The happy Thames

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Gavin E

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I think we can safely say that we’ve arrived at that time of year when the traffic on the river pretty much stops, and the traffic on the Thames forum often sees a similar slow down for the colder months.

Many of the threads on here seem to attract quite a few comments pointing out the perceived negatives of boating on the river - with some boaters often sounding so aggrieved that I sometimes wonder why they continue paying so much cash out for something that appears to just irritate them….

So I thought I’d try a happy thread - something to encourage any other newbies that visit the forum to see the many positives of boating on the Thames.

We’ve been on the river for three years now, which perhaps doesn’t allow enough time for the rose tinted specs to fall off and for the jaded sunglasses of weariness to take their place, but we still love pretty much every minute of life on the river. There are so many beautiful stretches of cruising to enjoy, and plenty of lovely spots to stop and moor up. Ok, so at times the river is busy and we haven’t always been able to get in at the spot that was our intended destination, but we’ve always found somewhere close by to get into and haven’t had too much trouble finding a mooring spot for a 40ft flybridge cruiser. Admittedly, we do like mooring in the out of the way spots just as much as the more popular destinations, and we are just as happy to be a three mile walk from a town as we are to have a restaurant fifty yards from the boat.

Yes, there seem to be a lot more paddle boarders and swimmers to look out for since covid, and although I have heard a few boaters moan about them I don’t really understand why? We just see them as more people to wave at and say ‘hi’ to. I will confess that we are those irritating boaters that bumble along either at or below the speed limit, and I’m quite happy to go even slower and take even more time to relax and enjoy the trip so that they don’t have to worry about my wash. I know that there is a good chance that a lot of the families haven’t got a licence for their canoe or paddle board but frankly I don’t care - I’d rather spend a day cruising the river seeing the kids and others having fun. Watching others enjoy the river really is a key part of the pleasure of boating, and on the whole we find the spirit of the Thames really is a happy one.

The EA aren’t perfect…. I know. We all pay a lot for our own licenses and yes things could be better but….. isn’t that the case for everything in life? Yes we got stuck at a lock because it was broken. Yes we were there for over 24 hours. Yes it made us alter our cruising plans…. But you know what - it was actually fun. The boats started to queue behind us, the waiting area was soon three deep with boats, nobody was going anywhere…. And most just settled in, had a good natter with other boaters and relaxed. It became just one more happy memory on the river. I’m sure that we can all think of a dozen things that we’d like the EA to do better, but are things really that bad?

On the whole the river works. Most of the time the locks work, and sometimes there is even a lock keeper to help. All of those (generally) happy folk who are there to look after the locks and the water flow, and who will also open and shut the gates for us when they have a bit of free time from what their main job is. To be honest we are just as happy to do the locks ourself anyway. It’s fun. It’s just another part of boating on the river that we take the time to enjoy, and gives even more chance to chat with other boaters.

Yes, there are things to moan about and yes there are issues that I would like the EA to do something about - it’d be easy to criticise - but to be honest I know nothing about the staffing levels and finances of the place so I how can I really know how good a job they are doing? I have no idea if there are hundreds of staff sitting around all day drinking tea and eating biscuits, or ten people running around like headless chickens trying to sort everything out. With the way things are these days I suspect it’s closer to the latter than the former, so I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and just chill.

I could go on. But I won’t….

We really enjoy boating on the Thames and we’ve met some fantastic people along the way, and I’d recommend giving it a try to anybody thinking of giving it a go. It ain’t perfect. Things happen that make you a tad grumpy at times. But it’s a great place to unwind and enjoy.

Am I alone? Any other happy thoughts out there to show the many pleasures to be had on the river…..?
 
Gavin E said:
I think we can safely say that we’ve arrived at that time of year when the traffic on the river pretty much stops, and the traffic on the Thames forum often sees a similar slow down for the colder months.

Many of the threads on here seem to attract quite a few comments pointing out the perceived negatives of boating on the river - with some boaters often sounding so aggrieved that I sometimes wonder why they continue paying so much cash out for something that appears to just irritate them….

So I thought I’d try a happy thread - something to encourage any other newbies that visit the forum to see the many positives of boating on the Thames.

