Spending a year or two on the Thames

[Sticky Fingers]

Hello Thames boaters

If you stray into the YBW Mobo forum, you may know that we're selling our yacht to buy a motor boat. Timing is "as soon as the yacht sells". We'd plan to keep the boat at our existing berth in Chichester for a while, but I'm very attracted to the idea of moving it around to the non-tidal Thames for a season or two.

Type undecided but it may well be a hard top or coupe style planing boat, about 35-42', non flybridge. Assuming we buy something suitable for the Channel, Solent etc, (example, Sealine SC35), how well would a boat of this type work, at the low speeds and short distances on the river?

I think we'd need to get a BSS certificate, is that something that a well equipped coastal cruiser could attain easily (ie with minimal mods / cost)? Or does the EC Declaration of Conformity meet the same end?

Also interested to learn where the best marinas are and any to avoid. Comments and suggestions welcome.

 

[oldgit]

Chap I know has a SC, might be a 38,which he bought on the Thames, used up there for some while before bringing it down to MDL Chatham.Skipper very pleased with boat.
Main concerns would be water below, need to watch props up there, taking care when mooring on river banks and air above, hard top should enable you to access most of river.
If it goes under Windsor you are probably OK .
As boat is probably fairly new, should be no problems regards outdrive maintinance but never the less, worth checking at some length any service history,preferably with a main dealer stamp on any invoices.

Best bit...... not listening to the 05.00 (04.00 GMT ) Forecast and worrying....you really dont care.

 

[Parabordi]

Not wishing to be a party pooper, but an SC35 is a really poor choice for the Upper Thames....
High Freeboard and tiny Decks makes mooring up and going through Locks a pain as well as mooring up to a low grass bank.
Better off with a Broom, 38 or 395 or a 42.

 

[CLB]

Having used an SC35 on the non tidal Thames I would disagree. My only concern about the boat is that the wheelhouse can get a bit hot behind all that glass on a rare proper hot day, and even the open roof doesn't always provide enough relief. On the flip side, on a typical British weather day, the wheelhouse works great.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Interesting thoughts thanks, great point about the side decks, I noted their narrowness when I viewed one last week.

I'm not settled on that model by the way, but it's an example that might suit.

 

[Parabordi]

well you would say that, so when you come into moor how do you jump/step off from the front deck from such a great height....? dont tell me you step off the bathing platform that is if you can get it close to the bank. crazy

 

[CLB]

well you would say that, so when you come into moor how do you jump/step off from the front deck from such a great height....? dont tell me you step off the bathing platform that is if you can get it close to the bank. crazy

If that reply is to me, I have no reason to be biased. I don't own an SC35 and never have. Just used one quite extensively. I never had a problem going through locks or mooring up and that is simply a fact. I have never needed to jump off the front deck on any boat I have used either at sea or on the inland waterways.

 

[No Regrets]

I suspect you might have some fun if you have to moor on Rings or Pins, and the wind is blowing the high sided boat off the Bankside.

Possible with rings (get a rear one locked off and use engine to pul front in) but not pins. Thats trickier!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

haha yes maybe.

I've been parking saily boats in marinas for years so I'd kinda hope that with twin engines and a b/t I'd be ok with a mobo. Famous last words.

 

[Parabordi]

but outdrives on a big 35 footer in close quarters (cue Chris_D to tell us that outdrives are fab, really...)

 

[oldgit]

Could the clue be in "spending a year or two" on the Thames.
Suspect the poster (or his wife) fancies a change from the rough and tumble and the " interesting" experiences sometimes found on open water and is looking to enjoy a more tranquil sort of cruising for a period of time.
This probably means that at some point in the future he/they are going to go stir crazy at the plodding between locks that many on the Thames fondly regard as boating. Needs something capable of later going places in tidal waters as well.
My suggestion, could well be worth our ex rag @stick poster actually going for ride on a SC. Chalk and cheese really does apply here.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yes to be clear this thread was about whether using a planing boat at slow speed on the Thames for a year or two, as a change of scene (and pace) from S Coast, was viable, and what pitfalls there may be.

Not whether we should buy one or not.

 

[Chris_d]

You'll be fine there is much bigger stuff than an SC35 pottering up and down the river, SC48/S48/F46 etc....
Your biggest mistake was asking the question on here

 

[Parabordi]

What took you so long? Quite right there are loads of them about, and we laugh at all of them.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

What took you so long? Quite right there are loads of them about, and we laugh at all of them.

Welcoming.

 

[Parabordi]

Sorry, a little tongue in cheek but only speaking from experience, lots of us have done it and learnt the hard way.
If you want to go boating on the Thames think about something that's actually suited for it, thats means lots of manoeuvring at short quarters in locks and bankside.
Boats designed to go out and blat about at 30knots with no decks, sure physically they fit, but they are just built for something different.

 

[Flynnbarr]

Yes to be clear this thread was about whether using a planing boat at slow speed on the Thames for a year or two, as a change of scene (and pace) from S Coast, was viable, and what pitfalls there may be.

Not whether we should buy one or not.

You’ll be fine.
A large proportion of the boats on the river are unsuitable but seem to manage and even enjoy themselves.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

You’ll be fine. A large proportion of the boats on the river are unsuitable but seem to manage and even enjoy themselves.

Thanks. TBH that's what I expected but even in these few posts I've learned a few things that I'd not thought of. Side decks. Pin moorings.

It remains attractive

 

[Cashbuyer]

Nimbus 380 coupe or similar? And dare I suggest better built than a Sealine.
Great for the coast and river and low enough for the bridges.
Brooms are great on the river but those radar masts on the aft cabin versions are a pain under all the bridges. Up down, up down like a whores draws...

 

[Cashbuyer]

BTW look out for Cookham lock cut bridge. It’s pretty nerve wracking for a river virgin when you literally have an inch to spare.