Venturing Onto The Tidal Thames

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GAJ52

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Hi

I am still very new to boating and have spent the last few months on the non-tidal Thames.

Can anyone tell me what I need to use my boat (37ft Birchwood) on the tidal Thames, I have completed an Inland Waterways Helmsman Course last year but feel this would not be sufficient knowledge for the tidal Thames and Estuary, also what on-board equipment would I need ?

Thanks, Glen
 
Gosh thats a question with a very big answer more than I am prepared to type, how about doing a Day Skipper theory course over the winter that would be a good starting point to understanding the requirements.

Oh and a VHF users course :encouragement:
 
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GAJ52 said:
Hi

I am still very new to boating and have spent the last few months on the non-tidal Thames.

Can anyone tell me what I need to use my boat (37ft Birchwood) on the tidal Thames, I have completed an Inland Waterways Helmsman Course last year but feel this would not be sufficient knowledge for the tidal Thames and Estuary, also what on-board equipment would I need ?

Thanks, Glen
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Glen. There are several good books out there which will give you the info on the tidal section. It depends on how far you intend going. If it's just at Kats then get the tide right and watch bridge heights and especially bridge lights and the commercial boats take no prisoners but if you stay out of their path you won't have any problems. Day skipper is primarily coastal but will also help you understand tide patterns and help if you go down to the estuary but that has challenges of its own down that far.
Cruising in company is not just about navigation, if in the highly unlikely event you have a catastrophic problem with your own boat it's nice having something close you can step on to instead of going in the drink! :-). And of course if you run out of gin someone in the group is bound to have some :-). Quite a few of the clubs have tidal taster trips for you to gain your confidence. Treat it with respect and you'll be absolutely fine.
 
first on equipment list----good anchor----ready to use----i was stopped 3 times between houses of parliament and tower bridge by fertiliser type plastic bags round the prop (15 hp outboard)----that part of the thames is full of wood and rubbish----on the plus side i picked up 3 life belts and a large polyform bouy----good luck lenten
 
Many thanks for the info.

Boatingonthethames.co.uk had some good information and videos, looks like I will have to get myself a hand held radio. The draft on my boat is about 1.10 mtr, will this cause a problem at low tide or is there still plenty of depth towards the middle of the river ?
 
GAJ52 said:
Hi

I am still very new to boating and have spent the last few months on the non-tidal Thames.

Can anyone tell me what I need to use my boat (37ft Birchwood) on the tidal Thames, I have completed an Inland Waterways Helmsman Course last year but feel this would not be sufficient knowledge for the tidal Thames and Estuary, also what on-board equipment would I need

Thanks, Glen
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Confidence...... plus bit of planning.:)
Boat is perfectly capable of doing that trip if few basic precautions have been taken.
My first concern would be that the fuel system is cleaner than a operating theatre :).
Tank(s) as clean as whistle.
Years of gentle cruising on the river could have allowed a thick layer of gunge to form on the fuel tank bottom.
The trip below the lock will probably be a bit bumpy esp in the city centre.
The movement of the boat will cause all the muck to stir up, blocking the diesel filters, working down below in a hot smelly bumpy environment,desperately trying to change stinky filters and then to bleed entire system is not to be recommended.
Would definitely suggest you join a club or go in company with somebody who has done the trip before.
Travelling in company can transform a nightmare stressfest into an wonderful enjoyable experience .
If you intend going further downstream than The London Marinas to the esturary just ask !
Good Luck.
 
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Very good point about the fuel, I hadn't thought of that one, I don't think my boat has seen rough water for a very long time. Trouble is my tanks are full, is there any company that could drain the tanks, clean them, then refill with the original diesel or do I need to wait until I have used all the fuel ?
 