We’ve been on the river for three years now, which perhaps doesn’t allow enough time for the rose tinted specs to fall off and for the jaded sunglasses of weariness to take their place, but we still love pretty much every minute of life on the river. There are so many beautiful stretches of cruising to enjoy, and plenty of lovely spots to stop and moor up. Ok, so at times the river is busy and we haven’t always been able to get in at the spot that was our intended destination, but we’ve always found somewhere close by to get into and haven’t had too much trouble finding a mooring spot for a 40ft flybridge cruiser. Admittedly, we do like mooring in the out of the way spots just as much as the more popular destinations, and we are just as happy to be a three mile walk from a town as we are to have a restaurant fifty yards from the boat.

Yes, there seem to be a lot more paddle boarders and swimmers to look out for since covid, and although I have heard a few boaters moan about them I don’t really understand why? We just see them as more people to wave at and say ‘hi’ to. I will confess that we are those irritating boaters that bumble along either at or below the speed limit, and I’m quite happy to go even slower and take even more time to relax and enjoy the trip so that they don’t have to worry about my wash. I know that there is a good chance that a lot of the families haven’t got a licence for their canoe or paddle board but frankly I don’t care - I’d rather spend a day cruising the river seeing the kids and others having fun. Watching others enjoy the river really is a key part of the pleasure of boating, and on the whole we find the spirit of the Thames really is a happy one.

The EA aren’t perfect…. I know. We all pay a lot for our own licenses and yes things could be better but….. isn’t that the case for everything in life? Yes we got stuck at a lock because it was broken. Yes we were there for over 24 hours. Yes it made us alter our cruising plans…. But you know what - it was actually fun. The boats started to queue behind us, the waiting area was soon three deep with boats, nobody was going anywhere…. And most just settled in, had a good natter with other boaters and relaxed. It became just one more happy memory on the river. I’m sure that we can all think of a dozen things that we’d like the EA to do better, but are things really that bad?

On the whole the river works. Most of the time the locks work, and sometimes there is even a lock keeper to help. All of those (generally) happy folk who are there to look after the locks and the water flow, and who will also open and shut the gates for us when they have a bit of free time from what their main job is. To be honest we are just as happy to do the locks ourself anyway. It’s fun. It’s just another part of boating on the river that we take the time to enjoy, and gives even more chance to chat with other boaters.

Yes, there are things to moan about and yes there are issues that I would like the EA to do something about - it’d be easy to criticise - but to be honest I know nothing about the staffing levels and finances of the place so I how can I really know how good a job they are doing? I have no idea if there are hundreds of staff sitting around all day drinking tea and eating biscuits, or ten people running around like headless chickens trying to sort everything out. With the way things are these days I suspect it’s closer to the latter than the former, so I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and just chill.

I could go on. But I won’t….

We really enjoy boating on the Thames and we’ve met some fantastic people along the way, and I’d recommend giving it a try to anybody thinking of giving it a go. It ain’t perfect. Things happen that make you a tad grumpy at times. But it’s a great place to unwind and enjoy.

Am I alone? Any other happy thoughts out there to show the many pleasures to be had on the river…..?
Click to expand...

A trip to the non tidal Thames is a highlight of the year and judging at the number of boats from RCC who make the annual pilgrimage, anything from 15 to 30 boats, others seem to agree.
Wonderful constantly changing scenery outside your porthole and very good chance at the end of any day, a pleasant mooring invariably with a pub or eatery a short stagger away.
Free 24 hour moorings and not a lot of £££ for that second day, just obey the rules and everything is tickety boo.
A chance to compare your disasters and woes with fellow boaters and to ponder how the hell he can afford that size of boat. Drugs or a politician. :)
Spend pennies in fuel and never ever worrying about F8 in the forecast.
Best times of day, mist at crack of dawn or late evening listening to a moorhen over on the far bank ...Absolute " B*****y "Priceless .
 
I've been up and down the River since about 1990. Lived on various boats since '94.

It's an amazing place to be able to spend time. Obviously a lot of people decommission or even remove boats from water for the winter so even if it's lovely there is no boat to use.

My boats always stay with a wet bottom.

I've done most of the canal system in a narrow boat but nothing beats the River.

It's just right.

Never been below Limehouse but will perhaps get down there one day.

Most of my boating takes place between Marlow and Oxford these days, which I reckon is the best bit.

