Thames mooring

[banger]

Just at the moment getting information, am considering buying a boat for use on the Thames and wondering about mooring's, I would consider above Oxford to be my target, any ideas and a guide of costs would be appreciated.

 

[dash300]

Don't forget to factor in Osney Bridge at Oxford which has low air draft of 7ft give or take.

 

[banger]

Yes I know about that, been through it lots of times in the '60s when I had a boat on the Thames.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Eynsham marina advertise moorings for £1/ft/week. Don't know if they have space.

http://www.oxfordcruisers.com/Oxford_Cruisers_Boatyard/Services.html

 

[prof pat pending]

It really depends what you're looking for.

A secure marina with floating pontoons like Abingdon will cost you over £2k for a 23' boat,
Osney is a little cheaper, somewhere like Radcot is cheaper still. I've heard of bankside moorings around Bablockhythe going for around £600.

Obviously the longer the boat the more it'll cost

 

[banger]

Not keen on marina's, cost of course, but I like solitude so bankside or similar would be my goal.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Might be worth contacting the EA or talk to lock keepers as there are some locks with moorings available. Can't think where off hand up that way but Kings Lock comes to mind. If it was a seasonal thing you could keep the boat there in summer and dry store for winter? Or do you use the boat all year round.

Obviously bank side moorings are prone to flooding.

 

[prof pat pending]

There's a few behind Pinkhill Lock
Bablockhythe caravan park has quite a few, not exactly solitary there though.
Theres a lot at Radcot, not sure about availability, contact the Swan.
There are a few more further up, might be worth a spell on google earth and drive around to see if anything takes your fancy

 

[banger]

Thanks for the reply, I will have a drive around and see what there is.

 

[prof pat pending]

There's also some at the farm above Eynsham toll bridge iirc

 

[banger]

Just a question about Freeman, will they go under Osney Bridge?

 

[Actionmat]

A little Freeman will go just about anywhere, under Osney and (down my way) along the Wey.
I think they're a cracking little classic Thames boat, the VW campervans of the river.
Good luck with your boat search and finding a mooring

 

[dash300]

A little Freeman will go just about anywhere, under Osney and (down my way) along the Wey.
I think they're a cracking little classic Thames boat, the VW campervans of the river.
Good luck with your boat search and finding a mooring

Just to qualify and it's been a while but our Mk2 22 would do canopy down. Same for the 23. Any hardtop addition then no way.

 

[Actionmat]

My RLM31 clears it(just). I've got less clearance than all but the big Freemans surely?

 

[prof pat pending]

Just to qualify and it's been a while but our Mk2 22 would do canopy down. Same for the 23. Any hardtop addition then no way.

Not strictly true.
My 23 will go under canopy up, sometimes I don't bother dropping the mast, others I do, so a 22 will also go under canopy up, unless the water levels are high. A hardtop might go under if it doesn't have rails on the roof.
A 25/26 will also go under with the canopy down. Not sure about the 30's.

Most of the newer generation boats wont go under unless they've been modified for it. I know of a 27 that has the hard top on gas struts and a modified 33 sports. There were two 33's built specifically from new for the purpose, but I think that's pretty much it.

The nice thing about owning a Freeman on the Thames is having Sheridan Marine on the doorstep for all the spares

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Freeman's are great. I've always lived on my boats so it would be too small but if I lived on land and wanted a cruiser for the Thames a freeman would be top of the list.

Going back to the moorings. I know its below oxford but there seem to be some moorings behind the lock house island at Days Lock. At the base of Whittenhan clumps. Not sure if its a land owner or EA who are doing them but its a nice secluded spot out of the main channel there. Just a thought.

 

[dash300]

Not strictly true.
My 23 will go under canopy up, sometimes I don't bother dropping the mast, others I do, so a 22 will also go under canopy up, unless the water levels are high. A hardtop might go under if it doesn't have rails on the roof.
A 25/26 will also go under with the canopy down. Not sure about the 30's.

Most of the newer generation boats wont go under unless they've been modified for it. I know of a 27 that has the hard top on gas struts and a modified 33 sports. There were two 33's built specifically from new for the purpose, but I think that's pretty much it.

The nice thing about owning a Freeman on the Thames is having Sheridan Marine on the doorstep for all the spares

You're a braver man than me Gunga Din!

 

[banger]

Thanks all, I would like information on boat's that do make it under the bridge if anyone has the knowledge, my reason for looking above the bridge for mooring is that all of my children and grandchildren are now local to me in North Oxfordshire so location and travel time is important for them. Thanks for all the help.

 

[No Regrets]

Just a question about Freeman, will they go under Osney Bridge?

I suppose a Freeman 41 would probably make it, flat out, although might look a little different on the Osney side... :ambivalence:

Freeman didn't just make compact cruisers....

 

[No Regrets]

Thanks all, I would like information on boat's that do make it under the bridge if anyone has the knowledge, my reason for looking above the bridge for mooring is that all of my children and grandchildren are now local to me in North Oxfordshire so location and travel time is important for them. Thanks for all the help.

Here's how it works.

Find out the clearance under the bridge (Google says 7'6" which will vary slightly of course...)

Find out the airdraft of your boat (Google says 'What boat do you have...')

The answer is pretty easy to find, as are most of the strange questions people manage to make an entire thread out of these days :ambivalence:

You need a boat with an airdraft of less than 7'6" and how much less depends on your desire to get under the bridge depending on River conditions.

On the basis the River is far more interesting in the Windsor area, with good access to both London and Oxford, I'm surprised nobody has suggested you consider other mooring places! :encouragement: