Tidal Thames (PLA)

[GlubGlub]

Hi everyone

I am a complete newbie here (only signed up today) and am fairly new to boating.

I am unsure of how to get licensed on the tidal Thames. My boat, which is an 18 ft cabin cruiser of uncertain make, is currently on hard standing in a boatyard in Essex on the River Crouch. I plan to bring her down on water if possible but failing that bring her in overland as an online chart shows a rather dubious looking sandy bit :-( The idea is to moor her somewhere within spitting distance of Greenwich up to Docklands as it is within easy reach of my home.

I have had a fair look at the PLA website but cannot seem to get info regarding the licencing of private, non-residential craft. Can anyone out there assist me with this?

Just as an aside, I am in the process of replacing the 60hp engine that it came with (it's knackered) with a more modest 28hp Yamaha as I intend to use the canals that lead off the Thames and a smaller engine would be more appropriate to the speed limits.

All help is greatly appreciated.

Regards
Glub

 

[TrueBlue]

You don't need a licence for the tidal Thames.
BUT you do for the canals (and the non tidal Thames), not only a licence but a BSS (Boat Safety Scheme) certificate.

The canals in general are more suited to heavier duty vessels - narrow and wide beam steel boats. Small cruisers tend to get a bit bashed about in locks.
There is also a fair amount of debris in the canals - shopping trolleys and the like which can do awful things to an outboard motor.

Having put a damper on that there are some cruisers on the lower end of the Grand Union canal and the river Lea.

 

[vandy]

The sandy bit possibly is showing the low tide.

From where your boat currently is located, to near Greenwich, you must watch the tide very well.

Also, if you don't have that much boating experience, I suggest you take someone who knows what he is doing in case something goes wrong as cruising in that area means being next to a massive tanker or cargo ships.

An 18ft boat is a bit small for that journey IMHO, eventhough possible.

 

[GlubGlub]

You don't need a licence for the tidal Thames.
BUT you do for the canals (and the non tidal Thames), not only a licence but a BSS (Boat Safety Scheme) certificate.

The canals in general are more suited to heavier duty vessels - narrow and wide beam steel boats. Small cruisers tend to get a bit bashed about in locks.
There is also a fair amount of debris in the canals - shopping trolleys and the like which can do awful things to an outboard motor.

Having put a damper on that there are some cruisers on the lower end of the Grand Union canal and the river Lea.

Appreciate the advice. I was going to get one of the day ticket type licences for when I leave the tidal Thames.

Love the username, that's what my little boat's called

 

[Portland Billy]

river Lea

I would recommend you steer clear of the tidal section you mentioned - especially with a small outboard powered boat.
I would go for a mooring on the river Lea, which gives you a comfortable non-tidal cruise until you gain confidence.

 

[GlubGlub]

There is a marina at Gallions Point where I plan to moor the boat. It's not far from where I live so I can spend more time aboard. Here's my boat

 

[TrueBlue]

There is a marina at Gallions Point where I plan to moor the boat. It's not far from where I live so I can spend more time aboard. Here's my boat

That doesn't look like a 60 HP to me. More like a 6Hp.
Could be wrong. If not then a 28Hp is going to be overkill for a little boat.

More importantly a large engine would overload the transom and your bow will stick up in the air. 6HP on the Lea or canals would be quite enough, perhaps 10Hp for the non tidal bit.

 

[Ramage]

Yep, best engine for that boat on canals etc would be a Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust.

 

[GlubGlub]

That's the old 60hp Johnson which came with the boat. As it was knackered I have since sold it. I was thinking of a 9.9hp but wanted something with a bit more oomph for the tidal part of the Thames. The previous owner of my 28hp used to use on canals. I also want to spend some time on the Medway and the Wye as well.

 

[MoodySabre]

That would be a straightforward trip on a calm day. In a yacht planning at 5knots you'd leave Essex Marina on the falling tide so as to get to the Whitaker near LW. Then take the tide down the East Swin/West Swin and get to Queenborough (just inside the Medway) for a stop. That would be about 35 nm. Next day leave Q'boro an hour before LW and catch the tide up the Thames for the final 30nm. If you can maintain 10knots then you'd get from the Whitaker to Gallions on one tide. It does get choppy in the Thames so a calm day for a small mobo.

You would need charts and a GPS (as well as saftety stuff of course) and know how to use them.

This is a trip for longer days than at present. If you want to do it now then borrow a trailer and tow it.

 

[No Regrets]

Thats a Fairline 19.

Canal wise, the 9.9 would be more than enough.

Tidal? Be cautious and use the tides. Makes sure your bitter end is well connected!

 

[oldgit]

Sorry but Nope ! IMHO.

