alpha
New member
Thanks for the words of wisdom so far.
So far as fenders are concerned, I've treated her to 14 of Anchor's finest, all socked up, and they look great as well as prtecting her (both from my manoeuvreing skills and other people's!).
Trev asked where we're coming from; we had a Freeman 22 MkII on the Great Ouse last year, and bought the '32 at Brundall on the Broads in February. The '22 is in a barn whilst I restore her (if I ever find any time to crack on with it) and the '32 is out on the hard at Yarmouth having some work done before we bring her to the Thames.
When you say 'early' for Bray lock, are we talking eight-ish or before? (on a Saturday, say).
So far as fenders are concerned, I've treated her to 14 of Anchor's finest, all socked up, and they look great as well as prtecting her (both from my manoeuvreing skills and other people's!).
Trev asked where we're coming from; we had a Freeman 22 MkII on the Great Ouse last year, and bought the '32 at Brundall on the Broads in February. The '22 is in a barn whilst I restore her (if I ever find any time to crack on with it) and the '32 is out on the hard at Yarmouth having some work done before we bring her to the Thames.
When you say 'early' for Bray lock, are we talking eight-ish or before? (on a Saturday, say).
boatone
Well-known member
I've found the best way to get 'em to shift is to ask if they mind me mooring up alongside for half an hour! They usually either say 'we're just offf'...or 'yes, sure, no problem' Either way you're in!
Just mooching up and down glaring has also been known to be effective but its remakable how thick skinned some can be...........
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
Just mooching up and down glaring has also been known to be effective but its remakable how thick skinned some can be...........
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
Sirus
New member
Just be prepared to be ripped off at every opportunity,apart from that its a lovly river.
Has your boat got petrols if so watch where you can fill up as its getting harder to find on the river.
Has your boat got petrols if so watch where you can fill up as its getting harder to find on the river.
byron
RIP
If you get to Bray (or any lock) by 8am you will generally be 1st in the queue. Its the late risers who end up queueing. Trev was joking about the fenders, some of the best boat handing you will ever see is on the Thames. Of course there's always one!!! Hire Boats need watching as do Narrowboats. Bray is unfortunate in being too small for capacity waiting for locks ain't too bad generally although Henley Regatta can be bad news which is why the regulars get there the day before and leave the day after.
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byron
RIP
There's only 3 or 4 places on the River selling Petrol these days its harder to find than a good marine engineer.
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boatone
Well-known member
Hey....getting ripped off at every opportunity is a bit strong! Thers just as much opportunity to get ripped off as anywhere else but theres also a fair number of free mooring spots (i love hampton court right under tjhe palace railings) and I cant remember ever really feeling I'd been ripped off except possibley at a couple of restaurants.
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
Sirus
New member
Re: boatone
Cost of fuel specially petrol,mooring costs,lift outs,then again is this a country wide thing,we've just come up from the medway and it seems a lot cheaper down there.
Cost of fuel specially petrol,mooring costs,lift outs,then again is this a country wide thing,we've just come up from the medway and it seems a lot cheaper down there.
syd
New member
The Fox on the River is my favourite. Free mooring on pontoon, nice grub, short stagger back to boat.
Syd
Syd
boatone
Well-known member
Re: Fox On The River
Hey, where's that then? I'll prob remember soon as you say but................
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
Hey, where's that then? I'll prob remember soon as you say but................
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
syd
New member
Re: Fox On The River
'The Fox on the River',Thames Ditton, more or less opposite the start of the wall surrounding Hampton Court, we met a friend of mine there who lives near by and asked the landlord if we could stay the night, no problem, enough room on the pontoon for three boats, never seen it packed though. Great night.
Syd
'The Fox on the River',Thames Ditton, more or less opposite the start of the wall surrounding Hampton Court, we met a friend of mine there who lives near by and asked the landlord if we could stay the night, no problem, enough room on the pontoon for three boats, never seen it packed though. Great night.
Syd
byron
RIP
Re: Fox On The River
Is that the one behind the start of the island just under the footbridge? If so I too have used it several times and found it excellent. The best place of all though where he positively welcomes boaters is The Plough at Long Wittenham, way up river I know but always assured of a noisy night out.
