The End of recreational boating on the Thames

My issue with it is that 12 knots is just a horrible speed. With a boat like mine, and many other on here I suspect, 12 knots creates possibly the biggest wash and is the most uneconomical speed.

So the 12 knot speed limit is in fact an 8 knot speed limit in all but name.

I feel that I am perfectly able to safely motor my boat at 4 knots more and be properly on the plane creating less wash and getting better economy at 16 knots.

I have been through London many times so it's no sight seeing trip for me. I am often heading from Ramsgate or Essex and aiming for Teddington of vice versa so slowing to 8 knots is a real PITA.
 
Boatone- Yep probably was a bit sensationalist, but at least it allowed us to have an interesting debate.

True Blue- 'For heavens sake the Tideway is a commercial waterway run by the PLA and they want to keep it that way (I don't like that, but there it is).'

This is a key point, they do want to keep it that way, but that doesn't mean we can't engage with them to try and reach a compromise, I've been talking to them for months now about this and we've had some good dialogue, its our river too, obviously I have a personal agenda and hence thats what I'm pursuing. Whilst I don't agree with everything they say, they have been fairly approachable and responsive.
 
vjmehra said:
Boatone- Yep probably was a bit sensationalist, but at least it allowed us to have an interesting debate.

True Blue- 'For heavens sake the Tideway is a commercial waterway run by the PLA and they want to keep it that way (I don't like that, but there it is).'

This is a key point, they do want to keep it that way, but that doesn't mean we can't engage with them to try and reach a compromise, I've been talking to them for months now about this and we've had some good dialogue, its our river too, obviously I have a personal agenda and hence thats what I'm pursuing. Whilst I don't agree with everything they say, they have been fairly approachable and responsive.
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Agree - I don't want to kiss their fundament either, but it is a reasonably busy port and methinks the PLA a scared that some hothead(s) will come on, blast around and cause a serious accident.

Small undisciplined boats and heavy commercial craft don't mix.
By coming up with some draconian regulations they hope to deter / nip any transgressions before they happen.
At least they've covered their fundament by the regulations....
 
TrueBlue said:
Agree - I don't want to kiss their fundament either, but it is a reasonably busy port and methinks the PLA a scared that some hothead(s) will come on, blast around and cause a serious accident.

Small undisciplined boats and heavy commercial craft don't mix.
By coming up with some draconian regulations they hope to deter / nip any transgressions before they happen.
At least they've covered their fundament by the regulations....[/QUOTE]

I have no vested interest in this; however surely more regulations aren't going to do anything to deter 'boy racers' from doing what they want anyhow......but lumber responsible owners/users with additional costs & work?

Hmm....I think I've asnwered myself: same as MOT's, insurance & road tax I suppose.....

I'll get my coat....
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The pool of London must surely be one of the more spectacular sights on the Thames, and well worth a good 8kt cruise to enjoy the scenery, surely? :)
 
teddington_lock said:
Why do you need to travel at high speed through London ?
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Never done the river (though secretly I'd like to). As far as London is concerned, they should raise the road speed limit to close to the speed of light, the place is sh*t. Worked there, lived there.

Except of course, they can't raise the speed limit in London, the horse and cart in 1910, on the roads that is, went faster. Bl**dy awful place. :eek:

Second time today I'm going to need the flak jacket. Oh well.......:rolleyes:
 
What a pain this is going to be, and the fact it will add a significant amount of time for a run out through the estuary... I can fully understand a limit down to Cherry Gardens, who would want to race through there and miss all the sights anyway, but for it to be extended for such a distance it really seems a step too far. Our boat will be kicking out significantly more wash then clipping along at 30 odd knots, so that is going to be another consideration, so we will most likely be looking at 8 knots when other vessels around. A step way too far I reckon, surely if boats are being driven in an unsafe manner then there are sufficient resources that VTS has to monitor this such as there existing radar, and the most used resource which is the commercial boats who are very quick to report any boats that are not being driven in the correct manner for the conditions. A lot of our trips have meant heading through London in the wee small hours when there is nothing about, it's certainly going to make it a long trip.
 
