newtothames
New Member
have anyone ever been on the river in the evening? I plan to go sometime soon to have night nav experience and need you guys' advise.
Any advice is appreciated! Cheers.
Any advice is appreciated! Cheers.
Night Cruising in Tidal Thames
- Thread starter newtothames
- Start date
byron
RIP
I have often used the Thames at night coming or going direct to Ramsgate or the Medway.
Normal navigation lights apply but as one goes through the built up area of London the river is so well lit it may as well be daylight.
As it's your first time take it slow and easy and you will be fine.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
....and pick your weather ..a balmy calm warm summer night with good viz can be a wonderful experience....a wind over tide in Sea Reach with a bit of fog thrown in can be a "interesting" experience.
unless of course you mean the upper bit of the river ?
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Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
Numerous times. As OG says, warm summer nights/mornings can be special, cold winter nights can be foul, especially if, like me, you like to be up top in the open.
Upper tideway from Teddington to Kew can be really quite dark and, depending on the state of the tide, you may need to proceed cautiously as the navigable bit can be a lot less than you expected. Once you get down to where at least one side has an embankment its far simpler.
Bridges: check the lights for open arches, some of the double whites are so mucky they appear as dim orange (like a streetlight...) Approach Hammersmith with extra caution in darkness, it can be a squeeze.
The Tideway through London proper gives an unrivalled view of the place, watch for floating debris and stay in the middle if there is nothing else about, a fair number of moorings are on either side and are unlit. Make sure you know what lights a jetty shows as well as lights for any vessels.
Once you get down beyind the Barrier expect the prospect of larger vessels depending on the state of the tide. SOme of these may swing across the river to berth or leave a berth, learn the sound signals and moitor the right VHF channels. Cobelfret ferries have the lastest digital throttles, on and off
Fuel. From Burgan near St Kats to Gillingham or Burnham there is basically nada as I have remnded myself the hard way before now. Its quite a long way.
Enjoy, and if you are uncertain or dont want to go solo first time ask around, there is bound to be somebody who may be able to come along.
Upper tideway from Teddington to Kew can be really quite dark and, depending on the state of the tide, you may need to proceed cautiously as the navigable bit can be a lot less than you expected. Once you get down to where at least one side has an embankment its far simpler.
Bridges: check the lights for open arches, some of the double whites are so mucky they appear as dim orange (like a streetlight...) Approach Hammersmith with extra caution in darkness, it can be a squeeze.
The Tideway through London proper gives an unrivalled view of the place, watch for floating debris and stay in the middle if there is nothing else about, a fair number of moorings are on either side and are unlit. Make sure you know what lights a jetty shows as well as lights for any vessels.
Once you get down beyind the Barrier expect the prospect of larger vessels depending on the state of the tide. SOme of these may swing across the river to berth or leave a berth, learn the sound signals and moitor the right VHF channels. Cobelfret ferries have the lastest digital throttles, on and off
Fuel. From Burgan near St Kats to Gillingham or Burnham there is basically nada as I have remnded myself the hard way before now. Its quite a long way.
Enjoy, and if you are uncertain or dont want to go solo first time ask around, there is bound to be somebody who may be able to come along.
vandy
Well-Known Member
Since I have been using the rib, I have done it three times so far. Once I did a round trip from Kew to Richmond Lock (DEAD DARK!). I have a plotter / Sounder and it was VERY VERY handy as in some cases I could not really determine the depth of the water...
The later journey was more fun, and we did a round trip to Tower Bridge, it is not difficult at all, but you must watch the rowing boats carefully... they go out at 11pm!!!!
I started cruising at night in Brighton (did a round trip to Eastbourne)...you must have safety gear and a working VHF radio especially if you plan to go to central london, I was called by River Police on the radio once to tell them who I am and what our intention/destination is as apparently the presence of a fast rib at 11:30pm is a bit unexpected!
But what you will see is amazing! take your camera with you and tea/coffee making facilities!
The later journey was more fun, and we did a round trip to Tower Bridge, it is not difficult at all, but you must watch the rowing boats carefully... they go out at 11pm!!!!
