Shore power, mooring & red boards

[Cashbuyer]

Hi Guys & gals.

Are there overnight/short stay/lock moorings on the upper Thames with Shorepower? I'm really thinking upstream of Harleyford for weekend jaunts. Would somewhere like Val Wyatt offer overnight mooring with power?

I see the red boards are out at some locks already. Weekend plans scuppered again... Can you venture out at own risk or is traffic prohibited completely?

 

[Brayman]

Nothing officially to stop you. You may get a red card at the lock ADVISING you not to travel, but that's it.

Upriver mooring/power is really restricted to marinas like Thames & Kennet and Shillingford Bridge Hotel where you get free power with your £10 overnight mooring fee.

I'm not aware of any locks providing it officialy.

 

[No Regrets]

A couple of large lee-zure batteries should suffice, as long as you have LPG or diesel heating!

Failing that, a Genny will immunise you from set mooring points...

 

[TrueBlue]

My 2008 copy of "A user's guide to the River Thames", published by the EA and available at locks - if the kids haven't pinched them all; in which case ask as the lockies keep them out of site, says:-

there is 'leccy at -
Shiplake
Goring
Benson
Sandford
Shifford
St. John's

The electricity points are on the overnight moorings at these locks and there is a fixed (?) or effectively fixed charge in addition to the mooring fee. You have to (should) book in advance as they are popular.

There's a mine of info in the booklet as well, so get a printed copy (nicer to work with),
or download it from the publications page - the first item

 

[Brayman]

I was under the impression that those points were for use by electrically powered boats for charging and not for boat domestic use.

Wasn't there a lockkeeper reprimanded for letting a boater use them for domestic use last year?

 

[TrueBlue]

I was under the impression that those points were for use by electrically powered boats for charging and not for boat domestic use.

Wasn't there a lockkeeper reprimanded for letting a boater use them for domestic use last year?

That's interesting. From the cost point of view it makes sense 'cos it's all the 'leccy yo can use in the period. However, there's no indication as to restricted use, but that the item is headed "Electric charging points", so perhaps you're right. I thought it was just a description.

Late breaking info: - Being of an inquisitive nature I've just rung a "relevant lock" and you're absolutely correct (thank you). Electric boats take priority, but if there are no takers up to 5 o'clock, then a normal boat can have the facility.
Given that there are very, very few electric boats around (apart from one or two during rallies, or Henley week), that may not be a problem.

There you are, chapter and verse.

 

[shades]

Charging Points

No booking can be confirmed until 4pm on the day in question.

The Electric Points must be available until 4pm each day just in case an electrically powered vessel wishes to use/book it.

So, you can provisionally book any of the EA charging points, but you will not be sure of shore power until 4pm that day!

Hope that does not sound too complicated, well it can't, because the Lockkeepers understand it!

 

[Captain Coochie]

He he . If the summer is going to be a hot one i may well drop the runabout in with the electric outboard and snap up the good mooring spots