New to the thames,Help.

andyc

andyc

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9 Jan 2004
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I am about to bring my boat to the thames from the solent.
What is the situation regarding Boat safety cert and licencing?
Is there any height restrictions because she is quite tall!
How long will it take to get to chertsey from say gravesend.
How do I avoid hitting the bottom with my props??
 
you need a BSS certificate to obtain a licence to navigate the Thames.
You need a Licence to Navigate from the Environmant Agency

There are no 'restrictions' but there are bridges with limited headroom
http://www.the-river-thames.co.uk/bridges.htm
Gravesend to Teddington Day 1 (arrive Richmond as the barrier lifts to ensure you have enough water upstream of Putney)
Teddington to Chertsey half day
Most of us dont go aroung hitting the bottom, why do you think you would ?
 
It might be -

helpful to us so that we can give you better advice - if you said what your boat is?

For example Motor or sail; approx air draft, water draft (having a senior moment...)

There have been lots of threads on this forum on the subject, perhaps using the search facility might give you more details?

Download this publication:-
http://www.visitthames.co.uk/uploads/a_users_guide_to_the_River_thames.pdf

and it will give you lock dimensions, bridge heights and a whole lot more.

I couldn't see the navigation depths from area to area (not reach to reach), they were on the older guides. Still you can't get everything at a first pass...
 
Can I go up the Thames as a visitor and then get the BSSb cert when I settle in a marina?

We are running a 2001 Maxum 4100 sca 42 ft Aft cabin Fly with an air draught of aprox 18 ft although I could trim that by removing the radar arch.
 
18 feet of air draught is going to give you major headaches (no pun intended). You will definately need to hinge the radar arch. I would be interested to know what the draught is with the arch down.
 
Hi Andy,did the trip about a week ago in a 37ft flyfridge Fairline.We JUST got under Windsor Bridge with a 12.6" radar arch.Another coat of paint and we would be going nowhere.This boat was heading for Bray Marina and until the arch is hinged the boat is limited to a very short stretch of river(Ham Bridge) up and Windsor .Shallowest bit of the Thames was island right outside Bray( around 2 meters) under the keel,we draw about 1 metre.
 
We got a two day pass to get up to Bray,no fuss about sealing bogs etc etc.
Cost to hinge arch around £1500 and holding tank,you guessed it £1500..........
 
[ QUOTE ]
Most of us dont go aroung hitting the bottom, why do you think you would ?

[/ QUOTE ]
Speak for yourself!

RE solent to Thames, I've done the trip quite a few times, overnight at Ramsgate and it's an easy 2 day trip.
Hammersmith bridge is going to need care with your air draft.
 
Take a good flood with you from Gravesend to Teddington, about four hours, maybe overnight at Teddington, or Hampton Court, then another two hours or so up to Chertsey.
Air draught of twelve feet or so will get you up to Oxford.
 
Contary to martin 1001 you do NOT need a boat
safety certificate for the Upper Thames if you are ony ther on
a short visit (1 Month.)
Phone the Enviroment agency and they will send you all the information you will need. An upper Thames Licence can be
purchased at the time of arrival at Teddington Lock.
 
You really need to give us more info if you want accurate information.

Bridge heights can be seen HERE

Whereabouts on the Thames do you intend to base yourself?

You avoid the bottom by staying in the middle of the channel and getting to know the river. If your draft is around 1 metre this should not be a problem all the way up to Oxford which will be your upriver limit anyway.

You can get a visitors licence on arrival at Teddington (no need to pre book) and will not need a BSS certificate until you register for a full licence. However, you are limited to 1 x 30 days + 2 x 15 days + 6 X 1 day in any one year as a visitor.

Height (air draft) is a major problem. You will need to time your passage under Hammersmith depending on tide. Once onto the non tidal stretch Windsor is 13'2", and Cookham lock cut 12'6".

You should find virtually anything you want to know HERE
 
Air draught seems to by my problem.I will measure it the weekend and hope that if I take off the radar arch and remove the enclosed biminy over the flybridge it might just make it under Windsor.I live near Windsor and said to the wife when we were there a month back that it would be tight.
 
I've seen somebodies brand new big Broom not quite manage Windsor Bridge to the amusement of onlookers and the chagrin of the skipper. Pinging your VHF twig to make interesting sounds on the metalwork is one thing, wiping off the radome is another.

Also be wary of arch bridges, clearance is to the top of the soffit, at the shoulders it can be a lot less so be accurate in helming.
 
I think the EA could learn a bit from Ian Harts old website on the Thames, still the best guide out there on the web. Why does the EA site not even have bridge heights /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think the EA could learn a bit from Ian Harts old website on the Thames, still the best guide out there on the web. Why does the EA site not even have bridge heights /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Good old Ian. believe it or not he was relatively new to boating but contributed so much in his few short years between retiring and passing on to that marina in the sky.
As regards bridge heights. John Redmond, the last proper boss of the Thames we had, told me that bridge heights were badly in need of re-surveying and it was something he had in mind.
 
"bridge heights were badly in need of re-surveying"

When we passed under the little bridge just below Windsor,and then noted the clearance above our arch and the bridge,some simple calculations using the published bridge heights indicated we should easily get under Windsor.This was not the case..
 
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