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Is that the one behind the start of the island just under the footbridge? If so I too have used it several times and found it excellent. The best place of all though where he positively welcomes boaters is The Plough at Long Wittenham, way up river I know but always assured of a noisy night out.
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tcm
...
Re: The right equipment
Ooh, lots of preparation needed, and not a place to be caught out, from what I've seen. It's fairly clear that far too many people arrive to cruise the thames only half-prepared.
First off you need some decent whisky. Keep this at the back of the cabinet. Then, you need some rubbish whisky. Keep this at the front. Now, you need some whisky for actually *drinking* - because neither you nor anyone you meet will want the rubbish, nor would they be so presumptious as to demand the fab stuff at the back. Lots of mixers (incl ginger), gin, angosturas, and - most luxurious of all - an icemaker.
I did my ICC on the Thames. Nice chap in a Birchwood. First day we must have gone a whole mile, then he met some mates, so we had lots of whisky and came back, and he taught me how to shout at rowing boats. Second day his BMW engines had packed in, so we lasooed some hedges in the quayside garden.
Ooh, lots of preparation needed, and not a place to be caught out, from what I've seen. It's fairly clear that far too many people arrive to cruise the thames only half-prepared.
First off you need some decent whisky. Keep this at the back of the cabinet. Then, you need some rubbish whisky. Keep this at the front. Now, you need some whisky for actually *drinking* - because neither you nor anyone you meet will want the rubbish, nor would they be so presumptious as to demand the fab stuff at the back. Lots of mixers (incl ginger), gin, angosturas, and - most luxurious of all - an icemaker.
I did my ICC on the Thames. Nice chap in a Birchwood. First day we must have gone a whole mile, then he met some mates, so we had lots of whisky and came back, and he taught me how to shout at rowing boats. Second day his BMW engines had packed in, so we lasooed some hedges in the quayside garden.
boatone
Well-known member
Re: Fox On The River
Knew Id remember! Thats the one that runs a ferry from the Hampton Court Side. Must give it a try this year.
Byrons thinking of The Old Swan just behind Taggs Island I think.
Went to look at The Plough...right up the weir stream at Clifton Lock but couldnt get in....too many boats there already.
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
Knew Id remember! Thats the one that runs a ferry from the Hampton Court Side. Must give it a try this year.
Byrons thinking of The Old Swan just behind Taggs Island I think.
Went to look at The Plough...right up the weir stream at Clifton Lock but couldnt get in....too many boats there already.
TonyR
boatone@boatsontheweb.com
www.boatsonthethames.co.uk
byron
RIP
Re: Fox On The River
That's right, the Swan and yes the Plough does get crowded I have seen boats moored right across to the other side before now, good job there's no where much to go beyond there. Fact is it gets busy because its a great venue quite a few clubs rally there, those boats that are too high to get under the bridge at Clifton Hamden have to moor on the bank below the bridge and Mel comes and gets them in his car.
ô¿ô
That's right, the Swan and yes the Plough does get crowded I have seen boats moored right across to the other side before now, good job there's no where much to go beyond there. Fact is it gets busy because its a great venue quite a few clubs rally there, those boats that are too high to get under the bridge at Clifton Hamden have to moor on the bank below the bridge and Mel comes and gets them in his car.
ô¿ô
alpha
New member
Re: The right equipment
Thanks, whisky not a problem, aleady stocking a range from the bog standard to the VSOP (if you like), plus various bourbons, with all sorts of mixers, plus a variety of fine wines (this seemed to be important on the Great Ouse).
Regarding ice, the 32's fridge (electrolux) has a freezer compartment, which makes excellent ice, on account of the gentle motion which causes the air to bubble out. Good solid cubes which take forever to melt!
Thanks, whisky not a problem, aleady stocking a range from the bog standard to the VSOP (if you like), plus various bourbons, with all sorts of mixers, plus a variety of fine wines (this seemed to be important on the Great Ouse).
Regarding ice, the 32's fridge (electrolux) has a freezer compartment, which makes excellent ice, on account of the gentle motion which causes the air to bubble out. Good solid cubes which take forever to melt!
