Wey Navigation

[petermills]

Thinking of doing the Wey Navigation after a break of about 12 years. Has anyone ventured on this waterway recently and if so, are there still shallow spots to be wary of? I have a draft of about 2'6" - will this be a problem???
My last trip was by narrowboat and we went aground a few times. I'm hoping that increased traffic over the intervening years may have helped keep the silt at bay. Am I right in assuming this??
Any advice gratefully received.

 

[sturmvogel190a]

We did the Wey last summer in our narrow boat without any problems but our boat is shallow drafted ,Our friends boat had no probs either and they sit deeper in the water than us at from memory 2`9" if that helps Steve

 

[alanch]

Did the trip from Thames Lock to Pyrford (Anchor Pub) and back a couple of weeks ago. Great day trip and interesting with boat 30ft by 13ft with 3ft draft and 7ft 6 airdraft.

 

[petermills]

Thanks for the above replies. It seems that there should'nt be a problem with my draft. We really enjoyed this waterway last time we did it but we were always worried about going aground.

 

[Poignard]

Here's a bit of background reading for you:

'The Thames to the Solent', by J B Dashwood

http://www.weyandarun.co.uk/thames.pdf

It would be great if this route could be re-opened (with >1.5 metre depth!). It would be very convenient to bring my boat up to London from the Solent during the winter,

 

[TrueBlue]

A note of caution

The National Trust (bless 'em) "maintain" the Wey to a" V" section profile, being more interested in the lesser spotted bladderwort (Cuchilo - ignore this name) and other plants and fauna than they are in boaters.

Thus whilst the very centre of the channel may be 1.5m, the margins certainly are not which restricts where you can moor. I draw 3/4m and have always had difficulty in mooring.

Not too bad up to Pyrford, but tricky thereafter.

 

[cereal tiller]

The National Trust (bless 'em) "maintain" the Wey to a" V" section profile, being more interested in the lesser spotted bladderwort (Cuchilo - ignore this name) and other plants and fauna than they are in boaters.

Thus whilst the very centre of the channel may be 1.5m, the margins certainly are not which restricts where you can moor. I draw 3/4m and have always had difficulty in mooring.

Not too bad up to Pyrford, but tricky thereafter.

the wey is definitely narrowboat orientated.

small inboard or outboard cruisers wont have too many problems,but twin screw vessels will likely encounter difficulty sooner or later.