speed limits and vhf channels

[andyc]

Can someone tell me the speed limits and vhf channels to monitor or call on , for the different VTS', locks and anything else I need to know.
Is teddington lock passable at all tides?
What is with the wash thing on the tidal bit?

 

[boatone]

Port Of London Authority Info

We dont "do" VHF at locks but note the info in the PLA site re the Thames Barrier etc.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Teddington is passable at all tides, in fact, near this time last year, actually went free flow with an unusually high tide, wier ran backwards fro half an hour or so.

 

[boatone]

[ QUOTE ]
Teddington is passable at all tides, in fact, near this time last year, actually went free flow with an unusually high tide, wier ran backwards fro half an hour or so.

[/ QUOTE ]

Happened again one evening recently when I was actually moored at Teddington. Weird experience as the noise from the weir gradually died away to complete silence ! Spooky! Tide then continued to flow upriver to Molesey creating a rise and fall at Hampton Court of around a foot or so.

 

[TrueBlue]

COO-ERR!

[ QUOTE ]

Happened again one evening recently when I was actually moored at Teddington. Weird experience as the noise from the weir gradually died away to complete silence ! Spooky! Tide then continued to flow upriver to Molesey creating a rise and fall at Hampton Court of around a foot or so.

[/ QUOTE ]

??Equinoctial (?spelling) High Sprint Tide (if it was that recently), couldn't be 'owt else if fairly recently as flows have been back to summer levels for a while now.

Juts to add to this forum's pool of knowledge...

 

[boatone]

Re: COO-ERR!

Spot on. It was Saturday 1st September late afternoon and the tide predicted height was 7.1 metres.

 

[CaptainThames]

Having seen your earlier emails, I am aware where you are coming from. I would suggest that you get yourself an almanac Reeds/macmillan or similar which will give you all the information for the lower thames. tides, tidal streams, vhf channels, zones where channels change, reporting points for the barrier etc etc. It also shows plans and contact info for all the marinas with vhf channel and telephone numbers, access in terms of times based on High Water and so forth. The PLA website is also helpful as with your height you will need to be aware of bridges, particularly Hammersmith and also barrier opening times for Richmond and the lock arrangements. That would cover you up to Teddington. Teddington lock as mentioned by others does work and is manned 24 hrs. Thames locks do not keep a vhf watch, you just turn up and if you dont see any activity for a while, walk up and say hello. At weekends and in the summer the flow of traffic is almost constant but getting towards the winter, things slow down a lot. Upstream of Teddington, locks are not manned 24 hrs and they stop for lunch this time of year. You can however work the locks yourself, with some having alimited elctric function and others purely manual (lots of winding the wheel). Just noted the speed question, again the almanac reveals all, but unlimited (in theory) up to wansworth bridge, then 8 knots to teddington then 8km or about 4.8 kts above that. In reality, even on the lower thames they are much more concerned about the amount of wash you are making. slow if you see work going on at the riverside, on buoys or near bridges. Unofficially the PLA appear to prefer a 10 kt limit above the thames barrier, even though tall the tripper boats go much faster. Equally, 8 kts in some areas above putney would create one hell of a wash and would not be sensible. Hope that helps.

 

[BillyBloater]

What size Boat? If you are less than 13.7 Meters then you don't need VHF you just need to be sensible. The Thames barrier can appear 'scary' but all you have to do is take note of the lights on the barrier itself i.e navigate between the two very big green arrows and not between the red arrows.

At low tide the upper reaches of the tidal bit can get very shallow but if you do have enough draft you can always use the lock at Richmond.

The PLA website has loads of info.

So far I have only Navigated between Gallions reach and Teddington a couple of times. In my limited experiance if you plan your times / tides then all you should have to worry about is bloody rowing boats!