I started cruising at night in Brighton (did a round trip to Eastbourne)...you must have safety gear and a working VHF radio especially if you plan to go to central london, I was called by River Police on the radio once to tell them who I am and what our intention/destination is as apparently the presence of a fast rib at 11:30pm is a bit unexpected!
But what you will see is amazing! take your camera with you and tea/coffee making facilities!
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
The presence of a fast rib at 2330 , probably set alarm bells ringing ...
Imagine if it was full of fertilizer and diesel ....
Imagine if it was full of fertilizer and diesel ....
vandy
Well-Known Member
soon I will be visiting your lock at 1am!
Be prepared! as I usually spend 10-20min there getting a day pass!
Be prepared! as I usually spend 10-20min there getting a day pass!
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
Excellent . What day are you arriving ?
I'll have you in and out in 5 minutes
I'll have you in and out in 5 minutes
the_wanderer
Well-Known Member
Clean underpants!
Done it a couple of times in the past. Look out for moored dumb barges which lurk in unsuspected places. If the tide pins you onto one of these it is difficult to get off.
Keep a spare pair of underpants (or whatever you wear!) handy.
Done it a couple of times in the past. Look out for moored dumb barges which lurk in unsuspected places. If the tide pins you onto one of these it is difficult to get off.
Keep a spare pair of underpants (or whatever you wear!) handy.
Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
Always worries me. Far simpler than mucking about with Transits and home made mortars,
miket
Well-Known Member
Yachtmaster
For our RYA Yachtmaster Offshore we did the requisite night hours doing a night passage from South Dock to Ramsgate with a return the following night.
We decided to start at South Dock to avoid the worst of the debris.
It was a wonderful experience.
Boat was a Fairline Turbo 36.
Weather was calm and warm.
Speed was around 10 knots, speeding up as confidence rose and the night wore on. We had 2 friends with us to help spot bouys, which was very beneficial.
From S Dock to Yantlet Flats the lit navigation marks are very hard to see against the background lights. The same lights did nothing for one's night vision. I am surprised at Byron's comment about the lights making it seem like daylight but then he is very much more experienced than I. I found it difficult to see the course of the river and the radar was invaluable, as was the detailed chart showing which way the river was turning next.
We all felt that the "Navigation benefit" was much better from Yantlet to Ramsgate.
Excellent excercise.
For our RYA Yachtmaster Offshore we did the requisite night hours doing a night passage from South Dock to Ramsgate with a return the following night.
We decided to start at South Dock to avoid the worst of the debris.
It was a wonderful experience.
Boat was a Fairline Turbo 36.
Weather was calm and warm.
Speed was around 10 knots, speeding up as confidence rose and the night wore on. We had 2 friends with us to help spot bouys, which was very beneficial.
From S Dock to Yantlet Flats the lit navigation marks are very hard to see against the background lights. The same lights did nothing for one's night vision. I am surprised at Byron's comment about the lights making it seem like daylight but then he is very much more experienced than I. I found it difficult to see the course of the river and the radar was invaluable, as was the detailed chart showing which way the river was turning next.
We all felt that the "Navigation benefit" was much better from Yantlet to Ramsgate.
Excellent excercise.
byron
RIP
Sorry Mike I should have made my self clearer. I was referring to passing through central London.
vandy
Well-Known Member
last weekend whilst I was doing some DIY on the rib I had a phone call from a friend who had engine failure near teddington so took the oppurtunity to go at high tide to pass through the richmond without going in the lock. It took us 4 hrs to get back and by the time we were near Kew it was nearly 7pm, dark, cold,....
It was not much fun, maybe because it started raining at the end whilst I was trying to moore the boat...
It was not much fun, maybe because it started raining at the end whilst I was trying to moore the boat...
CJL
Well-Known Member
Boating on the Thames at night is very very cool.
Stay safe and enjoy!!
Here are some of our pics from the last couple of years.
Chris
Stay safe and enjoy!!
Here are some of our pics from the last couple of years.
Chris
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vandy
Well-Known Member
what's the size of the engine on the rib?
CJL
Well-Known Member
Its a 135hp but its a Verado and they have quite a big cowlings.
Chris
Chris
