Red Boards

[oldgit]

If nothing else this debate should help to remind those with experience and none, that Red Boards are there for reason and not merely some box ticking covering of H&S bum by lock staff.
Even for the most experienced of skippers it can be quite disconcerting to find , despite your best efforts and copious amounts of throttle, your boat is going sideways in direction that you really really do not want to go.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

In my opinion its a myth but with caveats, the nearest my Haven Knox Johnson policy has is this statement:
View attachment 147628

The EA advises :

View attachment 147629
So you assuming you are complying with all statutory local regulations and licensing conditions, in a legal sense it doesn't say local advice, so you have to do your own risk assessment. In the event of an accident the insurance company may disagree but they don't stop you navigating under reds as navigating under reds is not breaking any local regulation or licensing conditions.

I wonder if byelaws come into it.

Presumably if someone had an accident during red boards this might be mentioned as it specifically refers to high flows.

Red boards are about flow not water levels.

Master of vessel must keep a proper loo-out etc
25 The master of every vessel shall keep or cause to be kept a proper look-out by
sight and hearing and shall observe any precaution which may be required by
the ordinary practice of seamen or watermen or by the special circumstances
of the case particularly in times of high flow or by other dangerous conditions
of navigation.

 

[Chris_d]

I wonder if byelaws come into it.

Presumably if someone had an accident during red boards this might be mentioned as it specifically refers to high flows.

Red boards are about flow not water levels.

Master of vessel must keep a proper loo-out etc
25 The master of every vessel shall keep or cause to be kept a proper look-out by
sight and hearing and shall observe any precaution which may be required by
the ordinary practice of seamen or watermen or by the special circumstances
of the case particularly in times of high flow or by other dangerous conditions
of navigation.

I think all of the above apply. The problem with just say ring your insurance is that you still won't get a definitive answer just another opinion. They will neither give you permission or say you definitely cannot go out, they will just say that in the event of a claim you may be refused if found to have been negligent and taken unnecessary risks.

 

[nfluester]

We got stuck out on yellow and red boards the other year and had to try and make it back the high flow did make it interesting more so on returning downstream, we found going through locks was not a problem as once you are in the lock cut there is no flow from the weir, the biggest problem was going downstream through a tight bridge like Henley or maidenhead was a little more bum clenching

 

[CJL]

For various reasons I rang my insurer about this very thing recently and he said we were insured for it.

Its one of the many things a skipper should all consider when going afloat and it's worth noting they are an indicator and they can change very very quickly.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

For various reasons I rang my insurer about this very thing recently and he said we were insured for it.

Its one of the many things a skipper should all consider when going afloat and it's worth noting they are an indicator and they can change very very quickly.

Are you happy to advise which insurer this was?

It is interesting. I wonder if the insurance cover includes personal injury to the policy holder or 3rd parties.

 

[CJL]

The boat policy is called Geo Specialty Marine Trade. It is a specialist insurance policy so not run of the mill.

 

[Northern Star]

Just got my renewal from Haven Knox Johnston and it actually says "all weather" on my quote but I still would respect red boards and just keep safe.

 

[Time Out]

surly its no different to cruising below Tedd with the tide. On that note, I have never actually checked my policy!

Tis running like a train today at Tedd.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

surly its no different to cruising below Tedd with the tide. On that note, I have never actually checked my policy!

Tis running like a train today at Tedd.

No weirs below teddington.

Some (not all) of the weirs on the River are quite dangerous when fully drawn. It depends on the layout and whether there is a lock cut.

IF one were to get into trouble above an unprotected wier the level of danger rises very quickly.

Some weirs have Nelson piles and ropes to help prevent serious problems but not all do.

For example at Cookham there are two weirs. The top weir (Hedsor) is unprotected and 6x6ft radials. The lower weir (Odney) has nelson piles and ropes to protect it and 5x5ft radials.

If the weirs are both fully drawn and you get problems near cookham bridge there is a bias onto the Hedsor weir. I don't know how insurance deals with weirs but you definitely don't want to be on top of one.








About 100 cumecs through Maidenhead at the moment. Nothing shocking but it is moving.

 

[Mark26]

Just got my renewal from Haven Knox Johnston and it actually says "all weather" on my quote but I still would respect red boards and just keep safe.

That was the original question.
There was never any intention of going out.
To repeat from the original post: I hear so many saying they are not insured on red boards but I’ve never seen it in any of my policies. I was curious if not being insured on red boards was fact or hearsay.
I’ve often compared red boards to being on the tideway on Springs, although I think “reds” are often much stronger.

 

[Time Out]

Many years ago in a different lifetime I worked for Boat Showrooms of London. I would regularly take steel yachts from Harleyford to Shepp (or reverse) on reds.

There were two pinch points. Windsor bridge going upstream at extreme would replicate a fast flowing weir just as you went under. Cookham bridge ( downstream) could get a bit funky if it were a fly bridge vs aft steering position.

Locks were mostly manned and I was never challenged.

Obviously it was quicker heading down ?

I actually used to enjoy the peace of an empty fast flowing stretch on a crisp winters day.

 

[Pump-Out]

For various reasons I rang my insurer about this very thing recently and he said we were insured for it.

Its one of the many things a skipper should all consider when going afloat and it's worth noting they are an indicator and they can change very very quickly.

Does it not vary if the policy is commercial rather than private?

A commercial operator needs to earn a living, and move that boat if at all possible (and I am not referring to passenger operations); whereas a private owner does not need to go on a jolly, but should have cover to return to a safe, or home, berth.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Another side to the red board story turned up just now.

Vegetation.

There is what looks like a small alder tree blocking the downstream navigation arch at Cookham bridge. I obviously will avoid it as I know about it but someone coming down might not see it. Being red boards means perhaps the work boats are not allowed to come out unless it is an emergency.

I definitely wouldn't want to hit that with a boat. No idea how thick it is but estimate 8 inch diameter as the water is going over it in a noticeable way.

This could be an insurance thing but nav authority not the boat owner.

 

[Chris_d]

Another side to the red board story turned up just now.

Vegetation.

There is what looks like a small alder tree blocking the downstream navigation arch at Cookham bridge. I obviously will avoid it as I know about it but someone coming down might not see it. Being red boards means perhaps the work boats are not allowed to come out unless it is an emergency.

I definitely wouldn't want to hit that with a boat. No idea how thick it is but estimate 8 inch diameter as the water is going over it in a noticeable way.

This could be an insurance thing but nav authority not the boat owner.

Hasn't the sign indicating the navigation arch at Cookham fallen off? That has been bugging me for years that nobody had been out and nailed it back in place