Martintyrrell
New Member
I'm thinking of relocating my Seamaster 813 from Lincoln to Downham Market. Canalplan tells me to go via leicester etc, a trip of 12 days! Any way across the Wash through Boston?
Witham to the Great Ouse
- Thread starter Martintyrrell
- Start date
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
I don't know about depths up from Kings Lynn but my first assumption would be to do the canal to Boston, pick a day to cross the Wash to Kings Lynn and work up from there.
http://www.fenswaterways.com/Portals/0/docs/navigation_guides/Ouse_Navigation_Guide.pdf
http://www.fenswaterways.com/Portals/0/docs/navigation_guides/Ouse_Navigation_Guide.pdf
nedmin
Well-Known Member
boston to witham
You can obviously get thro, The Glory Hole at Lincoln with your Seamaster. The lock keeper at Boston will tell you the right time to leave for Denver lock, up the Ouse. You will need to anchor in the entrance to the Ouse to wait for the incoming tide.You need to get some local knowledge as the channels have changed since I did it.About 12yrs ago.Why not ring the lock keeper at Denver and I am sure he can put you on to someone.Dont forget that these can be VERY DANGEROUS WATERS.The tide rushes up the Ouse and there are bridges that you have to get to at the right time,as there is not enough clearance as the tide comes up.My friend and is wife lost their lives at Kings Lynn.They tied to a mooring buoy,got in their dinghy and rowed to their friends boat when the tide was slack,the dinghy was tied to their vessel so they could get back later.On returning to the boat the tide was so fast that it tipped the dinghy over,and they drowned.It would be better if you went with someone,probably the Boston lock keeper will know someone with experience ,who is going.
You can obviously get thro, The Glory Hole at Lincoln with your Seamaster. The lock keeper at Boston will tell you the right time to leave for Denver lock, up the Ouse. You will need to anchor in the entrance to the Ouse to wait for the incoming tide.You need to get some local knowledge as the channels have changed since I did it.About 12yrs ago.Why not ring the lock keeper at Denver and I am sure he can put you on to someone.Dont forget that these can be VERY DANGEROUS WATERS.The tide rushes up the Ouse and there are bridges that you have to get to at the right time,as there is not enough clearance as the tide comes up.My friend and is wife lost their lives at Kings Lynn.They tied to a mooring buoy,got in their dinghy and rowed to their friends boat when the tide was slack,the dinghy was tied to their vessel so they could get back later.On returning to the boat the tide was so fast that it tipped the dinghy over,and they drowned.It would be better if you went with someone,probably the Boston lock keeper will know someone with experience ,who is going.
JKay
Well-Known Member
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Ah, goody, a point of order! Didn't the Romans 'canalise' the Witham? And when I last when down there (in 1959 - smiley fall about icon) I could have sworn we passed a lock!
I remember it was rather nice. I also remember wondering what the lock people did all day as we were the only people out on the RIVER that day.
I remember it was rather nice. I also remember wondering what the lock people did all day as we were the only people out on the RIVER that day.
Fenlander
Member
should take about 4 - 5 hrs to cross the wash from Tabs Head to Lynn.
Leave Boston about 2 hrs after high tide go through the freeman channel then cross over to the Lynn channel and motor in.
You'll need relevant safety and navigation aids of course.
On a good day it can be a nice trip.
Leave Boston about 2 hrs after high tide go through the freeman channel then cross over to the Lynn channel and motor in.
You'll need relevant safety and navigation aids of course.
On a good day it can be a nice trip.
coastwise
Well-Known Member
Witham to Ouse
Air draught & actual draught important for Glory Hole & Stamp End on the Witham & Bridges on the Ouse.
Ensure you have consulted lockkeeper at BN for lock out on the ebb (aprox HW +2 - you dont have a choice !).
Fair bit of tide cos you will be doing it over springs (ish) to get daylight.
Ensure you have up to date charts of Lynn no1 to Lynn . Beware of out of date pilot books - channel changes regularly.
Time it so you carry the flood up the ouse all the way - dont stop at Lynn.
There is a local pilot if you think necessary.
