Will it Wont it ?. Only the brave ?

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oldgit

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While idling away a few moments in the clubhouse the subject of wether a Turbo 36 would fit under the central arch of Maidstone Bridge.
Various searches result in the suggestion that a T36 with the arch down has an air draft of 3.7M.
A pdf. of Medway Bridge heights gives Maidstone at exactly 3.7M.
However Sarah T is 3.7 (measured by yours truly) and fits underneath with 6 inches or so clearance. ?
Windsor Bridge for comparision is 4.3M.
Wonder just how much lower is boat in freshwater.
 
I was cycling along the tow path the other day at Maidstone bridge the water was just covering the path , came back an hour or so later and the water level had dropped three inches so level must change from time to time. Doesn't look a lot of height under Maidstone bridge though but a lot more than east farleigh
 
Is Windsor Bridge height not 4.01m.

Will measure my T36 when I go to it later this week. She is sitting in freshwater at Windsor but it is an interesting question on how much difference in height there is.

I am sure somewhere somebody will have a calculation that tells us the answer re displacement v salinity. LOL

Dave
 
Thames bridge heights are vastly out of date and should only be used as a rough guide. Many years ago John Redmond mentioned to me that it was something he needed to rectify. I guess he retired before instigating the survey and we haven't had a proper knowledgeable Harbour Master since him.
 
I know that an early T36 with the stainless arch lowered would pass under Cookham Lock Cut bridge with a little to spare, which is listed as 3.8m. Don't know if this helps or adds to the confusion. :D
 
As someone who boats on that stretch of the river would ask why you would want to try it?

It would be different if getting under the bridge opened up miles and miles of extra river or places to visit that you would otherwise miss out on but i can tell you that all you will do is get 20 minutes of extra cruising and then have to turn around anyway because you will DEFINITELY not fit under the road bridge at East Farleigh.

If you had a smaller boat and your question was will you fit under EF bridge i'd say try it because all the bridges from then on up to cannon bridge are all higher so you'd fit up to Tonbridge.

I once saw a very new massive Sunseeker type boat go under the Maidstone bridge at a river festival. it literally missed by inches and all he did was turn around and come back in less that 5 minutes. All that risk for no gain.
Don't forget that bridge is not flat so drifting left or right will cause you a headache too.
 
Antony Collis said:
As someone who boats on that stretch of the river would ask why you would want to try it?

It would be different if getting under the bridge opened up miles and miles of extra river or places to visit that you would otherwise miss out on but i can tell you that all you will do is get 20 minutes of extra cruising and then have to turn around anyway because you will DEFINITELY not fit under the road bridge at East Farleigh.

If you had a smaller boat and your question was will you fit under EF bridge i'd say try it because all the bridges from then on up to cannon bridge are all higher so you'd fit up to Tonbridge.

I once saw a very new massive Sunseeker type boat go under the Maidstone bridge at a river festival. it literally missed by inches and all he did was turn around and come back in less that 5 minutes. All that risk for no gain.
Don't forget that bridge is not flat so drifting left or right will cause you a headache too.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that OldGit knows that. His experience of the Medway seems to be considerable.
 
Thames bridge heights are measured from a water level called 'headwater' which is zero. You will see that HW is marked on the cast iron measuring gauges on the piles at locks. Not to be confused with the headwater above the lock. As most locks run at several inches above HW in order to provide water for recreation , abstraction etc you need to subtract the inches above HW that they are running from the bridge height.

For info , teddington lock footbridge is quoted at 18'6" clearance from HW. As, in the summer months we typically run tedders at 6 inches above HW , this reduces the height to 18'

We have measured this with a tape and found it to be absolutely accurate. I have no reason to believe any other Thames bridges would be inaccurate either.

HTH
 
The reason for risking it is that it open up access to East Farleigh, which is a bit of a favoured stop over point away from the hustle and bustle of Maidstone :)
I really can't see that there's any risk to it either, just creep up to the bridge on a very calm day (early morning to avoid spectators!) and if it won't fit under, just back away.
It should squeeze under anyway, with a few inches to spare :)
 
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