Quick 'How far up the Thames' question.

[Blue Seas]

Hi Guys,

I'm not being lazy, I will do my full trip research in due course but, for overall planning purposes, I'm trying to work out if we have time over the summer to incorporate a trip up the Thames into our Baltic schedule.
In short, and in rough terms, how far up river should / could I be considering with a TSMY 15M X 5M X 1.5M and what would be a leisurely (without busting a gut) timescale?
Ta.

 

[dombuckley]

Your height is likely to be the limiting factor.

 

[Blue Seas]

Your height is likely to be the limiting factor.

Oops - 4.6M

 

[Anibal]

You could easily travel as far as Staines, which is about 7hrs past Richmond lock. I would say probably even all the way to Windsor (another 4hrs) and beyond but there is a narrow channel before Windsor lock that could be challenging if you encounter another vessel travelling in the opposite direction. Just make sure you time the tides correctly because at LW, the Thames is only 30cms deep outside Richmond lock (don’t ask me how I know)
Past Richmond the river has an average of 3.5m depth. It is definitely doable. I am based at Penton Hook Marina and the scenery is pretty on the river, especially over the warmer months.

 

[ianc1200]

At 4.6m air draft, believe furthest would be Old Windsor lock cut (ie on upper side of lock). But would need to be careful re Hammersmith Bridge and height of tide.

River Thames and boaty things

 

[Blue Seas]

Thanks folks, that's very useful. Stand-by to repel boarders.

 

[oldgit]

Can you reduce airdraft at all ?
Couple of boats on our moorings have removed some top hamper for the duration of the visit.
Would depend of course just how long stuff would take to remove and how much airdraft lost.
Personally would suggest that even with your current airdraft a decent enough amount of the Thames would be gained to make any visit worthwhile.
To make life easier to access the lock at Richmond/ Teddington , a stop at St Kats could make life a bit less fraught.................... apart from the cost.

 

[ianc1200]

Such a stopover would make Hammersmith Bridge easier to control, otherwise coming in on a rising tide from afar means it will be getting close to HE and impassable at 4.6m. Have found coming from Bradwell/ Spitway buoys at LW in a 6.5knot craft you can get up too early and have to wait for the sluices to lift at Richmond.

 

[Blue Seas]

The boat is fairly new to me so I'm not yet certain where the quoted 4.6M is measured to - I'm guessing the top of the radar arch rather than the top of the radar itself. The arch does fold and my guesstimate (from photos only) would be that I could lose +/- 600mm leaving 4M. I'll measure it all up soon so I suppose the question is by how much that would increase the cruising area?
I've come up the river and stayed in St Cats before but that was 30 years ago and was as far as I got. I make a comfortable 9 knots at cruising speed.

 

[oldgit]

In theory 4m "should" get you (very very carefully) under Windsor. ???????? allowing you to access a really decent portion of the river.
A local boater might confirm or not.
Then all you need to worry about is draught but suspect you will have a keel under the prop.

 

[Anibal]

The boat is fairly new to me so I'm not yet certain where the quoted 4.6M is measured to - I'm guessing the top of the radar arch rather than the top of the radar itself. The arch does fold and my guesstimate (from photos only) would be that I could lose +/- 600mm leaving 4M. I'll measure it all up soon so I suppose the question is by how much that would increase the cruising area?
I've come up the river and stayed in St Cats before but that was 30 years ago and was as far as I got. I make a comfortable 9 knots at cruising speed.

If that is the case, you probably want to cross Hammersmith bridge after the low tide is starting to turn or before half way in order to cross under and have the incoming tide behind you for Richmond lock.

The below is from the PLA website.

Situated between Teddington and Richmond, the weir comprises three vertical steel sluice gates suspended from a footbridge. Each gate weighs 32.6 tonnes and is 20 metres wide and 3.64 metres in depth.

For around two hours each side of high tide, the sluice gates are raised into the footbridge structure above, allowing ships and boats to pass through the barrage. For the rest of the day the sluice gates are closed and passing river traffic must use the lock alongside the barrage.

This period of free navigation can be dramatically changed due to prevailing conditions. In drought conditions the gates will be closed for longer periods, whilst in periods of high fluvial flow they may remain open for much longer. For current information please contact the Lock Foreman on 0208 940 0634.

The sluice gates ensure that the water level between Richmond Lock and Teddington Lock is maintained at or above half-tide level.

TBH, after Richmond when you enter the non tidal Thames, you will have another 10 to 11hrs cruise before you get to Windsor and in between that you will find decent cruising grounds with plenty of marinas to stay for a short period and even free mooring places (no water or electricity) Over the summer months , especially at the weekends, these places may be taken. There are also several pubs and restaurants along the way where you can moor and stay overnight. I do that every time and have my favourites. Speed is restricted to 5 knots, exceed that and you will have plenty of home owners shouting and taking pictures or videos. Towards the populated areas there will be rowing clubs, paddle boarding etc, so you need to go slower when passing by or crossing these water crafts. Seriously, I think you will enjoy the area you have for cruising on your boat.
Give us a shout if you do make it and if I am around I would be happy to meet you locally. We are based at MDL Penton Hook marina, just 40 minutes downstream from Staines and 1/30hrs upstream from Shepperton marina.

 

[Anibal]

I forgot to mention. When you get to Richmond lock, you will need to purchase a visitor’s permit from the lock keeper and display it at all times. I believe the cost is around GBP 90.00 or so per month and you can get them for shorter periods as well. Some lock keepers along the way will ask you to show your permit if they can’t see it. During the week all locks are manned, which is very nice. At weekends they are self service but since they are all electrically operated, the process is a breeze.