From what I can see,we will have a unknown boat with a unknown engine with a skipper whoes skills are unknown,about to to do a trip of considerable endurance
on bit of water that can challange even the most experienced of us but which is totally unknown to him......................a no brainer .....it goes on the trailer.
The Medway is an ideal place to hone your boat skills,far less commercial traffic less fierce currents and lots of sheltered shallow creeks to play in and nearbye banks galore to drift into when things breakdown.

 

[TrueBlue]

From what I can see,we will have a unknown boat with a unknown engine with a skipper whoes skills are unknown,about to to do a trip of considerable endurance
on bit of water that can challange even the most experienced of us but which is totally unknown to him......................a no brainer .....it goes on the trailer.
The Medway is an ideal place to hone your boat skills,far less commercial traffic less fierce currents and lots of sheltered shallow creeks to play in and nearbye banks galore to drift into when things breakdown.

Well said O.G. I don't think peeps realise that big rivers and open sea have their own dangers that need addressing. From the shore looking out at boats pottering about it all looks so easy and magical.

As GG is based to the south of the River, the Medway seems to be an excellent initial choice. I refrained from making a comment earlier as it is not an area that I have cruised, nor likely to as it needs planning (!) to get there.

Worth pointing out that a mooring in Medway waters might be cheaper than Gallions and a Medway licence cheaper than BW.
Similarly the fuel needed to move the boat in the first place might well cost more than hiring a trailer and towing vehicle for the day.

Perhaps GG might care to look at your frequent threads containing those excellent pictures of your home waters. Indeed he may even become hooked.

 

[oldgit]

It never fails to amaze me as we tootle along the Rochester to Gravesend road in my car just how insignificant and narrow the Thames appears when looking down on it from 2 or 3 miles away and not a sign of those wind against tide crests.

Just a few weeks later when rounding the Swatchway and bouncing up Sea Reach my boat just aint BIG enough ......and only two long long hours to go before Gravesend

 

[GlubGlub]

Thanks for all the replies. I did think about shifting the boat myself but after a bit of research decided not to do it on my own. The hours that I work would mean that to do it that way would be tantamount to suicide. I have a healthy allergy to drowning

Trailer transport is an option I am looking at, found Shiply to be quite useful in that respect as they operate in the same way Ebay does and I have had some quite reasonable quotes. Also it will give me time to do her up a little over the winter months. It's just too much of a pain to mess about where she is moored at the present, since I am not in the mood to do a lot after a 13 hour night shift.

As far as mooring goes the reason why I had a look at Gallions was that it worked out at about £25 per week and was easily accessible from both home and work as I live in Lewisham and work in the City.

Experience wise I have only had a little bit many moons ago (too many :-( ) and having spotted smallish boats bouncing along the river when I walk across London Bridge I am aware how the water can be there

 

[oldgit]

Just a quickie ,but from memory,the bigger docks such as West India are very reluctant to open unless filled with boats and then only very near high water for short window.
Is Gallions the same ?
What about South Dock ?

 

[GlubGlub]

According to their website Gallions will open their lock quite a few hours either side of high water, but there may be times when a bit of hanging about is required. Not sure about South Dock, which is quite close to me. Have heard some stories about vandalism there but not been able to get confirmation of that as yet. Been a busy few weeks work wise and going to be even worse until Xmas is out of the way :-(

 

[alruss]

Small boat on tidal Thames

Hi, there is a Fairline 19 at our club, moored on the tidal Thames. The club is the Hurlingham Yacht Club, it is a motorboat club mostly, we tolerate sail, row boats, kyacks and even a stand up boarder (google it). You are welcome to join us as a guest any Thursday evening. You will at least gain information about keeping a small boat on the tidal Thames. P M me, I can meet you or arrang access for you. Alan

 

[oldgit]

According to their website Gallions will open their lock quite a few hours either side of high water, but there may be times when a bit of hanging about is required. Not sure about South Dock, which is quite close to me. Have heard some stories about vandalism there but not been able to get confirmation of that as yet. Been a busy few weeks work wise and going to be even worse until Xmas is out of the way :-(

Have stayed in South dock a couple of times,no obvious problems at all.In addition there are a few liveaboards there,which adds to security no end .

 

[GlubGlub]

Hi, there is a Fairline 19 at our club, moored on the tidal Thames. The club is the Hurlingham Yacht Club, it is a motorboat club mostly, we tolerate sail, row boats, kyacks and even a stand up boarder (google it). You are welcome to join us as a guest any Thursday evening. You will at least gain information about keeping a small boat on the tidal Thames. P M me, I can meet you or arrang access for you. Alan

Alan

Thanks for that, I will look into this after the hols are over and done with, must be a closet Grinch as this is my least favourite time of year