Tidal Speed Limit Change?

[teddington_lock]

People with Ferraris go on track days by and large when they want to give them the beans properly.

Honestly , i can say with some certainty that even if they lower the speed limit to 12 knots , there won't be yards full of unsold boats because of it.

People who do a lot of coastal work won't be affected by it really ( PHM , TMYC , etc etc ) , ok so it'll be a bit slower through London , but you can still bang the throttles down when you reach the estuary.

It'll affect the london based RIB's and ski boats that never venture past the barrier , but won't devalue them. They'll still be worth what they were before. People will just pop them on a trailer and take them somewhere else.

 

[alruss]

I dont expect to see much difference on the river, the current tidal limits are not enforced so why do we suppose the new ones will be.

 

[vjmehra]

I disnt say boats will become valueless! Just that they would de-value, depending on the boat this could only be £500 or so, but that is still a very real concern!

 

[Chris_d]

I disnt say boats will become valueless! Just that they would de-value, depending on the boat this could only be £500 or so, but that is still a very real concern!

I don't think you can use that as any sort of arguement against the speed limit if a 5m rib with a 50hp outboard is worth £5K it will still be worth £5K with the limit, doesn't have to be exclusively used on the Thames.

For a lot of planing cruisers 12knts is a no go speed, most can do 0-8knts and 17-30knts the range in between is just not possible so they will be restricted to 8knts all the way to Margeness, now that is a pain

 

[vjmehra]

Well it's merely my opinion, not fact of course, but look at it this way....

If you offer me x for my RIB today I may think about it, show me the same price if the speed limits come in and I would sell, hence in effect the value of the boat, (due to it's location) has decreased.

It won't affect everyone, but those without trailers and/or that exclusively use the Thames will be affected.

Anyway it's merely an opinion and I completely hope I'm wrong of course!!!

The Margaretness limit is a massive blow :-(

 

[snapper]

I'm surprised more people aren't concerned by this, after all, it effectively now devalues any quick boats moored on the Thames.

QUOTE]

There just aren't enough people with quick boats based on the Tidal Tames to make any difference to the decisions the PLA are making.
When the possibility of a limit was first mooted in 2008, the PLA tell me only 55 people compained.

 

[vjmehra]

That makes sense I guess. So frustrating though, can you imagine to outrage if National Express coaches could go at 80mph, but normal cars at 30mph on motorways!!!

 

[bradtarga34]

QUOTE=Chris_d;3148235]I don't think you can use that as any sort of arguement against the speed limit if a 5m rib with a 50hp outboard is worth £5K it will still be worth £5K with the limit, doesn't have to be exclusively used on the Thames.
For a lot of planing cruisers 12knts is a no go speed, most can do 0-8knts and 17-30knts the range in between is just not possible so they will be restricted to 8knts all the way to Margeness, now that is a pain[/QUOTE]

It's going to make the trip really drag that's for sure, and I completely agree what you are saying here in regards to speeds, and it will be mandatory as opposed to advisory...

 

[teddington_lock]

I wonder though if people can put up a valid argument for keeping the old limit , if they would ?

Will it make it dangerous at certain times to go places ? are you more likely to be caught out overnight somewhere by missing your locking in slot somewhere because of it ?

Could you argue that emissions / pollution will be increased ? engines not running at optimum speeds etc ?

If you want to get rid of your RIB , i'll give you a tenner for it.

 

[Chris_d]

Unfortunately its a fact that leisure boats are only tolerated on the tidal Thames, its very difficult to make an arguement for speed especialy when a lot leisure boaters don't go that fast anyway.

I remember exiting St Kats once heading downstream at a leisurely 7knt pace and two large Regal sportscruisers blew me away at 30 odd knots, yuppies on the back grinning away clearly speed for speeds sake and just out for the hell of it. Looks very bad to the serious skipper using speed and good seamanship to keep to a schedle or make a lock time.

