When does the boating season starts?!

[vandy]

Hi, I am back again. Been on a long term secondment to UAE and managed to escape just before the new year!

So a question for those of you who are more experienced! When does the boating season starts on River/Tidal thames?!

I know it is somehow a silly question as you can go whenever you want, but weatherwise, is it possible to start in March?! or is it still cold?!

 

[BrendanS]

It depends on the weather at the time!

and more importantly, if you can only pootle up and down between the two closed locks you are contained between, or if they are are maintenance free


Many boat all year, no problem. Even when red boards are out. Whether it is too cold for you is for you to decide. If you've just come back from UAE, you may have a lower tolerance. One of the biggest factors is still locks closed for maintenance, so where where is you boat and you will probably get some good advice on how far you can go?

 

[vandy]

Cheers, I actually went on a colleagues boat in UAE in Persian gulf which was good, but everything was so modern and full of electronics and gadgets on all boats...kind of missed my dirty 19ft boat which is moored in Kew Bridge!

It is a pacific seasafe, and I used to go to Central London with it and moored next to HMS Belfast...

Before I went to UAE somebody from this forum suggested joining a local boating club in Putney which I did, but I only managed to attend one of the social nights and not sure I am allowed to walk in again or not!!!

So when does Teddington Lock open?

 

[BrendanS]

Mr Teddington Lock will soon respond, and I suspect the answer is always! If you are on the tidal bit, you should be able to go boating all winter long with no restrictions.

 

[teddington_lock]

Teddington Lock is open 365 days a year 24 hours a day.

We have 2 locks there ( actually 3 ) so even if one breaks down , we can still stay open.

See you soon.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

We've sailed in March in the Thames Estuary and, yes it's cold. We were still sailing in Oct/Nov and even moved the boat 60 miles in Dec. We've found that the earlier months of the year tend to be colder.

 

[TrueBlue]

As a generalisation:-

January and February are miserable; if it's not cold it's damp.
Anyway there us usually some lock maintenance to complete, and the river is not completely open until the end of February this year. That only affects longer distance cruising.
In previous years these months have been subject to an accumulation of heavy rainfall, meaning a long period of Yellow and Red boards.

March begins to perk up a bit, and hardy (not B1) folks stick their noses out for short cruises.

April can be great, folks de-winterise their boats, and go away again...

in May there is increasing activity and some boats venture out but there's little congestion

If you wrap up warm and have the luxury of a heated cabin, then the season starts whenever you want it to.

Your first blockage this year is Romney lock (Windsor town) until 28th. February, but methinks you are not likely to go that far?

 

[Ramage]

And in July Oldgit is still moaning that it is cold.......

 

[Coastgal]

Come on down for a drink on Thursday

Before I went to UAE somebody from this forum suggested joining a local boating club in Putney which I did, but I only managed to attend one of the social nights and not sure I am allowed to walk in again or not!!!

The Hurlingham YC in Putney is always pleased to find a new victim, oops I mean visitor to knock back a few beers and boatie stories with . Thursday night is our Club night, so pop in after 9pm (bit slow before then). 43a Deodar Road (underneath the railway bridge).

Hope to see you back soon.

 

[oldgit]

"And in July Oldgit is still moaning that it is cold......."

but now that Sarah T features "heating n doors" I may well stop moaning AND stay up until.... well at least 9.15.pm ish on our next visit or possibly go to bed a lot earlier if B1 starts going on about his AWOL Webasto .

 

[boatone]

..... or possibly go to bed a lot earlier if B1 starts going on about his AWOL Webasto .

Do you know, Fred, there are times when I think your only redeeming feature is that you're not from Essex !

 

[No Regrets]

I'll tell Darren you said that!!