WASH!!!!!

[rosssavage]

Disappointingly, I'm going to whinge. For the first time. Ever.

The river is on red boards. This means it is flowing. Fast. This means going upstream is going to be slow.

It has become apparent that, increasingly, boats are not keeping to the speed limit in the Boveney to Bray reach and generally, although slightly annoying for a riverbank resident, it's not the end of the world. However, despite being advised not to navigate in these conditions, skippers are continuing to use the river (ok, your call, it's your boat).

PLEASE accept that this means your journey upstream is going to be painfully slow, this is NOT an excuse to go steaming up river destroying the speed limit and attempting the water speed record.

Yesterday, I had eight on my boat celebrating my mothers 69th birthday. We did not leave the moorings as we had planned due to the river conditions, so we had to endure the daft and frankly selfish antics of those going upstream in MoBo's. The NB's created no problems.

At one point yesterday afternoon three boats came along together, headed by a 90's Broom 37(?) and swamped my bathing platform - in 6 years here the wash hasn't been bad enough to actually bury the platform as it was yesterday, and the poor Broom 30 behind me really took a beating.

Yes, I appreciate that being on a riverbank mooring I have to live with wash (and noisy early morning rowing antics) but it is becoming a joke. I have phoned Boveney lock this morning to ask them to remind people about the conditions, speed limit and wash.

I'm not going to threaten users with the videoing and reporting stick yet, but please, please accept that if you choose to navigate in these conditions the speed limit and wash rules STILL APPLY!! You WILL take all day to get anywhere, but that is the nature of the beast.

Rant over

 

[SnowCat]

Some people are really inconsiderate or just plain ignorant!

No doubt, they have their reasons for messing about on red boards, but they could at least be mindful of other people on the river.

I assume if they were travelling upstream that they were also on the wrong side of the river too.

 

[heron]

We have exactly the same problem near us, I actually had my 14' launch swamped by the wash of a 37' + boat leaving her on the verge of sinking !
We also get the trip boats from reading towards Beale park creating lots of wash exceeding the limit. I did video a few boats last year but didn`t do anything more with it, however it does seem to be the same boats.

 

[Brayman]

We have exactly the same problem near us, I actually had my 14' launch swamped by the wash of a 37' + boat leaving her on the verge of sinking !
We also get the trip boats from reading towards Beale park creating lots of wash exceeding the limit. I did video a few boats last year but didn`t do anything more with it, however it does seem to be the same boats.

Can I suggest sending the videos to the TMBA who will follow it up with the EA.

 

[Relax.A]

I too saw the same three boats and nearly started my usual shouting and waving .
But maybe wrongly let it go. By the way above tedington the speed limit changes to speed over ground not through the water so technically not speeding but creating much to much wash

 

[boatone]

Can I suggest sending the videos to the TMBA who will follow it up with the EA.

The TMBA really would appreciate receiving substantiated information about issues like this and there is a Reporting Procedure on our website HERE
There are many instances both on this forum and elsewhere, where people let off steam (whinge ! ) about problems but very rarely do they provide us, or the EA, with detailed information that will assist in following up effectively with the EA. Some here are well aware that we have followed up quite forcefully when given enough information to be able to do so. We do not reveal informants identities without their consent.

As someone else has said, the 8km/hr speed limit is 'over the ground', but not creating excessive wash is also a requirement in its own right.

 

[No Regrets]

I too saw the same three boats and nearly started my usual shouting and waving .
But maybe wrongly let it go. By the way above tedington the speed limit changes to speed over ground not through the water so technically not speeding but creating much to much wash

Boaters have to stick to the lesser in either case

We went past Ross the other week at a fair speed, on the right side, and I was checking for wash, which was within fair and reasonable limits, despite the above average flow.

I can only assume these guys were waaay over!!

 

[apollo]

As someone else has said, the 8km/hr speed limit is 'over the ground', but not creating excessive wash is also a requirement in its own right.

..This yet again goes to show how the "over the ground" was a badly implemented byelaw by the EA in the past admittedly the ATYC and many clubs did try to make this point over and over.

Apart from the point that hardly any boat owners actually know how to measure it, there are other parts to it eg going downstream one would have to be in "reverse" to be legal.

The whole thing needs consigning to the Elsan Disposal and common sense to return in the form of a new byelaw.

Even just measure of knots is flawed as some craft make very little wash and some make lots.