 

[vjmehra]

Well I guess, to look at it the other way, why lower it, unless it is considered dangerous? Which clearly is not the case as commerical vessels are still allowed to go quicker than 12 knots, so safety isn't the issue...

Also you raise a very good point, people may not be able to legally get from a to b ahead of the tide anymore (in theory at least)?

As for the engines...definitely a consideration, the sweet spot on ours tends to work out to about a 13-15 knot cruise, depending on conditions of course.

Haha, well not ready to sell for a tenner just yet, ask me again after the restrictions come in ;-)

 

[teddington_lock]

I suspect that it may stem at least partially from the 'security' aspect of it.

The seat of government is right by the river , if nothing can travel fast then if there should be an attempt by Bin Ladens Boys to drive a boat at speed at it loaded with explosives , or Tower Bridge , or any other landmark by/on the river then they would know sooner and have more time to react ?

 

[No Regrets]

That aside what are businesses such as Thames RIB experiences going to do?

Disappear hopefully.

All they ever seem to do is deliberately harass slow moving cruisers for a laugh.

We are left rolling in their wake, then we get the reflected wake as it bounces off the walls, and then the b@st@rds come back for a second pass.

No sympathy here

 

[CJL]

Sorry the speed limit is crazy.

I am not aware of any accidents caused by speed on the Tideway but I am not stupid enough to assume there are none at all. However the close calls I am aware of relate to the class v passenger vessels, the lifeboats and the police boats causing too much wake affecting smaller boats whilst mooring and such.

How will imposing a speed limit help reduce these instances of unsafe behaviour? It won't ......... not even slightly.

Are these instances acceptable and therefore not worth tackling??

All that will happen is there will be even less leisure MoBos on the tidal Thames which a cynical person could say was the objective if the whole exercise!

Does anybody know if the RYA have been consulted?

CJL

 

[snapper]

As Alan said in an earlier post, the speed limit will be very difficult to police. There aren't enough Harbour launches, the Police do other things, and with no vessel registration, any CCTV cameras won't work. I'm also not aware that there is any speed measuring equipment used by the authorities on the Tidal Thames.

I would be very happy if this speed limits stops the day tripping morons who launch there speedboats at Putney and hare up and down without a clue as to what they are doing.

But for those of us who have a home "port" on the Tidal Thames; we should be exempt.

There is a scheme where a boat can have dispensation, as long as Thames AIS is fitted and the Harbour Master has approved the vessel and master (and there is no reason this should not include private boats).

I have written to the PLA and they have promised to get back to me with details.

 

[vjmehra]

Snapper...whilst you are correct, I am extremely worried that in order to receive dispensation there would be a large cost, that would price out most leisure users :-(

Also, I just wrote to the RYA, so I will let you know their response...

 

[snapper]

Snapper...whilst you are correct, I am extremely worried that in order to receive dispensation there would be a large cost, that would price out most leisure users :-(

Also, I just wrote to the RYA, so I will let you know their response...

I'm very much afraid you may be right. A quick google showed Thames AIS equipment starts at around £3,000. Rather ridiculous to fit to a RIB or small sports cruiser.

 

[teddington_lock]

You can rent it from the PLA.

We regularly have it dropped off at the lock by the PLA in a large yellow briefcase for tugs to pick up on their way down.

I suspect that once it becomes 'law' it will be enforced a little bit more vigorously. Both by the PLA and the Police , it will be justified by 'security' as i mentioned before.

I have heard of a case where a smarty-pants solicitor argued during a speeding case VS the PLA that they had no calibrated equipment , the judge/magistrate asked the PLA chap how long he has been on the river , which was many years , and in his judgement was the boat ttravelling too fast and the judge effectively said 'that's good enough for me' or words to that effect and the case stood.

 

[vjmehra]

Good to know it can be rented, however in reality for leisure boaters it still makes like very awkward as it kills impromptu trips and what if the PLA doesn't have enough units on a nice sunny day?

 

[vjmehra]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...eedboat-firm-wants-to-make-Olympic-waves.html

Good to see someone is optomistic the ban won't come in!