Trip to Bristol

[galeus]

I'm planning a trip to the Bristol channel for this summer, so any tips or advice will be gratefully received.
We are based in Ipswich and have been up the Thames as far as Oxford, but this year we want to venture off at Reading on the K & A canal.
I have looked on line and it looks like we should just about be OK for air draft about 7'3'' and beam 9'0".
We don't have a BSC because it is not required where we moor and I have checked with the Nav. Authority (I think it was EA) and they told me for a 'transit' I would not require one, which will save some expense (we have had them previously when we moored elsewhere so I am confident we are safe).
We won't be in a tearing hurry so are happy for the locks experience; 109 I think.
The boat is a Colvic Northerner.
We are planning to be on the canal in early July hopefully missing the start of school holidays.
I realize we will need a short term licence for the non tidal Thames as well.

Cheers Richard

 

[TrueBlue]

You'll be alright on the Thames - but IMHO - not on the K&A.
This latter is very shallow with a lot of rubbish in it to block your propeller(s).
There have bee several posts / threads on here - but with very little feedback (perhaps they didn't survive) to prove me wrong.
Even if you do manage to survive the rubbish, you may have a challenge in getting ashore, but a long gang plank would solve that.

It's the draught and access to a weed hatch that can be the killer, the rest is in your power to circumnavigate...

ps: (As I own a WSOB, I'm not familiar with your craft, thus may be being somewhat conservative....)

 

[Old Crusty]

Best depth you might expect along the centre of the cut is 3' 6" without the underwater debris but it's only a couple of feet by the towpath. And that depends on water levels in summer. Suggest you stay on the Thames and head up towards Lechlade if you can get under Osney bridge on a good day.

 

[Gwylan]

I'm planning a trip to the Bristol channel for this summer, so any tips or advice will be gratefully received.
We are based in Ipswich and have been up the Thames as far as Oxford, but this year we want to venture off at Reading on the K & A canal.
I have looked on line and it looks like we should just about be OK for air draft about 7'3'' and beam 9'0".
We don't have a BSC because it is not required where we moor and I have checked with the Nav. Authority (I think it was EA) and they told me for a 'transit' I would not require one, which will save some expense (we have had them previously when we moored elsewhere so I am confident we are safe).
We won't be in a tearing hurry so are happy for the locks experience; 109 I think.
The boat is a Colvic Northerner.
We are planning to be on the canal in early July hopefully missing the start of school holidays.
I realize we will need a short term licence for the non tidal Thames as well.

Cheers Richard

Ooops, I thought you were a boater and going around the end.
Assume that you are really going to Bristol up the ditches and not the Bristol Channel - there is a world of difference.

Have no construcrive advice to offer and do not understand any of your questions.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Biggest potential problem as mentioned will be prop fouling.

And you would want lots of fenders for the locks or your gel coat will suffer.

I think it will be OK. Get a strong wooden handled boathook for pulling rubbish off the prop.

No bss needed for visitors it is self declaration.

I've done K&A in a narrow boat but not in a splitter.

My boat collection currently includes a 20ft Colvic motorcruiser. I bought it a year ago to the day. I keep it on the Thames. Nice boats are colvics.

 

[AuntyRinum]

Ooops, I thought you were a boater and going around the end.
Assume that you are really going to Bristol up the ditches and not the Bristol Channel - there is a world of difference.

Have no construcrive advice to offer and do not understand any of your questions.

That could be the most pointless trolling post of 2019 so far.
Of course he/she isn't planning to go around the coast, which is why they are posting in The Thames Forum and referring to the K & A.
Thank you for pointing out your lack of constructive advice and understanding, which we have all noted.
To the OP, don't let people like that prevent you from posting here. Most readers of this forum are extremely helpful.
To answer the OPs question; a Colvic Northener with a 2' 7" draft should get down the K & A without a problem.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Its actually a nice boat trip down the K&A. There are some moorings available but due to the fact it is a relatively recently restored waterway the banks in some places are a bit different to a canal which has been continuously open.

Some nature fusiasts got involved and there are places where the edge piling is below the water line with vegetation encouraged in the gap between there and the tow path. I think this was to do with water voles.

I spent the winter of 2001/02 on the K&A when I lived on a narrow boat. Its probably changed a bit since then. I have not been down there in my barge but its tempting !

Do it. Enjoy it but put plenty of fenders around your boat !

