What do I need in the way of paperwork on the Thames?

[NealB]

I've just completed the purchase of the Seamaster 34 'Arendala'.

The long term plan is to base her at Limehouse, and explore up The Thames towards Lechlade, and also to rediscover my old East Coast haunts where I learnt to sail in the early 60's (in the intervening years, I've been sailing in the Irish Sea, and, more lately, in the southwest).

Where can I find out what paperwork is needed?

A BSS certificate was issued in December, but what else do we need?

Thanks.

 

[boatone]

Downstream from Teddington you dont need anything except possibly a VHF licence. Above Teddington is Environment Agency controlled so you will need an EA licence either as a short term visitor (purchaseable at Teddington Lock) or as an annual licence from the EA at Reading. You already have a BSS licence so thats it really.
BTW the bridge at Osney (Oxford) has an air draft of 7'6" so you will probably find thats as far up as you will get unless you can fold down the tophamper.

EA Website

 

[Steve Clayton]

A licence issued by the Environment Agency.

Insurance.

Thames guide book.

Fishing licence???

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Beer vouchers

 

[Captain Coochie]

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[Ramage]

/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[TrueBlue]

All the stuff posted above, plus a good guide book like -

The River Thames Book by Chris Cove Smith published by Imray. Much better tan the dreaded Nicholson IMHO.

These publications are always out of date but they do indicate the possibility of pubs and moorings.You'll get much more fun if you know what is and isn't navigable and where to stop.

(OK that probably wasn't exactly what you were asking).

 

[ADLS]

The upper Thames is a great stretch of river to visit and the most importent paperwork you will need need comes in 5s, 10s 20s and 50s. You start to shed them at Teddington lock for your river licence. Then shed a few more to moor above the lock. Take a handfull with you to have a meal and a few jugs at the pub with the Dunkirk sign name??? 'One of the better boozers on the Thames'I might add.
Watch out at Runnymede the bailifs come round at tea time for a hand out to moor against their bank. Be prepared for a lot of people with their hands out as you motor up the Thames, for a service thats just enough to get a mooring line on if your lucky.

Enjoy your trip I have several times my bank manager thinks I'm mad!!! but then who would wan't to miss the Trad Rally, the lock keepers, the grumpy fishermen, the 8s, the sail boats and the kids thowing rocks????????

Old father Thames just keeps flowing along.

 

[NealB]

Thanks for the advice...

Sounds like I'm doing the right thing thing over the next few weeks in saving up a stock of 5s, 10s, 20s and 50s.

If you see 'Arendala' around, do come and make yourselves known. We're pretty strict, in that we usually don't serve beer or wine until the breakfast washing up is done.

Thanks again.

 

[TrueBlue]

Re: Thanks for the advice...

Glad that you have found some useful help here - that's what this forum is for..

Don't be put off, however, by miseries implying that the Thames is horrendously expensive.

OK the license costs a bit, but then you've DEFRA's foulup to fund (joke in more ways than one) and every lock is manned by (mostly) friendly and helpful people.

You don't have to pay to moor, there are plenty of EA official sites which are free, but you will be expected to pay for the moorings at the locks. There are even more unmarked sites for free too.

Gastro pubs are expensive, walk a bit further away and you find a normal pub.

There's no shortage of supermarkets within 2-300yds of where you can moor - as far as Oxford, then there's zilch.

EA water is free, PortaPotti too.

Fuel prices vary.

You can do it on a budget without being mean; just organised.


Welcome to the ditch and have fun!

 

[chuckaduck]

Re: Thanks for the advice...

Here is a picture of her !!!

HERE

 

[NealB]

She\'s the one to the right.

The one on the left is a sister ship. Very similar, but you know how pedantic us proud new owners can be!

Thanks for saving me the trouble of finding how to post a pic.

Cheers!

 

[chuckaduck]

Re: She\'s the one to the right.

or this

 

[Brayman]

Re: Thanks for the advice...

That looks like a mean machine, very business like and up to the job I'd say.

 

[Forbsie]

Re: Thanks for the advice...

[ QUOTE ]
We're pretty strict, in that we usually don't serve beer or wine until the breakfast washing up is done.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've tried that one too - keeping the sink filled with dishes all day - but they just barge past me and empty my fridge!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[NealB]

\'Business like\'..definitely!

Not sure that she's a 'mean machine' though!

We looked at all sorts of cruisers, eg Sealions, Brooms, Powells, Norseman 33 and 38, narrow boats, Birchwood 33, Freemans and countless others.

Balancing price, accommodation, condition, fuel consumption, 'Arendala' was a clear winner for our purposes.

Roll on summer!