North or south in a wide beam cruiser?

[Jeremy9855]

Hi all I have bought a grp cruiser 28’ x 10’ beam. Draft 2,2” air draft 6,9”
45hp diesel single screw
I have a few months left in the uk and can launch the boat anywhere. I willl be living aboard and continually cruising for 3 or 4 months. I have owned a narrow beam boat for10 years previously which stayed around Birmingham canals.
what are the pros and cons north and south of the midlands
thanks Jeremy

 

[Chris_d]

Start at Birmingham down the Grand Union to London, up the Thames, then across the Kennet and Avon to Bristol, all wide beam and within your air draft.
Not much up north for a widebeam.

 

[Jeremy9855]

Start at Birmingham down the Grand Union to London, up the Thames, then across the Kennet and Avon to Bristol, all wide beam and within your air draft.
Not much up north for a widebeam.

Thank

 

[Jeremy9855]

Start at Birmingham down the Grand Union to London, up the Thames, then across the Kennet and Avon to Bristol, all wide beam and within your air draft.
Not much up north for a widebeam.

Thanks Chris. Are there plenty of visitor mooring on the Thames ? Do I have to pay to moor ?
I assume the canals have enough crt visitor moorings
Thanks again.

 

[SandyP]

Thanks Chris. Are there plenty of visitor mooring on the Thames ? Do I have to pay to moor ?
I assume the canals have enough crt visitor moorings
Thanks again.

You can moor wherever you want on the canal, your not restricted to visitor moorings. If its deep enough! You will have a licence of course

Thames moorings are mostly 24hrs and i believe, there not so many

You must check the airdraft though, 6'9 is a lot

 

[whaup]

Start at Birmingham down the Grand Union to London, up the Thames, then across the Kennet and Avon to Bristol, all wide beam and within your air draft.
Not much up north for a widebeam.

Leeds Liverpool canal is worth a passage, and wide. You would need to negotiate the tidal river Witham to get south, though, IIUC.

 

[Plum]

Hi all I have bought a grp cruiser 28’ x 10’ beam. Draft 2,2” air draft 6,9”
45hp diesel single screw
I have a few months left in the uk and can launch the boat anywhere. I willl be living aboard and continually cruising for 3 or 4 months. I have owned a narrow beam boat for10 years previously which stayed around Birmingham canals.
what are the pros and cons north and south of the midlands
thanks Jeremy

This document shows the dimensions of the rivers and canals:- https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/original/32433-waterway-dimensions.pdf?v=3922a8
but not the Thames. For that, look here on page 10 and 14 for boat dimensions and bridge clearances:- https://www.visitthames.co.uk/dbimgs/Cruising Guide.pdf

 

[Jeremy9855]

This document shows the dimensions of the rivers and canals:- https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/original/32433-waterway-dimensions.pdf?v=3922a8
but not the Thames. For that, look here on page 10 and 14 for boat dimensions and bridge clearances:- https://www.visitthames.co.uk/dbimgs/Cruising Guide.pdf

Hi. Plum. Thanks for that information
I was hoping for some information on the mooring situations on the lower and upper Thames.

 

[Plum]

Hi. Plum. Thanks for that information
I was hoping for some information on the mooring situations on the lower and upper Thames.

You may find the River Thames Guide app useful River Thames Guide but make sure you click on the correct app download buttons and not the "install" buttons in the ads.

If by your reference to the lower Thames you mean the tidal Thames then in my experience other than St Katherine's Dock there are very few convenient and comfortable overnight moorings .

 

[snowbird30ds]

Leeds Liverpool canal is worth a passage, and wide. You would need to negotiate the tidal river Witham to get south, though, IIUC.

Surely for leeds/liverpool to south would involve tidal ouse/trent/humber, witham is only tidal from boston to sea then nowhere to go without a wash crossing.

 

[rotrax]

Dont Forget going West.

Get down the K&A Bristol and you can get into Gloucester up the Ship Canal, go back down to Sharpness, get a pilot and go up the Tidal Severn and then through Stourport or the newly restored Droitwich Barge Canal.

I have not got my canal maps handy but you have lots of options.

 

[Bran]

Lower Thames below Teddington has no free moorings, it is tidal and you are restricted to marinas or mooring on buoys, all chargeable.
Above Teddington there are free 24 hour moorings, chargeable beyond that. Many boats ignore the rules and moor long term, enforcement is sketchy, I see lots with tickets on them, some get taken to court and fined. Mooring is under review by the Environment Agency and another policy is expected soon. Several towns are tightening their mooring regulations making it harder to flout the regulations, this frees up space to allow legal visitors to enjoy the facilpities.

 

[Jeremy9855]

Lower Thames below Teddington has no free moorings, it is tidal and you are restricted to marinas or mooring on buoys, all chargeable.
Above Teddington there are free 24 hour moorings, chargeable beyond that. Many boats ignore the rules and moor long term, enforcement is sketchy, I see lots with tickets on them, some get taken to court and fined. Mooring is under review by the Environment Agency and another policy is expected soon. Several towns are tightening their mooring regulations making it harder to flout the regulations, this frees up space to allow legal visitors to enjoy the facilpities.

Thanks your reply
hopefully there will be enough moorings if I keep moving every day or two. I would not want chance breaking the rules.

 

[Jeremy9855]

Dont Forget going West.

Get down the K&A Bristol and you can get into Gloucester up the Ship Canal, go back down to Sharpness, get a pilot and go up the Tidal Severn and then through Stourport or the newly restored Droitwich Barge Canal.

I have not got my canal maps handy but you have lots of options.

I will look into that
Thanks for your reply