Reptile Smile
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I originally posted this in the Thames forum, but was directed to here, as there aren't that many sailors across that way..!
I've done this trip once before from the North, and the trip from the South will be easier, I imagine, but I need to move a 24' boat from Faversham (well, in the area - the boat is in the Swale but always in water - it's a fin keeler) to Teddington, and any advice would be gratefully received.
Last time, I went from Southend to Gravesend, where the PLA chaps were magnificent in helping me dismast, albeit in a very informal way - they said, "shout when you're ready for us", I loosened all the bottle screws, and they manhandled it down. I could do this again, but to be honest, it was so informal, it's hard to depend on that again.
Can anyone suggest anywhere I might get this done en route, or even be prepared to assist for payment or a bottle of whisky or both? I vaguely remember the marinas - Galleons' Point, was it? - were essentially dismissive of the idea.
Am I likely to get from Faversham to Gravesend in one tide (30 miles)? Or do I need to break that leg? (At the moment, I'm thinking Swale to Queenborough, and then Queenborough to Gravesend might be a good idea, but the whole thing's hard to plan too accurately until I pin down exactly how and where to unstep the mast...)
Then last time, I did Gravesend to Erith, then Erith to Teddington. Any improvement on this idea would be gratefully received, but I suppose it's particularly the dismast I part of it I'm keen to resolve.
Aiming to be doing this trip on 28th March, for what that's worth...
Cheers
I originally posted this in the Thames forum, but was directed to here, as there aren't that many sailors across that way..!
I've done this trip once before from the North, and the trip from the South will be easier, I imagine, but I need to move a 24' boat from Faversham (well, in the area - the boat is in the Swale but always in water - it's a fin keeler) to Teddington, and any advice would be gratefully received.
Last time, I went from Southend to Gravesend, where the PLA chaps were magnificent in helping me dismast, albeit in a very informal way - they said, "shout when you're ready for us", I loosened all the bottle screws, and they manhandled it down. I could do this again, but to be honest, it was so informal, it's hard to depend on that again.
Can anyone suggest anywhere I might get this done en route, or even be prepared to assist for payment or a bottle of whisky or both? I vaguely remember the marinas - Galleons' Point, was it? - were essentially dismissive of the idea.
Am I likely to get from Faversham to Gravesend in one tide (30 miles)? Or do I need to break that leg? (At the moment, I'm thinking Swale to Queenborough, and then Queenborough to Gravesend might be a good idea, but the whole thing's hard to plan too accurately until I pin down exactly how and where to unstep the mast...)
Then last time, I did Gravesend to Erith, then Erith to Teddington. Any improvement on this idea would be gratefully received, but I suppose it's particularly the dismast I part of it I'm keen to resolve.
Aiming to be doing this trip on 28th March, for what that's worth...
Cheers