 

[galeus]

Thanks for the replies so far
We only draw 2'6" and have done plenty of canals up North, but only twice suffering prop fouling, once requiring a lift to remove a BMX tyre.
Do you think the rubbish in the K&A is worse than other places?
It is our intention to go up the Bristol channel to Gloucester and around that area for a week or two.
Thanks Richard

 

[Old Crusty]

Seems you'll be ok drawing that much. K&A jetsam is no worse than any other canal. Recommend you get a pilot for the trip through the Bristol Channel.

And please go slowly past the crusty liveaboard boats in Bradford on Avon or they'll be getting their hair off again!

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Yes agreed about the residentials. There have been some "issues" around BoA in fact there was an article in a local paper recently but that was related to a local non boater losing his <> with a boat dweller who had presumably caused some sort of nuisance.

Its a local problem but worth creeping past some of the busy areas as there may be people waiting for engine noises to do a quick moan and if you are making a wash or a noticeable bow wave then god help you.

Background

https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/16898007.canal-boater-left-homeless-by-a-group-of-drunken-men/

(The boat was a sinker anyway)


https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/17370808.be-nice-to-boaters-appeal/

Anyway it'll be fine. Just put plenty of fenders on the boat

 

[oldgit]

With the general unpleasantness some folks appear to feel free to voice in the the name of "free speech" etc, it is not suprising that the event mentioned in the first newspaper article happened.
Picking on small isolated sections of society is not confined to individuals, starts at the top, Peter Lilleys "I have little list" springs to mind.
Do have suspicion that the article alledging boat was sunk was by wash was either hearsay or very poor boat mantainance.Even narrowboats have a few inches of freeboard.
The lads would have had to go past umpteen times to get enough water in.
Suspect those named as responsible, just taken from a handy list of the usual suspects on the wall of the newspaper office.

 

[Old Crusty]

With the general unpleasantness some folks appear to feel free to voice in the the name of "free speech" etc, it is not suprising that the event mentioned in the first newspaper article happened.
Picking on small isolated sections of society is not confined to individuals, starts at the top, Peter Lilleys "I have little list" springs to mind.
Do have suspicion that the article alledging boat was sunk was by wash was either hearsay or very poor boat mantainance.Even narrowboats have a few inches of freeboard.
The lads would have had to go past umpteen times to get enough water in.
Suspect those named as responsible, just taken from a handy list of the usual suspects on the wall of the newspaper office.

Two ABC hire NBs from Hilperton Marina, crewed by young men, steamed at max revs down past the moored live aboards below BoA lock, shouting abuse at them and, unsurprisingly, received a similar response which merely spurred them on. Alcohol played a big part in this and it's alleged that they were very intoxicated when they picked up the NBs.

Old George's ancient boat was very low in the water and the turbulence created as the NBs passed caused the water to wash over the gunwhales and it sank.

After many calls to plod and the hire firm, the NB crews were kicked off at Bathampton and left in the pouring rain. The NBs had been trashed. A public meeting followed at the Canal Tavern (don't bother, it's crap and now closed), some 30 folk turned up, and plod/town councillors/boat reps made the usual noises, something must be done, blah blah. Reps from CRT and ABC hire boats failed to attend.

Current position is that George's wreck has been re-floated, he and his belongings are on the towpath, he lives in a tent and refuses any welfare help from Wiltshire Council. A fundraiser netted about £8k for George and whether he appreciates this is unclear given his attitude to most people.

Plod are making daytime patrols along the towpath (in winter?)

Meanwhile, a fund has been set up to help the live aboard boaters and BoA town council have contributed to it which has raised a few eyebrows locally. Residents have been tolerant albeit complaining about the amount of debris left on the towpath by boaters but having some of their council tax support that way of life is stiffening attitudes. Some of them don't abide by the sames rules that most of us play by which tars the rest of them. However, everyone has to live somewhere.

Right now, the live aboards say they are being victimised and persecuted by DEFRA/EA/CRT due to the investigation by a DEFRA team started in 2017 and initiated by complaining riparian MPs on the Thames, into so-called unlawful mooring on the banks. Doubtless this will become yet another displacement exercise rather than a solution finding project. I forsee another legal case with boaters using A.8 of the ECHR as their primary weapon.

Anyway, it's a lovely sunny day, gin clear blue sky, must get boating now.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

The defra group was set up by Dominic Raab in response to complaints about a few untidy multiple occupancy boats in the Molesey area.

Agree about the boating the River is lovely. Nobody else seems to be out so far (Windsor area)