GAJ52 said:
Very good point about the fuel, I hadn't thought of that one, I don't think my boat has seen rough water for a very long time. Trouble is my tanks are full, is there any company that could drain the tanks, clean them, then refill with the original diesel or do I need to wait until I have used all the fuel ?
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Get somebody in or......DIY ?
Can you gain access to the bottom of the tanks ?.Unlike the horrid design nasties calling themselves boats today (Hello Se****), your boat is old enuff to maybe have hatches which may reveal an inspection plate in the top of fuel tank or at worst a blanked off pipe union big enough to get a pipe into the bottom of your tank,
You can probably suck out just the bottom few inches of fuel.
This will contain the vast majority of rust/sediment/diesel pond life in the tank.
Pump whatever you are prepared to take out) into 25 litre plastic drums (preferably clear),until ( clearish) sparkly red diesel appears.
Let the lot stand to settle for a few days . Put back in anything that you consider clean via a filter
Have a drum in my garage which has not cleared after 6 months, it will not be reused and will end up in my workshop heater.
You may wish at this point to add one of the outrageously over priced snake oil diesel additive potions, personally think they are a waste of money, just use your boat more.
 
Hi you will be fine.
Make sure anchor is ready to put into action in the unlikely event you have a problem.
Work with the tides. Going against them in central London is tough going.
Depth should be fine apart from Richmond to Brentford. Make sure you don't go at Spring low tide when there is a black flag warning. Otherwise you ate fine. The lock keeper will not let you through so no need to worry. Best to go at high tide from Richmond as no need to go through lock.
Hermitage mooring at Tower Bridge is a good mooring phone in advance. Also Imperial Wharf and Chisiwck. Good luck.
 
It is bouncy at Hermitage moorings, but they have spare fenders, and if you take some extra of your own you can protect your boat. I would not recommend sleeping on the mooring but it is a good spot to get off and visit Tower Bridge, the Southbank etc and far more convenient than St Kats
 
It's good that you are asking these questions but reading some of them I would strongly suggest you try and get a mate who has been out on the tideway to go with you on your first trip.

The Inland Waterway Course isn't really aimed at what your proposing and a bit more information and support from a friend would change your experience from a nerve wracking endurance to a pleasant potter! We regularly take Advance Powerboaters on the Thames and they just don't appreciate what's in store for them.

Another alternative could be a cruise in company.

CJL
 
Thallac said:
It is bouncy at Hermitage moorings, but they have spare fenders, and if you take some extra of your own you can protect your boat. I would not recommend sleeping on the mooring but it is a good spot to get off and visit Tower Bridge, the Southbank etc and far more convenient than St Kats
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Having actually stopped at Hermitage Moorings would personally not advise anybody not in possession of at least 50 tonne barge or small coaster to moor there.
The amount of wash generated by passing traffic will cause damage to any normal leisure craft and no amount of fenders or ropes will stop your boat leaping about especially at HW,even being on the inside of the outer tier is not sheltered.
The shoreside pontoons ground at LW and if anything goes past as you are about to take the ground God help your stern gear.
Nice and very helpful people there but NOT the place for your average gin palace. :)
 
GAJ52 said:
Very good point about the fuel, I hadn't thought of that one, I don't think my boat has seen rough water for a very long time. Trouble is my tanks are full, is there any company that could drain the tanks, clean them, then refill with the original diesel or do I need to wait until I have used all the fuel ?
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Oldgit is absolutely right about the fuel, use a fuel biocide to kill bugs. When did you last change fuel filters and what were they like? I also have cruised the tidal Thames many times it can be an inhospitable place, so choose your weather window carefully, many much larger boats have sunk in the Thames Estuary! I cruised far and wide in my Birchwood 37, France, Belgium, Holland and the Channel isles, it's a good capable boat.
On the equipment side apart from all the usual safety gear, you should have a good depth gauge, compass, sat nav, chart and know how to use it. Tide table, (run with the tide.)
I would start by just going to St Kats, the lock there is an experience all by itself! If that trip gives you the confidence then plan a longer one, say to the Medway perhaps? Oldgits stomping ground! But yes try and cruise in company for your first time or go with an experienced skipper you know is good. A lot of people make a big deal of going into the estuary but nine times out of ten it's fine, but then you can get a horrible trip! The worst trip I ever experienced was in the estuary 40 knot wind over tide and just before turning up the Medway I really thought I was done for! Far worse than anything I have had at sea! Very short sharp high waves, knocks the hell out of crew and boat!

good luck and if you want to know anything else PM me,

Barry
 
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