Turn onto the Kennett.....?

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watson1959

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Is it worth the effort to venture from the Thames onto the Kennett?

Akamas has a draught of 0.8m and air draught 2.93m

Just thought it may be some fun to give it a try....but weighing it up vs possible risks?

Cheers

Simon
 
Yes you should give it a go, it will frighten the life out of you going through Reading, just like driving through!

Just after Blakes lock is the Bel & Dragon where you can get a pretty good meal, or could a couple of years ago, at least.

Not sure how much further you will get with you air draught though as I don't have details to hand.
 
You'll need a BW licence to go beyond the traffic lights. Lots of NBs and BBs around - quite scary.

The best parts are beyond Newbury - several days away....
 
Kennett...

Brayman said:
Yes you should give it a go, it will frighten the life out of you going through Reading, just like driving through!

Just after Blakes lock is the Bel & Dragon where you can get a pretty good meal, or could a couple of years ago, at least.

Not sure how much further you will get with you air draught though as I don't have details to hand.
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Appreciate the feedback....B&D is still reputed to be a decent bite. I've just found info on the Kings Road & Queens Road bridges and it sounds like its 'rather close' and possibly dependent on the weight onboard to assure safe passage!....

Frighten why? Is it just tight or do we also need to avoid shopping trollies falling from above?
 
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Kennett

mlines said:
Its really shallow on the approaches to Blakes Lock if you venture off line (ie. if a narrowboat comes the other way.

As you know, I have a shallow draft boat and we got very nervous.
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Bl**dy hell! I think that probably answers my question, Martin. LOL

If YOU were nervous about the depth....I imagine it would cure any severity of constipation I might have :-)
 
We are moored at Burghfield island by the Cunning man pub so are up and down the section loads to get out on the Thames ,the bridge after the traffic lights is on a bit of a bend and challenging if there is flow second bridge height at end of Oracle clearance ain't great and the storm drains by that bridge are well scary if there has been a downpour .
The people waving from the footbridge in the Oracle is kinda cool and you can turn round just below county weir/lock but will then have to wait for the time delay on the traffic lights to go by ,if you carry on beware of the local yoofs at Fobney lock as they can be a handful.
Coming upstream towards Blakes there is the odd shopping trolley on the right and yes i does get a bit shallow ,We passed a cruiser [birchwood/Freeman type size ] going upstream as we came down from Newbury last weekend at Burghfield lock who had come out of T&K so can be done....give it a go Steve.
 
Kennett

sturmvogel190a said:
We are moored at Burghfield island by the Cunning man pub so are up and down the section loads to get out on the Thames ,the bridge after the traffic lights is on a bit of a bend and challenging if there is flow second bridge height at end of Oracle clearance ain't great and the storm drains by that bridge are well scary if there has been a downpour .
The people waving from the footbridge in the Oracle is kinda cool and you can turn round just below county weir/lock but will then have to wait for the time delay on the traffic lights to go by ,if you carry on beware of the local yoofs at Fobney lock as they can be a handful.
Coming upstream towards Blakes there is the odd shopping trolley on the right and yes i does get a bit shallow ,We passed a cruiser [birchwood/Freeman type size ] going upstream as we came down from Newbury last weekend at Burghfield lock who had come out of T&K so can be done....give it a go Steve.
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Um...I...err.....am glad I asked the question rather than just charging ahead. May wait until my skill levels are somewhat higher.:D

cheers
 
Brayman said:
Yes you should give it a go, it will frighten the life out of you going through Reading, just like driving through!
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Yes, we heard rumours of an old boy in a Blazer who used to get tanked up on local Ale, and wander down the towpath singing Sea Shanties until his Wife retrieved him in the early hours. :eek:

Funnily enough, he closely matches the description of the bloke they regularly found semi-concious on the pontoons at T&K! :o

You don't get that down at Bray... :D
 
Bel and Dragon is my limit in a plastic boat. We always have had a good meal on various visits and the moorings have power which is provided by Reading Council I believe.
 
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