Winter Mooring on the Thames

[ChristianR]

I am contemplating joining the 'Thames Massive'!!! I would like to bring my boat round to the Thames for the winter and humbly ask for your acceptance and assistance. Looking for a Marina that stays open with facilities throughout the period. Do those of you that are based on the Thames have any recommendations or do you know of somebody that has an available mooring for the winter (LOA 12m)? Also would be interested to hear your views on which stretch of the river is the most pleasant for mooring??? Please help. Thank you in advance.

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[TargaLout]

Hi, Having for the last 3x years kept my Targa 37 on the southcoast in a marina during the summer and on my pirvate mooring on the Thames during the winter (outside my house). I strongly suggest that you only consider a Marina berth. The Thames floods during winter and on a private mooring you will need to constantly check ropes as it rises and falls. In a Marina simply tie up to a floating pontoon and relax in the knowledge that it will sit their all winter long going up and down without much attention needed. Make sure you have a "greenhouse" heater/thermo tube in the engine compartment on a frost stat and a De-Humidifier with a built-in heater in the cabin and leave the boat with all the doors and lockers open. The heater is needed combined into the de-humidifier as they only work in temperatures above 0. Penton Hook would be my preference, no air height problems up as far as Cookham. (the foot bridge outside the lock cut).

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[ChristianR]

Yes I am considering Penton Hook, is it safe and secure? I have an air draft of 16.5ft - do you think I will make it up there without having to drop the radar arch and canopy?

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[TargaLout]

There are lots of similar boats to yours on Thames. Penton Hook is as safe as any other marina, with a 24x7 security guard. The only height problem you may encounter will be at Hammersmith Bridgewhen you bring her round, depending on the state of the tide as you go under. 1x hour before of after high water being fine.
You should also try to catch Richmond barrier in the "free flow" position which I think is open 2 hours either side of HW.

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[apollo]

Suspect you wont get under Windsor bridge then, therefore Penton Hook is a good choice.

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[TargaLout]

Or of course there is Shepperton Marina. Much smaller and perhaps some may say friendlier?

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[markc]

I used to moor at Penton Hook until I moved to the coast about 4 years ago. Nice marina - very picturesque and peaceful. Yacht club was ok'ish...may be better or worse now!

Used to moor on pier 1A with the other 12m plus boats, but last time I drove down there, there seemed to be a lot more liveaboards on that pontoon...again may be better or worse, but at least the liveaboards keep an eye on things, even if their cats manage to get on your boat!

Decent size crane (as Shepperton) should you need a lift, and all usual expected services. Chandley was very good, run by real boaters.

If I went back to the Thames, PH would still be my 1st choice

M

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[ChristianR]

Yes PH looks good. But this leads me onto another question: Anodes - I think I have Zinc ones for sea water, I guess PH is fresh water - should I change anodes?

Thank you

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[markc]

If you are doing freah & sea water, aluminium anodes work OK. Diver is cheapest way to change 'em. As an alternative, you could 'wire' an anode to the key bonding points and drop it over the side when moored....I did that for 6 months and all was fine!

M

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[miket]

What is the problem with lowering the radar arch?
Both PH and Shepperton are fine marinas but at the risk of upsetting others, the scenery is pretty urban to put it mildly, with a lot of aircraft disturbance.
There are plenty of Ocean 38's way up around Reading. The Broom agent is at Harleyforn Marina, Marlow.
So long as you don't want to pop down the estuary every 10 seconds the river above Windsor is so much prettier and you don't get the lock queues which can still happen around PH and Windsor.
Another alternative is Thames and Kennett Marina at Caversham just down from Reading.
I kept a Broom 37 at T&K for some years. Just put down the mast and leave it until you stop. Perhaps your hood is permanently fitted to your arch?

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[apollo]

Or even Bray which leaves T&K standing but then I am a bit bias as I moor there.

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[boatone]

Everything you want to know about the Thames can be found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees

 

[ChristianR]

Yep checked with PH - they do have a special, also checked with Harleyford - Ouch - you are definitely all rich boys and girls on the Thames!!!

Boatone - to be more accurate I think you were probably posing by showing off your new gas struts.

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[PETERO]

Please call me on 01628 522813, I manage Bourne End Marina, between Maidenhead and Marlow and would be able to accomodate you over the winter, we have full fasilities, fuel, pump out, power, showers etc.

Peter Osborne
Manager
Bourne End Marina

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[tripleace]

I have a Broom 38 and we are at Goring. no problem with height as long as you lower radar arch.

suggest you also checl lock closure dates.

some close for repairs during the winter months and you can get locked into a stretch until repairs are finished.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boating-ads.co.uk/boating-ads/Froggie1.htm> Broom 38 details</A>

 

[apollo]

Just no security...

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