Tidal Thames Draw-Off

[normskib]

Tidal Thames Draw Off Starts on the 27th of October until the 17th of November
Metal detectors at the ready.

 

[Leighb]

Perhaps a stupid question, but how do they lower the level of the Tidal Thames? King Canute supposedly tried, albeit at Bosham in Chichester harbour, but failed!
I can see how they could raise it by closing the barrier and levels above would rise, but to lower it???

 

[Steve Grubb]

https://www.pla.co.uk/assets/m50of2019-richmondlockweirdrawoff2019.pdf

They just stop using the weir at Richmond to hold the water level up between Teddington and Richmond.

 

[Leighb]

So it’s Half Tidal Thames draw down?

 

[Outinthedinghy]

The part of the tideway below Richmond half lock is always fully tidal. The part above is partly tidal where the barrier in the bridge is lowered about 2h before high tide and raised about 2h after high tide.

It's worth knowing about the draw-off as it makes timing from Teddington more complicated depending on where you are going.

I have sometimes used the slack above Richmond to come down from Teddington then punch the tide once the barrier opens to get my barge into Brentford.

With the draw off taking place ie the barrier remaining open at all times this arrangement will not work and I would have to go with the tide thereby limiting the timing options.

 

[Scholar Gypsy]

Well worth exploring on foot. Here are some photos from two years ago that might tempt you..

https://scholargypsy.org.uk/2017/11/18/what-happens-if-you-leave-the-paddles-open/

 

[Newbroom]

Great Photos

 

[Alan ashore]

I haven't seen the river further downstream, but here just below Teddington, it hasn't been much of a draw off this year, with the high(ish) river flow. I needn't have moved my boat in fact.

Any reports from Richmond? Have they actually been able to do any work? Sometimes they extend the draw-off when thius happens - I have heard/seen nothing yet however.

Cheers, Alan

 

[Scholar Gypsy]

I haven't seen the river further downstream, but here just below Teddington, it hasn't been much of a draw off this year, with the high(ish) river flow. I needn't have moved my boat in fact.

Any reports from Richmond? Have they actually been able to do any work? Sometimes they extend the draw-off when thius happens - I have heard/seen nothing yet however.

Cheers, Alan

I went through Richmond on Tuesday. No photos as it was raining I am afraid, but they did seem to be working on the lock. I had always assumed that the works on the weir are on the motors and gears etc, ie the stuff on the top walkway, and they don't do much underwater?

We left Teddington rather earlier than usual, nearly 3 hours before predicted HW, in order to be sure of getting to Limehouse in daylight. I had been concerned about punching the tide, and being a bit short of water for the first section, but as you say we need not have worried - the current was beating the tide all the way to Kew, then we punched the tide for about an hour to Putney, and then the ebb took hold. We were 40 mins of schedule at Battersea, which meant we could stop and wait for some inbound traffic at Vauxhall. No rowers in sight at all!

Some slightly gloomy (weather not the people) photos here.

https://scholargypsy.org.uk/2019/11/12/tideway-trip-from-teddington-to-limehouse/

 

[ianc1200]

Thanks for that set of photographs!

 

[david_bagshaw]

Well worth exploring on foot. Here are some photos from two years ago that might tempt you..

What happens if you leave the paddles open

A great set of pics. Dad moored out first cruiser here at Toughs Boatyard 1969, 70. brought back great memories.