The most logical measure should be wave height, thats what damages banks and causes personal injury.

EA could take a stick along to measure waves hitting the bank.

If you are making wash with more than a certain waveheight (even lengthy waves like the coaching boats make) then you is speeding.

 

[Wavey]

Excessive wash is one of my pet hates. Are these people incapable of looking over their shoulder to see the trail of destruction they're leaving behind them.

Yesterday the weather was great, but I still cancelled a trip out with friends due to the reds on the river and the fact that I as boat owner/skipper am responsible for the non-boaty people I'd have on board. Reds as far as I'm concerned mean you don't go out unless you have a very good reason why you need to be somewhere.

I'm also dismayed that time and again it seems to be Broom owners that are the culprits. I would have thought better of them.

Anyone speeding or creating excessive wash should be hailed and asked to slow down, and if they don't or it's not possible to hail them, report them.

 

[shades]

Those three boats are now well on their way back to UTMYC, the Broom was in fact a Monarch.
On their way back from the celebrations in London apparently.

 

[rosssavage]

The TMBA really would appreciate receiving substantiated information about issues like this and there is a Reporting Procedure on our website HERE
There are many instances both on this forum and elsewhere, where people let off steam (whinge ! ) about problems but very rarely do they provide us, or the EA, with detailed information that will assist in following up effectively with the EA. Some here are well aware that we have followed up quite forcefully when given enough information to be able to do so. We do not reveal informants identities without their consent.

As someone else has said, the 8km/hr speed limit is 'over the ground', but not creating excessive wash is also a requirement in its own right.

Done!

 

[rr_123]

Post deleted because of too many comments from morons who weren't there

 

[Ramage]

Well it cannot be UTMYC... that boat clearly has its fenders down....

 

[apollo]

 

[thames cruiser]

ROFL! Nice one, Paul.

Funny thing is, offending skipper will probably be downloading above picture and framing it with pride - it's actually a rather good photo!

PS: Before anyone misinterprets my comments - I'm most definitely NOT condone the wash (those are indeed rather big 'waves' )

 

[watson1959]

wish my bl***dy boat could do that!

Not on the Thames of course

 

[CX54WEK]

I think I saw the same three down at St Aines-upon-Ditch

I grabbed a quick photo of the last boat which was vitually planing although it doesn't show up well.

What does show is the "sea state" left by its two predecessors who were by now several hundred metres upstream:-

The wave height on my neighbour's campshedding was around 2' base to apex

Oh yes. That really looks like it is "virtually planing".........

(It does make me wonder sometime whether some people have actually seen a boat on the plane and do they know what planing really is )

 

[oldgit]

"I'm also dismayed that time and again it seems to be Broom owners that are the culprits. I would have thought better of them."



Having a boat with a Broom 37 hull can confirm that its wash is basically that of a brick being pushed through water.Mine does tend to create suprisinly large amounts of wash at fairly low speeds(vast amounts at higher).At other than displacement speeds it is a bit of an anti social boat and can be cringe making when lookng behind.
When cruising in company with other boats the difference is easy to see.
Can well understand how the owners of Brooms get a reputation for being a bit of a nusiance(proper Brooms not itty bitty little ones )
As for that Sealine it may be going it a bit but it certainly is not on the plane or anywhere near it,the bow would be at 45 degrees and virtually impossible to see anything in front of you.

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

I had an episode of poor judgement yesterday. Our boat needed a pump out .

Son and I took the boat out of Windsor marina to just pop the boat on the front to pump out. After three failed attempts at mooring, we went back into the marina.

Going downstream at a speedy rate the stern was swept round at the slightest attempt to turn. Going up stream we had to put on a lot of power just to move forward and steering was difficult getting back into the marina.

I have to say it scared the watsits out of us and we won't be doing that again ever!

Now our choice was naive newbie recklessness bought on by the thought of some poor chap having to look at our loo with our waste in it.

Why anyone would choose to go out in that I have no idea. Especially seeing all the lumps of wood floating downstream.

 

[rr_123]

Oh yes. That really looks

like it is "virtually planing".........

(It does make me wonder sometime whether some people have actually seen a boat on the plane and do they know what planing really is )

I usually like you, please don't out youself as a cretin just because you empathise with the faster mobos.

I did say that the photo doesn't show the situation well, also that the sports cruiser wasn't the worst offender, but it was doing about 12 knots through the water, I would guess it should get over the hump at about 15-18?