Well, that's that then

[thejonesey]

Well we have now enjoyed two seasons on the Thames after being in Poole and the Solent, both are great but very different!
I miss the feeling of exploration and sense of adventure that the coast brings but do welcome the ease that river boating. Like you Blakfeather, we thought that the river would allow for lots of winter trips but this has not been the case... But then we probably would not have been able to go out at the coast either!
I was frustrated by the lack of available mooring spaces this summer but our boat is on the big side for the river. In all honesty we probably need to be nearer Windsor as the river is deeper and there are greater mooring options.
Two years ago we took the boat to the coast and will do so again this year... That way we get the best of both worlds!

 

[Wavey]

Brayman is bang on!

While you worry there are 'No places to go' surely the same applies to the South Coast!? It's a long and expensive way to most other places, the weather can change your plans, or leave you stranded.

On the Thames, from Windsor, you can be on the coast within two days, or in deepest Oxford in two to three, if you don't mind a full days cruising, and there are loads of lovely places you can moor up, and have a wander, or meet friends.

You really need to be in a club, it all makes good sense, offers a wide range of other people, and many things to do.

I always looked at Coastal boating as being a little bit samey unless you want to buy a lot of Diesel!!

After more than 40 years on the non tidal Thames I need a change from deciding whether to turn left or right out of the marina The Solent gives us loads of new places to visit, we now have the boat to do it comfortably, and the fuel bill isn't really a consideration for me (and I know I'm very fortunate in that respect).

Work for us, whilst providing us with the funds to enjoy a boat like a Broom, has a downside in that getting more than 2 days off at a time is difficult. Using the non tidal Thames as a base for down river cruising just doesn't work. Based on the Solent we're already there. In addition, we work every weekend from Easter to the end of October so there's no point in joining a club as we're never around when club activities are on. The upside is that having days off in the week means cruising anywhere is easier because everyone else is at work. Having experienced mid week cruising on the Thames for over 20 years I wonder how everyone puts up with the hassle of a crowded river and queuing for locks. The river is a much nicer place when you have it all to yourself.

We're going to the Solent to have a blast (and my third childhood) charging around at 20+ knots (second childhood was stupidly quick sports cars) and to do it now while I still can. Five years will probably then see the Broom sold and a return to the Thames (if it's still navigable ) but in something more suitable that can get under Osney Bridge to the upper reaches which is a part of the river SWMBO has never seen.

That's the plan anyway.

 

[Flynnbarr]

After more than 40 years on the non tidal Thames I need a change from deciding whether to turn left or right out of the marina The Solent gives us loads of new places to visit, we now have the boat to do it comfortably, and the fuel bill isn't really a consideration for me (and I know I'm very fortunate in that respect).

Work for us, whilst providing us with the funds to enjoy a boat like a Broom, has a downside in that getting more than 2 days off at a time is difficult. Using the non tidal Thames as a base for down river cruising just doesn't work. Based on the Solent we're already there. In addition, we work every weekend from Easter to the end of October so there's no point in joining a club as we're never around when club activities are on. The upside is that having days off in the week means cruising anywhere is easier because everyone else is at work. Having experienced mid week cruising on the Thames for over 20 years I wonder how everyone puts up with the hassle of a crowded river and queuing for locks. The river is a much nicer place when you have it all to yourself.

We're going to the Solent to have a blast (and my third childhood) charging around at 20+ knots (second childhood was stupidly quick sports cars) and to do it now while I still can. Five years will probably then see the Broom sold and a return to the Thames (if it's still navigable ) but in something more suitable that can get under Osney Bridge to the upper reaches which is a part of the river SWMBO has never seen.

That's the plan anyway.

A ditch crawler perhaps

 

[thejonesey]

After more than 40 years on the non tidal Thames I need a change from deciding whether to turn left or right out of the marina The Solent gives us loads of new places to visit, we now have the boat to do it comfortably, and the fuel bill isn't really a consideration for me (and I know I'm very fortunate in that respect).

Work for us, whilst providing us with the funds to enjoy a boat like a Broom, has a downside in that getting more than 2 days off at a time is difficult. Using the non tidal Thames as a base for down river cruising just doesn't work. Based on the Solent we're already there. In addition, we work every weekend from Easter to the end of October so there's no point in joining a club as we're never around when club activities are on. The upside is that having days off in the week means cruising anywhere is easier because everyone else is at work. Having experienced mid week cruising on the Thames for over 20 years I wonder how everyone puts up with the hassle of a crowded river and queuing for locks. The river is a much nicer place when you have it all to yourself.

