Thames Cruise

[Greg2]

Okay, so we got our boat (Broom 41, draught 1.3m, min air draught approx 3.2m or 10' 6") down the east coast to London at the weekend in preparation for a holiday on the non-tidal Thames starting this weekend.

I have done my research and read some if the posts on here so I am comfortable with most things but I do have one ior two questions that you kind folks may be able to help with.

1. My bridge height chart refers to a bridge called 'Snapper' which is near to Teddington on the list but I can't see it on the map.....is it on the main river? If memory serves it seems to be the last (or first depending upon your perspective) one on the list for the tidal section.

2. I have heard that there may be depth issues in some places, particularly outside the main channel. Any thoughts on this with our draught and any particular spots we should be aware of?

3. Any tips on where to go or where to avoid during the next couple of weeks?

Never been on the non-tidal Thames before so we are really looking forward to it. Maybe see some of you on the river

 

[SnowCat]

Snapper Bridge goes from the Twickenham Bank to Eel Pie Island. You will not go under it when you keep to the main channel which goes between that island and the Ham Bank.

 

[thejonesey]

Hi Greg
I have not heard of the Snapper but someone more experienced will come along soon! The lowest bridges you will encounter are Windsor bridge (4m in the middle of the arch) and Cookham Bridge (3.8m but pretty flat across.) With little stream you can cruise right up and have a look however I am sure you can get under with everything folded down.

I draw 1.2m and do touch the bottom occassionally. It is a different mindset as you end up churning up mud when you moor up. My boat has got as far as Abingdon before depth became an issue.

We have not travelled extensively but popular places are Hampton Court, Windsor, Henley, Marlow, Clivedon, Shiplake Islands to name a few. I think Richmond also looks rather good but have yet to stay there.

Be ready for long lock queues at the weekends.... a good time to stay put in my opinion.

 

[oldgit]

Several Brooms in our club,including a couple of 50ft ers ,all have cruised the Thames extensively over the years,without any problems of any kind.Some would say the Broom is just about the ideal boat for the Thames and still just about outclass everything else offshore as well .

 

[teddington_lock]

Nowhere to stay in Richmond unfortunately. Half tidal so mud banks or shingle banks.

Only pontoon in Richmond is privately owned , no mooring there.

 

[Richard Shead]

Snapper Bridge goes from the Twickenham Bank to Eel Pie Island. You will not go under it when you keep to the main channel which goes between that island and the Ham Bank.

Well as a Teddington and Twickenham resident I never knew that ! I do have a pic of me standing underneath it during the draw off though.

Yes keep to the left of all the island heading up stream between rich and Tedd

 

[prof pat pending]

How far upstream do you intend to go?

Obviously my little boat has no issues with depth on the Thames, but a friend of mine with a Sealine 305 has told me that he thinks he touched bottom on a couple of the lock cuts below Abingdon

 

[dash300]

River levels are dropping down this end with lack of rain and increased lock activity. This coupled with shoals created by the winter floods, touching bottom is going to be
more common.

 

[boatone]

With 1.3 metre draft take care both below (green stab'd hand buoy) and above the bridge at Clifton Hampden where the bottom is bedrock and not soft mud! I have touched bottom there in recent years in a boat with similar draft. I have had discussions with the EA and because it is rock it is not possible to dredge but I have been pressing them to make sure the buoy below the bridge indicates where the deepest water is.

 

[Greg2]

Thanks guys, some useful comments and advice.
Not sure how far we will get...friends we are with are thinking Abingdon but a Thames guide I read indicated that our draught may mean we don't get beyond Reading. Depends whether we push on or just chill if we find somewhere we like....don't tend to have hard and fast plans when we are on the boat

Boatone....to clarify do buoys on the river mark the deepest water or the edge of the channel??

 

[Brayman]

Thanks guys, some useful comments and advice.
Not sure how far we will get...friends we are with are thinking Abingdon but a Thames guide I read indicated that our draught may mean we don't get beyond Reading. Depends whether we push on or just chill if we find somewhere we like....don't tend to have hard and fast plans when we are on the boat

Boatone....to clarify do buoys on the river mark the deepest water or the edge of the channel??

You should certainly make it as far as Wallingford without difficulty.

 

[Aquafan]

I've touched bottom a couple of times below Hurley lock going up stream just to the right of the centre of the river, keep to port and you will be ok

 

[Greg2]

I've touched bottom a couple of times below Hurley lock going up stream just to the right of the centre of the river, keep to port and you will be ok

Cheers, I'll remember that

 

[boatone]

Boatone....to clarify do buoys on the river mark the deepest water or the edge of the channel??

Unfortunately, neither. At best it means there is shallow water or obstruction on the "wrong" side of the buoy but that is no indication of how far away from the buoy the deepest water lies on the "right" side of the buoy !

I have been trying to get the EA to agree to site buoys to indicate the 1 meter mark but …….. The depths listed in the channel as suitable drafts for the various stretches apply , generally, to the fairway which is loosely defined as the middle third of the river.
More info can be reached through the TMBA website www.tmba.org.uk = look for "Navigable Depths" in right hand menu.

 

[Greg2]

Thanks, much appreciated

 

[boatone]

You're welcome ! It seems a long time since we both had Princess 32"s !

 

[Greg2]

Ah, I wondered if you would remember. It is indeed a long time....we are now three boats on and still enjoying it. Kids grew up around boats and and still love it....they are joining us for a few days during the Thames trip.

By good to say hello if you are around when we are passing by....

 

[miket]

Beware the end of the upstream lock cut at Benson. Stay to starboard.
Under no circumstances go up the weir stream on the downstream of Culham Lock. The pub is good, but I wiped out a prop on a 1 metre draft boat in mid stream.
Info' on Clifton Hampden bridge approach is good.
Bankside moorings will be a problem and your props are lower than your keel. If in doubt leave the stern out a little and pull in with ropes.
We used our Broom 37 (same basic hull and draft as 41.
Should still be able to have a lovely trip. Just be careful.

 

[Greg2]

Beware the end of the upstream lock cut at Benson. Stay to starboard.
Under no circumstances go up the weir stream on the downstream of Culham Lock. The pub is good, but I wiped out a prop on a 1 metre draft boat in mid stream.
Info' on Clifton Hampden bridge approach is good.
Bankside moorings will be a problem and your props are lower than your keel. If in doubt leave the stern out a little and pull in with ropes.
We used our Broom 37 (same basic hull and draft as 41.
Should still be able to have a lovely trip. Just be careful.

Many thanks for this. We are on day four and getting into the swing of things and thoroughly enjoying it.

 

[Greg2]

Just a quick update. We are now into week two of our Thames cruise and we have thoroughly enjoyed it so far. We are at our turn round point in Sonning and will be heading back down towards Harleyford today. We had a meal in the Bull in Sonning to celebrate my birthday last night and it was excellent (give it a try Tony....I think it must have improved since your last visit).

The help and guidance from peeps on here has been great so thank you all. Only one grounding so far, which was as we left our mooring in Marlow.....strange really as we had no issues getting in and I didn't notice a big difference in the river level. Hopefully no damage...the props churned up some gravel or similar by the sound of it but I won't know if there is an issue until we get back to sea.

Looking forward to the trip back downriver.....