Tidal Thames Motor Boat

[briansharp]

Hi
have aquired a 20ft motor cruiser equipped with a 15hp Evinrude 2 stroke outbaord with remotes/electric starting. Am looking to moore at Thurrock Yaucht Club in Essex with a view to trips up to London and jaunts down to Southend/Shoeburyness. Am I being a bit ambitious with my present set up or should I get a larger motor. The boat has a semi displacement hull and am told it will make 10 to 12 knots with the existing motor. I have a 4hp seagull for backup. Any views would be appreciated
Thanks Brian /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[mirabriani]

Thurrock are a good bunch, there always seems to be some one present ready for a chat and give advice.
I suggest you listen to them. There are potential problems in the area,
such as inclement weather, strong tides and significant other traffic.
A friend of mine bought a Trapper from "Mike" (I think it was, working on a steel boat next to the clubhouse)
Wish them good luck with the Selway Fisher design (rolled over on it's maiden voyage)

Enjoy it

Briani

 

[omega2]

Use the tides and you will be ok, but watch the weather forecast's, anything more than a 3, against the tide forget it.

 

[deborahann]

from my experience, you do have to watch the authorities sending down loads of additional water in the winter without any warning, certainly in Nov/Dec a couple of years ago the non tidal Thames became a raging torrent, it was very alarming.

 

[briansharp]

Thanks Briani for your comments, I will be taking it very steady in fair weather until I know what I`m doing and will send your regards to TYC if and when the let join.

Regards

Brian

 

[briansharp]

Thanks for comments, shall head your advice abd take it steady until I get the knowledge.

 

[briansharp]

Thanks for info but I dont think I`ll be out in the winter months, I`m a bit of a fair weather boater,biker,hiker,decorator, well just about everything really.
Thanks

 

[oldgit]

Hi GBM.As one member has already mentioned get plenty of advice from the folks at your proposed new location.On a well choosen nice day with a settled forecast then a local day out should be safe and fun.On less calm days and perhaps with strong tides to overcome and a bit of wind one could possibly suggest that your boat is a tad underpowered to meet estuary conditions especially for anysort of long journey.

 

[briansharp]

hallo Oldgit (is it Ok to call you that???)
Thanks for comments. As a virtual novice would there be any mileage in getting a larger outboard or is it a question of boatmanship and experience. I will obviously start on short runs on good days and build up to more adventurous trips but would a larger motor be of any practical use i.e. getting out of trouble, running against tides etc. (I am now relating boat motor size with car engine experience where in the wrong hands a large engined car can be unforgiving to an inexperienced driver. Any comments would be gratefully received.

 

[Medskipper]

Hi Brian,

I'm based on the Medway, so I know this part of the Thames very well, in fact Many years ago I moored my boat at Gallions Marina.

I have to say this part of the Thames can be a very dangerous place at times! Large tankers and commercial vessels can make it very uncomfortable for a small vessel such as yours putting up a wall of water! Then there is the huge amount of rubbish that can take off your prop or make life very difficult! I agree with advice already offered and would add that I would not take your boat as far as Sea Reach and Southend. The waters here can be very rough on a small vessel and the weather can turn very quickly indeed. You may start out in very nice weather but it can soon turn very nasty and with the lack of speed you are able to make there are very few places for you to take cover in. I remember well ten years ago I had a substantial 30 foot vessel with twin diesels of about 106 h.p. and I was caught out in sea reach in a very nasty wind over tide situation. I can tell you all on board were very pleased to reach the safety of Queenborough that day!

Take great care

Best of luck Barry

 

[briansharp]

Thanks Barry

Will head your warnings and have a re-think.

 

[oldgit]

Hi again.Wonder what sort of boat that outboard will be attached to?.If sort of Orkney fisher type with small cuddy then maybe just adequate,but if more substantial sort of 4 squeezed berth upriver cruiser type with bog and galley,then prob not big enough at all.If all flat calm then anything will do but it rarely ever is.How many folks would normally be aboard.
Just a ferrinstance but that bit of the nice enclosed civilised Thames that runs past Westminster was no fun at all in my 33ft 6 ton boat due to wind tide and tourist cruise boats last summer.