Stuck@Windsor.com...

[No Regrets]

Hmmm...Moored up last night on the inside of the island at Windsor, no issues getting in or tying up, closely followed by a forumite friend.


Had a nice morning chilling and oiling my teak floor while the ladies went shopping.


So far, so good. Until we went to depart, whence we found we appeared to have stuck on the bottom! Darren was on outdrives, and alerted me to the fact, but being on shafts there was nothing much I could do, so gingerly snicked her into gear, the port side was fine, but the starboard was dinging a little bit. We managed to push the back out by using plenty of throttle on the outside engine, and turned, but our friend wasn't so lucky, and was stuck pretty well, to the point one outdrive wouldn't lift!

Four of us used lines to pull her forward, and eventually we managed to pull the stern out and turn her too.

Fifty Shades seems fine, no loss of thrust or vibrations, and I doubt the robust bronze props have any more than a few scuffs, but the outdrive equiped boat has one prop bent back on itself, and it totalled. Not a good weekend for either of us, as I suggested the mooring so feel a little guilty, and my mates got a bill or insurance claim

The river level appears to have dropped substantially during the night, as the water level against the bank certainly wasn't the same, and other people moored up also commented. We were both fine going in, but both stuck going out. I hope his insurance stumps up...

You learn something new every day eh?

 

[oldgit]

"I hope his insurance stumps up..."
Not sure of the outdrive,but surely simpler/cheaper to lift leg,remove prop and nip down to Steel Developments.Total cost some wet sleeves and £50 quid.Boat back up and running for next weekend.
Alternative is to call insurance wait for OK (if they pay) wait for lift,get prop fixed,wait for return,wait to refit.then wait for relaunch.
Any single prop drives should come up high enough to get alan key on bolt and then by using wooden wedge undo prop cone.
Took me at least 20 mins to swap a prop after whacking bottom at Henley a few years ago,it was all B1s fault of course.

 

[My She]

A few years ago we were moored on the Brocas side and the same thing happened. After a while we managed to get off (F33 then) but several narrow boats were well and truly stuck. They woke up to find their boats aground at quite extreme angles with a couple having sustained broken windows! If memory serves me correctly they phoned up the lock who let more water through.

 

[dash300]

Hmmm...Moored up last night on the inside of the island at Windsor, no issues getting in or tying up, closely followed by a forumite friend.


Had a nice morning chilling and oiling my teak floor while the ladies went shopping.

So far, so good. Until we went to depart, whence we found we appeared to have stuck on the bottom! Darren was on outdrives, and alerted me to the fact, but being on shafts there was nothing much I could do, so gingerly snicked her into gear, the port side was fine, but the starboard was dinging a little bit. We managed to push the back out by using plenty of throttle on the outside engine, and turned, but our friend wasn't so lucky, and was stuck pretty well, to the point one outdrive wouldn't lift!

Four of us used lines to pull her forward, and eventually we managed to pull the stern out and turn her too.

Fifty Shades seems fine, no loss of thrust or vibrations, and I doubt the robust bronze props have any more than a few scuffs, but the outdrive equiped boat has one prop bent back on itself, and it totalled. Not a good weekend for either of us, as I suggested the mooring so feel a little guilty, and my mates got a bill or insurance claim

The river level appears to have dropped substantially during the night, as the water level against the bank certainly wasn't the same, and other people moored up also commented. We were both fine going in, but both stuck going out. I hope his insurance stumps up...

You learn something new every day eh?

Thats rotten luck. When the river levels get back to normal I think we are all going to find that some of our once reliable mooring spots are sludged up this year. Will cross that one off my list. Unfortunately the EA have always been reluctant to dredge unless a tree is actually taking root in the Navigation!!!

 

[No Regrets]

No such problems on the lovely old Broom!

Large keel protected the single prop, and the little wing engine would usually drag her off!!

A good plough that was...LOL

 

[No Regrets]

The lockie denied water levels dropped!!

Both our boats must have been sinking then

 

[dash300]

No such problems on the lovely old Broom!

Large keel protected the single prop, and the little wing engine would usually drag her off!!

A good plough that was...LOL

Indeed a proper keel; even raggies would be impressed.

 

[teddington_lock]

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/136496.aspx?stationId=7169

 

[boatone]

This seems to indicate a drop in levels of some 10" between 1500 and 2100 on Saturday and levels did not recover until This afternoon (Sunday). Surprised you were told levels had not dropped?

 

[No Regrets]

I wasn't, Darren was!

 

[boatone]

I wasn't, Darren was!

Please don't drive me into [PEDANT] mode !

 

[apollo]

so, in a situation like this, is a boater entitled to claim damages from EA? (serious question)

 

[boatone]

so, in a situation like this, is a boater entitled to claim damages from EA? (serious question)

As far as I am aware the answer is no.

 

[captain tomas]

so, in a situation like this, is a boater entitled to claim damages from EA? (serious question)

If your boat has been damaged by a sudden fall in water levels I would contact the E.A. first.
From the web site showing river levels it is obvious that the weir at Windsor dropped significantly, was it managed correctly?

 

[thamesS23]

I have only overnighted twice at the Brocas, and on both occassions, the river levels had dropped enough that there was boats stuck on the bottom in the morning. Luckily not mine.

 

[boatone]

The EA only undertake to maintain certain depths in the navigation fairway which they define as being "normally the middle third of the river". They give no undertakings to maintain depths bankside whether the mooring area is EA maintained or the responsibility of the riparian landowner or local authority.
In the case of the inside of the island this will be the responsibility of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The Brocas is the responsibility of Eton College.

 

[apollo]

The EA only undertake to maintain certain depths in the navigation fairway which they define as being "normally the middle third of the river". They give no undertakings to maintain depths bankside whether the mooring area is EA maintained or the responsibility of the riparian landowner or local authority.
In the case of the inside of the island this will be the responsibility of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The Brocas is the responsibility of Eton College.

Point of contention here, its not really the dredging of the stream but the whole of the width of the river was dropped by several inches, so in this case that would seem to be negligence.

So are they saying dont moor anywwhere overnight unless you have at least half metre under the boat else you could be at risk of being beached? Cos there are loads of places with this much depth....

In one of the most visited places on the river......Love to see how their PR department talks up this one...

 

[boatone]

Point of contention here, its not really the dredging of the stream but the whole of the width of the river was dropped by several inches, so in this case that would seem to be negligence.
.....Love to see how their PR department talks up this one...

Although the drop would have been river-wide I'm sure whey will claim that, as long as their minimum fairway depth targets are not breached, then they fulfilled their obligation re navigation depths in the fairway.

As for the PR department - doubt they would even know about it !

 

[apollo]

Although the drop would have been river-wide I'm sure whey will claim that, as long as their minimum fairway depth targets are not breached, then they fulfilled their obligation re navigation depths in the fairway.

So really, the only "safe" place to avoid expensive damage is to moor mid stream then? What are the rules about anchoring in the middle of the channel.

 

[boatone]

So really, the only "safe" place to avoid expensive damage is to moor mid stream then? What are the rules about anchoring in the middle of the channel.

Thats permitted …..