Sublime to the Ridiculous

[Andrew_Fanner]

We attended the MTYC Commodore's Cruise over the BH weekend. Fastest Sunbury-Windsor trip ever, about 4 1/2 hours with 4 out of 7 locks opening for us as we arrived. Saw about 5 boats in total making the journey, 3 from Penton Hook.

On the way back, also making excellent time we got stopped at Chertsey when the island side tail gate jammed. Our beam is too wide to get through a single gate so had to wait until the divers recovered the log (as big as my leg) stuck under the gate.

Slowest ever trip at >10 hours and me fretting about fuel 'cos the gauges don't work post BSS. Anyone good with fuel gauges?

 

[Gavi]

We attended the MTYC Commodore's Cruise over the BH weekend. Fastest Sunbury-Windsor trip ever, about 4 1/2 hours with 4 out of 7 locks opening for us as we arrived. Saw about 5 boats in total making the journey, 3 from Penton Hook.

On the way back, also making excellent time we got stopped at Chertsey when the island side tail gate jammed. Our beam is too wide to get through a single gate so had to wait until the divers recovered the log (as big as my leg) stuck under the gate.

Slowest ever trip at >10 hours and me fretting about fuel 'cos the gauges don't work post BSS. Anyone good with fuel gauges?

Wish I could get on with photo sharing on this newish forum thing... have stopped using it due to frustration. But are you one of these:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27911471@N05/4664647280/

We managed to get down relatively easily though the boat ahead of us got stuck in the gates. Coming back up was a breeze for us but I felt sorry for anyone coming down at 1900ish. The down queue spread past 3 abreast at the moorings and peeps holding station all the way around the bend after the motorway bridge. I was in The Bells by 2000

 

[joejo]

We came upstream through Chertsey Lock about 2.20 and was suprised to be called in to the lock through one gate with you stuck in the lock facing the other way, and then locked through with you still in the lock facing the other way, a first for me in thirty or so years of going through locks.

Sorry to hear it took so long for you to get through, but presume you came out backwards till the gate was fixed rather than going up and down all afternoon ?

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

We went up and down about 6 times as there was nowhere above the lock for us to go. Eventually a fellow club menber decided to chance the difference between his beam and the single gate width and we took his spot on the waiting area. First time I have ever reversed Jedi out of a lock and only the second time I've reversed any boat out of a lock barring boat handling lessons.

The Commodore's boat (Amerglas 32, 10'6" beam) got through the gap with an alleged 6" to spare so we were encouraged to try and had about an inch too much beam. Probably could have made it at risk of ripping off the rubbing strake, but felt that was a non-optimum outcome I feel that a lady's estimation of 6" was a little off.

 

[miket]

Wema Systems

Excellent for replacements sender units.
They have a UK distributor who is very helpful.
You will need to supply the depth of the tanks.
They usually have a common tank fitting to existsing ones.