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.