We're going to the Solent to have a blast (and my third childhood) charging around at 20+ knots (second childhood was stupidly quick sports cars) and to do it now while I still can. Five years will probably then see the Broom sold and a return to the Thames (if it's still navigable ) but in something more suitable that can get under Osney Bridge to the upper reaches which is a part of the river SWMBO has never seen.

That's the plan anyway.

Have a brilliant time in the Solent and enjoy opening the taps! Perhaps our paths will cross next summer.

 

[Wavey]

A ditch crawler perhaps

It could be any one of a number of boat types. But, be assured, a ditch crawler isn't one of them

Have a brilliant time in the Solent and enjoy opening the taps! Perhaps our paths will cross next summer.

As we're on holiday from the end of this week we only have until Friday to make a final decision exactly where we're going if we want to take advantage of the early payment discounts. It's down to a shortlist of two though and I'll let you know where we end up.

 

[Wavey]

Tony (B1) is correct. From April the 1st Freedom Berthing allows annual customers to use ANY marina in the MDL network (over 70 of them!) regardless of their home marina location, which means Wavey can keep his berth at Penton Hook and cruise to the south coast via Chatham at no extra cost. There is no limit on the number of nights or the number of visits.

Many thanks to Mike for clarifying everything and putting my mind at rest. April will see us heading for Shamrock Quay

 

[Wavey]

Going.... Going...... Gone

And now safely afloat at Shamrock Quay as of lunchtime yesterday

Huge thanks to Steve Griffiths (and not forgetting Sharon of course ) of Chertsey Marine for all the work done on Isle of May over the winter, for spending Thursday and Friday with me prepping the boat for transport and putting it all back together on arrival at Shamrock, and for checking over every square inch under the floor on arrival after a long winter ashore to make sure she's ready to go

Thanks also to Geoff of Boat Transport Ltd and Lyndon of Davlyn Marine for the move. Can highly recommend Davlyn Marine if you need road transport.

Thanks too to Mike Gates and Trudie at Penton for making it all happen :encouragement:

Fingers crossed for the weather on Tuesday and Wednesday when SWMBO and I are off work so will be down there giving the inside a birthday and blowing the cobwebs off the engines

 

[Actionmat]

Good luck in your new location, sounds like excellent service from chertsey marine.

 

[Wavey]

Well, it's 2 months since we swopped the Thames for the Solent. Needless to say things didn't go quite according to plan in the beginning . After being craned in on 4 April we went down the following week to do the big clean after a winter on the hard standing. The next week saw us back down again for our first trip out. The port engine wouldn't start as the battery couldn't raise the necessary oomf to turn it over properly . A week's delay followed while the problem was found to be a failing battery. Ok, so two new starting batteries then. A real pain as the engine had started fine the day of arrival as we'd motored round to the mooring, and I'd fired up the engines with no problem the week after when we'd done the spring clean.

So, new batteries fitted we were ready to try again. We went out for a couple of hours just to get the feel of the area and play with the plotter and the radar after having had the GPS replaced in February. All seemed to go well, all guages seemed fine but there was a sting in the tail when we got back on the mooring and I said I'd just have a quick look below. Lifting the steps to the aft cabin the sight that greeted me was the sealed compartments under the port engine being awash with water. Not only that but it was obvious that while we'd been out we'd shipped large quantities of sea water and the automatic bilge pump had been working overtime. Lots of swearing and a big clean up followed and the problem was found to be blown seals on the engine's raw water pump. To add insult to injury we then discovered the service kits for these pumps were on back order with Yanmar and not expected in for another 3 weeks or so. We began to feel somewhat deflated to say the least.

Anyway, here we are now, some few weeks after the pump was sorted, and loving it down there. A couple more shake down runs and overnights in Cowes and Lymington in some glorious (and on one occasion quite lumpy) conditions and we're absolutely hooked. The Broom is really in its element down there and my partner, Pauline, who is new to all this coastal lark, has taken to it like a duck to water . I'm well pleased to say the least .

We were also lucky enough to get a couple of pictures taken.

Smile for the camera!


Cruising at about 19 knots. For a semi displacement hull she has a better ride angle than a lot of planing boats I've seen


There seems to be quite a few ex-pat Thames boats down there. Be good to catch up some time. And huge thanks again to Steve @ Chertsey Marine for all his invaluable help in sorting out all the above.

 

[oldgit]

Nice to see that boat where it can stretch its legs

 

[iCs]

Good thread... I did the Thames to Solent thing, but moved from mobo to raggie at the same time. (Now in the process of going mobo again).

I'd very strongly recommend the east coast too, which IMHO beats the Solent hands down with its interesting mix of proper rivers and coastal hops, as well as very easy access to Belgium, the Netherlands, and their brilliant canals.