River Thames - Max Airdraft to Richmond Lock

[Judders]

Anyone know what it is?

I guess if one wants to take a sailing boat up river, one just has to get good at tidal heights?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Max airdraft is Dartford Bridge at 60.7m above datum, but I guess you're more interested in minimum, which is Richmond Bridge at 7.9m above CD, 5.3m above MHWS.

 

[Richard Shead]

If this is a serious post then you might want to check what's under you at low water if you are squeezing under Richmond bridge!

 

[Twister_Ken]

The PLA usually keeps some water in the pound above Richmond lock, coz at LW the moored boats dry out otherwise.

 

[michael_w]

I thought Hammersmith Bridge was the lowest on the tidal Thames.
Can't get either an upright Enterprise or a Laser through at HW.

 

[Richard Shead]

Agreed but the even up to Teddington at low water is no real place for something that has a lot underneath!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Hammersmith is 9.4m above CD, but only 3.7m above MHWS. It has more clearance than Richmond at LW though.

Interestingly my list of bridge clearances omits Kew, Kew Railway, Barnes Railway and Chiswick. Maybe if you get through Richmond upstream and Putney downstream, they reckon you'll have no problem with the four others.

 

[Judders]

I am sure Richmond bridge is lower than Kew Bridge. I wouldn't be looking to go beyond Richmond lock.

 

[alistairedw]

If you do venture up to Richmond Lock at low water be very careful over the last mile or so as many boats experience problems with hitting the bottom. The river bed is very uneven and rocky rather than muddy so you need to nose your way up very carefully otherwise you can easily damage your prop.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Remember, if you don't want to use Richmond Lock (its not that bad, usually) there will be that much more water in the river and thus that much less bridge clearance. Hammersmith will be the pinch point. I like 1.2m under me and >4m above. Richmond-Teddington is mant to be a fairly steady 1.8m minimum. What depth/airdraft are you looking to get?

 

[Judders]

[ QUOTE ]
What depth/airdraft are you looking to get?

[/ QUOTE ]

At the moment I've got 2' draft and probably about 23' air-draft, so if I get the tides right, I think I can make it. If not then we'll be looking to a PBO thread on ways of lowering the mast on the hoof.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Deffo LW at Hammersmith then. Means Richmond Lock for you, or the hook for a while.