Red boards and boat insurance

[No Regrets]

I took a variety of boats out on Reds, and had little or no problem.

The Shetland 570 managed with just 9.9hp up at Reading, granted it was marginal, but easily pulled 5mph over ground going upstream. I went back into T&K from a downstream position of course, otherwise she would have possibly ended up in the bank instead of turning in.

Birchwood 25 with 60hp inboard was a delight, no issues at all, in fact easier than a Windy day with no current!

The Scarani Rio 170hp was a doddle.

We picked up a few red cards, which was fair play I suppose, but IMHO I would rather have a strong stream than a lot of Wind any day.

They don't give you Red cards on very windy days do they?

 

[TrueBlue]

I took a variety of boats out on Reds, and had little or no problem.

The Shetland 570 managed with just 9.9hp up at Reading, granted it was marginal, but easily pulled 5mph over ground going upstream. I went back into T&K from a downstream position of course, otherwise she would have possibly ended up in the bank instead of turning in.

Birchwood 25 with 60hp inboard was a delight, no issues at all, in fact easier than a Windy day with no current!

The Scarani Rio 170hp was a doddle.

We picked up a few red cards, which was fair play I suppose, but IMHO I would rather have a strong stream than a lot of Wind any day.

They don't give you Red cards on very windy days do they?

BUT you're an H'expert aint'cha?

There are loadsa silent watchers here and even more out there who haven't a clue, who "need to be protected" against their own folly.

Even so, given the lack of tree cutting and dead wood removal there's likely to be a lot of timber lurking just below the surface to cause anyone expert or no' some damage.

Take your point though.

 

[thames cruiser]

, but IMHO I would rather have a strong stream than a lot of Wind any day.

They don't give you Red cards on very windy days do they?

So very true!

 

[No Regrets]

I do take on board (sic) the fact that high speed flotsam can be an issue.

A large chunk of Narrow boat firewood could do terrible damage to ones bottom or propulsion, resulting in an rather hurried anchor-testing session...

 

[boatone]

Surely the bottom line is that the EA in their wisdom, and quite correctly IMHO, take steps to advise river users that conditions are potentially dangerous.

What the individual decides to do, once advised, is down to them and they must take responsibility for their own actions.

I take the comparison with flows being no worse than normal tidal currents in coastal locations but the presence of obstructions and risks associated with flotsam etc really make strong streams on the river a different ballgame.

 

[watson1959]

I would rather have a strong stream than a lot of Wind any day.

If you moor at Tescos this weekend and go over to the Reading Reale Ale festival you'll get both

 

[Dave_Seager]

If you do take a boat out when there is a strong stream you need to plan accordingly. Have the anchor ready for rapid deployment in case of an emergency. The risk of breakdown is increased as you are more likely to foul your propeller in these conditions.

Avoid situations where you would be swept into danger if you lost power. For example, when you are upstream of a bridge, keep in line with an arch so that you would be swept through the bridge rather than hitting one of the piers and keep well clear of weirs.

Although the current may not be any stronger that you meet in the tideway, you have less room to manouevre if anything goes wrong.