Yes it has changed over the years but so has everything else.
 
I agree 100% with Gavin E. Well said sir.

Regarding the second paragraph, it is why I rarely look at the forum these days. I prefer to be out on the river enjoying it, rather than hear people complain about it. Although to be fair, things seem to have improved on that front lately.
 
Been on the river for six years now and whilst home is 300 miles away in rural Co Durham I used to live in Hampton when I worked down at Teddington Studios here so when a new work opportunity came up I knew that it was time to raid the pension pot and buy myself the boat I have always wanted for over 30 years.

I got a lovely lady from TBS Bray but as it was closer to my work down here I chose to moor her at Penton Hook and make a base for any work and more importantly choose a life of cruising the Thames.

We have had pretty much every holiday down here now with her ladyships birthday in May, two weeks cruising up river to Henley in July and being a hardy Northerner even numerous winter trips and several Xmas days moored at Hampton Court Palace.

Yes it isn't perfect but the mindset of being on the river is with any days off from work down here spent on my own usually down at Laleham or now as I can do locks on my own all the way to Walton and the Shepperton area.

The cost of a single room down here is £550 + monthly so the all in cost of £500 a month for the marina, EA fees and insurance makes it a real bargain and I get to have my own floating apartment on Thames for the £32k I paid for a 35 foot boat.

It has also given me great pleasure adding finer touches to her with LED lights and other upgrades and the social life on the marina is also a major plus point.

Like others have said I don't get those who moan on all the time but then use their marina based boats as floating static caravans and some around me have never been off the marina but it also allows me to moor at Laleham on my own and enjoy any days off.

I am due to semi retire next year but will go back to being freelance purely to keep the boat and hopefully get even more value out of the marina and pittance I pay for the EA licence. It is fun and even the cold weather can be a joy at times as the Mikuni heater and crispness of winter frost can be so peaceful too.

Life is for living and in these troubled times even more so as we also lost a 12 year old child to cancer so we appreciate that time means so much more than money.
 
I don't think anyone disputes the benefits and beauty of the river, if we did we wouldn't be here and paying the money every year.
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't call EA to order when they screw up and don't do their job properly.

OG - as you know I am joining you and just visiting in July on a monthly visitor license. £200 instead of £955 works for me and it instantly looks like a much better deal to me.
 
Parabordi said:
I don't think anyone disputes the benefits and beauty of the river, if we did we wouldn't be here and paying the money every year.
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't call EA to order when they screw up and don't do their job properly.

OG - as you know I am joining you and just visiting in July on a monthly visitor license. £200 instead of £955 works for me and it instantly looks like a much better deal to me.
Click to expand...

Thames boaters are just Sunday league moaners , we really know how to grumble down ere ! Premier league at least.
 
First year in 65 I haven't been on the Thames (Okay, I can't remember the first five or so). Always in the same boat too. But last couple years was getting really fed up with locks breaking down, liveaboards ruining the best remote moorings, more totally unsuitable widebeams and so on. But do I hope to be back, so that means however much I moan I really miss the Thames.
 
Had to log on to agree with Gavin & others about the beautiful (Middle) Thames. Especially after Saturday when we had the privilege to see the Santa parade of boats from Penton Hook to Chertsey. Really beautiful display by maybe two dozen boats (lost count). We are all shipwrecked with Covid at the moment so the display was a highlight of our very limited lives.

Thank you to all you Boaters who took part. Made our day.
 
I went to school on the Thames in 1961 and it has been a major part of my life since then - over 60 years.
I still love it and will continue to boat on it for the rest of my days.
BUT - I wish the EA or whoever would get s grip on the freeloaders and over sized selfish widebeamers currently spoiling the enjoyment of more traditional boaters.
 
Portland Billy said:
I went to school on the Thames in 1961 and it has been a major part of my life since then - over 60 years.
I still love it and will continue to boat on it for the rest of my days.
BUT - I wish the EA or whoever would get s grip on the freeloaders and over sized selfish widebeamers currently spoiling the enjoyment of more traditional boaters.
Click to expand...

What are you calling a traditional boater?…….three men in a boat rowing skiffs…..slipper launches or a small Freeman type of river cruiser?

The wide beam that has paid his dues has as much right as anyone to be on the river.

