Stream increasing on the Thames
- Thread starter angelaquayle
- Start date
alistairedw
Well-Known Member
I gave myself a fright on the river at Twickenham yesterday. Having watched another club member row safely to and from his mooring I decided that I would row over to my motorboat to check that everything was OK.
The stream between the pontoon and the moorings was running pretty fast but the flow was much slower where the boats are moored. I just had to row quickly across about 20 feet of fast flow and then I could row upstream to my mooring.
I shoved off from the pontoon and started to row across to the moorings. Unfortunately the rowlocks were slightly too big for the oars and in mid stream the left hand oar lifted out of the rowlock while I was pulling back. I fell backwards off the thwart and lost my grip on the oar.
Down to just one oar and flying downstream fast I was not in a good place! However I paddled like crazy back towards the shore and managed to beach the boat on the hard at the White Swan.
A chap in a canoe saw my oar heading downstream and kindly retrieved it for me.
Don't think I will try rowing in conditions like that again!
The stream between the pontoon and the moorings was running pretty fast but the flow was much slower where the boats are moored. I just had to row quickly across about 20 feet of fast flow and then I could row upstream to my mooring.
I shoved off from the pontoon and started to row across to the moorings. Unfortunately the rowlocks were slightly too big for the oars and in mid stream the left hand oar lifted out of the rowlock while I was pulling back. I fell backwards off the thwart and lost my grip on the oar.
Down to just one oar and flying downstream fast I was not in a good place! However I paddled like crazy back towards the shore and managed to beach the boat on the hard at the White Swan.
A chap in a canoe saw my oar heading downstream and kindly retrieved it for me.
Don't think I will try rowing in conditions like that again!
pheran
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I think the problem is not that you weren't competent and the boat capable, but that you almost certainly weren't insured. The EA advise as of 20/07/07 was not to navigate, if you navigated againest the navigation authorities advise you are almost definately not insured.
[/ QUOTE ] I think this issue has been dealt with on here before. I seem to recall the conclusion, after consulting a number of insurance companies, was that using your boat whilst Red Boards were in operation did not automatically invalidate your insurance. I think you would have to make sure all the other boxes were ticked though!
I think the problem is not that you weren't competent and the boat capable, but that you almost certainly weren't insured. The EA advise as of 20/07/07 was not to navigate, if you navigated againest the navigation authorities advise you are almost definately not insured.
[/ QUOTE ] I think this issue has been dealt with on here before. I seem to recall the conclusion, after consulting a number of insurance companies, was that using your boat whilst Red Boards were in operation did not automatically invalidate your insurance. I think you would have to make sure all the other boxes were ticked though!
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Do you think though there is any difference, between red boards being posted, which can be quite mild conditions, and the EA issuing a notice advising you to moor up imediately and not to navigate? I think if you ignored this, the insurance company might take a dim view, if an accident was preventable.
pheran
Well-Known Member
Think you would have to check with individual insurance companies. Byron may have the definitive answer - see http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1523939/an/0/page/0#1523939[/url
byron
RIP
My Underwriter takes the view that the non tidal Thames at its worst is not as bad as a Spring tide through London. If the boat is well found and the Master knows what he is doing then there is no problem.
One should always check with one's Insurance company or Underwriter.
One should always check with one's Insurance company or Underwriter.