There was no real problem existing that prompted the introduction of this limit.

Accidents on the tidal thames from private boats being navigated at excess speed have been almost non existent. When I queried the stats with the PLA they just quoted an accident "some years ago" at Richmond. They seemed to have overlooked the 8 knot limit that has existed on that stretch for years.

We have to put up with the yobbish no neck skinheads launching their speedboats at Putney and hairing around on the odd summer day, but even that isnt a particularly big problem.

The fact is, the PLA have always wanted to discourage any private boats especially at speed on their patch, and they have been waiting for the opportunity to finally get a speed bylaw put in place.

That opportunity arrived in the form of the 2012 London Olympics.
 
"The fact is, the PLA have always wanted to discourage any private boats especially at speed on their patch"



Having visited both PLA control centres on Thames and Medway last year and actually spoken to the staff running the show,the above comment does not reflect the situation.
Make the effort to go and see them,most clubs will organise a trip if enough interest is shown.
Athough primarily concerned with commercial traffic,the control rooms are happy to provide help to private boats transiting the area ,provided it is not the usual moronic "radio check please Guv" or other time wasting activities so beloved of hobby boaters.

As to speed limits,if you want to go fast,move your boat to the coast where no speed restrictions apply.
 
'As to speed limits,if you want to go fast,move your boat to the coast where no speed restrictions apply.'

Easier said than done!!

I live right by the river and in the summer like to go out after work for 30mins-2hours, its not possible to get down to the coast and do that after work!
 
oldgit said:
As to speed limits,if you want to go fast,move your boat to the coast where no speed restrictions apply.
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Why should one group of leisure boat users have an arbitrary restriction enforced upon them, with minimal consultation, when there wasn't really a problem that needed sorting out in the first place?

First Windermere.
Now The Thames.
Where next? The Solent?
 
Apparently the new speed limit is not yet in place. I got the following reply to my enquiry asking if there was an updated Leisure Users Guide available (since speed limits detailed in the old one had changed)...

Thank you for your enquiry.

The new River Byelaws are not yet in place so the mandatory speed limit of 8 knots still remains in the following locations:

Above Wandsworth Bridge

In all creeks linked to the Tidal Thames

Off Southend (in the inshore area); and

Coryton and Thurrock when gas tankers are berthed.

The advisory speed restriction of 12 knots is also still in place between Cherry Garden Pier and Wandsworth Bridge.

Kind regards

Laura


Of course, the fact that the new speed limit is not yet law, won't necessarily stop them enforcing a genrally slower operating passage speed for all leisure vessels (wash etc.), but an interesting update from the PLA all the same. :cool:
 
The new limits were meant to be in place as of Dec 1st, however due to the ongoing objections and it taking longer than expected to draft the exemptios they are not yet in place, however from the conversations I've had it does look like they will be sooner rather than later unfortunately.

I have the full e-mail chain with the PLA available if anyone wishes to view it, its too big to post here (although I think I have posted every individual response desperately on another thread).
 
FlowerPower said:
Why should one group of leisure boat users have an arbitrary restriction enforced upon them, with minimal consultation, when there wasn't really a problem that needed sorting out in the first place?

First Windermere.
Now The Thames.
Where next? The Solent?
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Because curiously enough, hobby boaters have to obey the rules and regs as does everyone one else.The Thames is a working river not just an lake were people play at boating on sunny days.
 
oldgit said:
Because curiously enough, hobby boaters have to obey the rules and regs as does everyone one else.The Thames is a working river not just an lake were people play at boating on sunny days.
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Well, yes, but that's not what I'm talking about.

The river has many users, and artitrarily changing the rules and regs to restrict one group of users without consultation isn't the way things should be done, especially if it is to address a non existant problem.


.
 
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FlowerPower said:
The river has many users, and artitrarily changing the rules and regs to restrict one group of users without consultation isn't the way things should be done, especially if it to address a non existant problem, rather than put the boot in on "hobby boaters".
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Well said. Fair point. Not all 'hobby boaters' are bad!
It seems that it's not just the PLA that want to tar a certain class of boats (owners/skippers) with the same brush. Ehem! :rolleyes:
 
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