Non-tidal Thames with 1.2m draught

[tony_lavelle]

I'm thinking about taking my Contessa 26 (1.2m draught) for a river cruise, mast off obviously. I see that the fairway is dredged to 1.2m as far as Oxford but how far up the Thames is practicable really? For instance it's no use if I can't get to the bank for free overnight parking.

Am I bonkers? Anyone else done it?

 

[Brayman]

We have 1.15m draught, single engine so in the middle of the boat and have made it up to Oxford on several occasions.
The only places you will have real problems assuming normal river levels is at Clifton Hamden, just below the bridge and by the Radley Boathouse above Abingdon. Bankside mooring is very much hit and miss, but there are plenty of places if you seek them out.
That being said, we did touch bottom on more occasions last year than ever before but I put that down to poor level management, especially first thing in the morning.