You‘ll be old enough to remember when the bigger boats started appearing…..Broom/Princess etc with their big smoky six cylinder monsters in them….they were called ridiculous by traditional boaters back then and affectionately known as gin palaces…..:)
 
Portland Billy said:
BUT - I wish the EA or whoever would get s grip on the freeloaders and over sized selfish widebeamers currently spoiling the enjoyment of more traditional boaters.
Click to expand...
Should be laws against the unwarranted use of Thames water by .....
Floating jacuzzis
wild swimmers
kids paddling in shallow bits
fishermen
paddleboarders
kayakers
canoers
windsurfers
dinghy sailors
folks with inflatable anythings
speedboaters
dinghys with/without any type of propulsion
ROWERS
narrowboats
wide beam anything
commercial trip boats
small hire craft
BIG hire craft.
poor people with small scruffy boats.
any boat that does not have an all pervading smell of damp wood and varnish.
events for anybody other than proper bona fide boaters
the unwashed public in general especially.....young people .
have I missed anything/body ? :)
 
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The widebeam canal boat thing is quite interesting.

I remember when they were rare on the cut and also rare on the River.

People do what they do and most of them pay their way but this does seem to be a consistent theme.

Length of boat makes a difference in terms of taking up space on moorings and also the general aim of the owner of the craft makes a difference.

I actually do think that these widebeams are going to totally dominate the River within a few years, and as demonstrated above there are people with more interesting craft who will go away.

One of the things I have always liked about the River is the variety of boats.

Last time I was up at Lechlade there were about 5 sixty foot wide beans on the mooring below the bridge.

I was just glad I didn't meet anyone on the bends !


It's not a moan as such but I can see how these craft cause issues and I think it's rather sad that it reduces the variety of craft on the River.

I've got a MRL module to deal with the stand ups and swimmers so it's ok.
 
Outinthedinghy said:
The widebeam canal boat thing is quite interesting.

I remember when they were rare on the cut and also rare on the River.

People do what they do and most of them pay their way but this does seem to be a consistent theme.

Length of boat makes a difference in terms of taking up space on moorings and also the general aim of the owner of the craft makes a difference.

I actually do think that these widebeams are going to totally dominate the River within a few years, and as demonstrated above there are people with more interesting craft who will go away.

One of the things I have always liked about the River is the variety of boats.

Last time I was up at Lechlade there were about 5 sixty foot wide beans on the mooring below the bridge.

I was just glad I didn't meet anyone on the bends !


It's not a moan as such but I can see how these craft cause issues and I think it's rather sad that it reduces the variety of craft on the River.

I've got a MRL module to deal with the stand ups and swimmers so it's ok.
Click to expand...

The road tax on a Range Rover is £600 PA the average car is £150 PA.
Is the cost of registering a widebeam on similar scale ?
 
Do you believe if someone pays more for something they have a right to be more inconsiderate to others?
This is the route to trouble.

One of the things which I personally dislike about the wide beans is the engine running to get electric power and hot water.

I quite like it to be quiet on the River. It's such a nice environment that you just do want it to be peaceful in the evening and in the morning.

I suppose some people may like listening to a droning noise but I am not one of them, and I would never run the engine(s) unless moving the boat. No generator.

I do have 1kw of solar which sorts the electric anyway plus the boat is not a floating apartment.

Anyway. I have noted that a lot of the widebeam craft do run their engines during those times. Probably because the vessel has microwave, no instant hot water system, satellite telly etc etc so they do need the power and engine is the easiest way to get it. Never mind other people and the noise.

This significantly impacts my enjoyment of the lovely peaceful environment on the River. So much so that I would prefer to be well out of earshot of these craft of a morning just because of the likelihood of the engine drone spoiling the morning, and/or the evening.

I set great store by peace and quiet when on the River. It's very nice.

I don't think I am alone in having this experience.

Would it be okay if you paid 10 times more than everyone else to destroy the peace and quiet in the evening ? I don't think so.

It's a boat design and attitude problem, and it categorically IS annoying.


If I am right and other people have the same experience then you arrr looking at a lot of visitor moorings being basically inaccessible. Not just because of length of boats but also the noise nuisance or more accurately the high probability of noise nuisance.

I tend to moor in the trees away from people anyway but for someone who likes proper visitor moorings it's bad news.
 
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