Paul
Air draught & actual draught important for Glory Hole & Stamp End on the Witham & Bridges on the Ouse.
Ensure you have consulted lockkeeper at BN for lock out on the ebb (aprox HW +2 - you dont have a choice !).
Fair bit of tide cos you will be doing it over springs (ish) to get daylight.
Ensure you have up to date charts of Lynn no1 to Lynn . Beware of out of date pilot books - channel changes regularly.
Time it so you carry the flood up the ouse all the way - dont stop at Lynn.
There is a local pilot if you think necessary.
Paul
coastwise
Well-Known Member
Wash to Ouse
Question - what sort of vessel? I have seen canal narrow boats out in the Wash (one with a home-made sail on) doing the passage but the weather needs to be perfect. Check your insurance if you are a river boat going tidal. There is currently a development to connect via the Black Sluice at BN but not sure how far down the line it has got. BW should be able to advise.
Paul
Question - what sort of vessel? I have seen canal narrow boats out in the Wash (one with a home-made sail on) doing the passage but the weather needs to be perfect. Check your insurance if you are a river boat going tidal. There is currently a development to connect via the Black Sluice at BN but not sure how far down the line it has got. BW should be able to advise.
Paul
D3B
Well-Known Member
Used to be leave Lynn going up HW-2.
IT IS A VERY NARROW AND SHALLOW CHANNEL WHEN YOU GET FURTHER UP TOWARDS DENVER SLUICE.
Take care of headroom under bridges further up, you can easily get caught out and I dont want to read a tail of anothe r person who lost their lives by pushing it.
Keep to the outside of the bends and I mean a few feet from the bank side in a few places. There is no water in the middle of the river. I have been up and seen Herons standing in the middle of the river!
Speak to the lock keeper and Denver to make sure he will be there as well.
I know it is nice to make these sort of passages but it might be just as cheap to have it moved by lorry. Burton Waters might just have a vehicle going to Ipswich empty....
I know someone who would do the passage with you...for a fee....
IT IS A VERY NARROW AND SHALLOW CHANNEL WHEN YOU GET FURTHER UP TOWARDS DENVER SLUICE.
Take care of headroom under bridges further up, you can easily get caught out and I dont want to read a tail of anothe r person who lost their lives by pushing it.
Keep to the outside of the bends and I mean a few feet from the bank side in a few places. There is no water in the middle of the river. I have been up and seen Herons standing in the middle of the river!
Speak to the lock keeper and Denver to make sure he will be there as well.
I know it is nice to make these sort of passages but it might be just as cheap to have it moved by lorry. Burton Waters might just have a vehicle going to Ipswich empty....
I know someone who would do the passage with you...for a fee....
coliholic
Well-Known Member
Can't comment on you getting to the Wash but I can say a bit about the Wash on up the Gt Ouse. We did Gt Yarmouth to Denver Sluice 5 years ago and my abiding memory is of the speed of the tide at Kings Lynn. We had to wait out in the Wash for about an hour for enough tide to come in and then followed a fishing boat in - they know what corners to cut. He spoke to us on the radio when he saw what we were doing and asked us if that's what we were going to do - i.e. follow him in. I said yes if that's OK with him and he said fine, but keep right up my chuff, no more than 10 metres off 'cos otherwise we'd cut the turns too fine"
Once we got to KL, due to lack of daylight we had to moor up for the night and continue up the river next morning. Don't under estimate the speed of the tide in KL. Frightening. We tried to hook on to a mooring bouy but dropped and lost the boathook and the Harbour Master very kindly offered us a mooring against their pilot boat for the night. No joke, the speedo in the boat was registering 15kts and we were standing still moored alongside the PB.
As other have said the run up river has to be carefully timed and treated with respect. We went aground a couple of times the next morning and had to wait for the tide to bring in enough water to float us off (30ft Fairline Mirage drawing under a metre). Definitley talk to the Denver Sluice Lock Keeper, he'll tell you the best days and times to come up, but it's not a doddle, you've got to have your wits about you. But great fun and a real sense of achievement when you get there.
Done the bit from the new lock at Denver Sluice up to Kings Lynn via Downham Market. If I remember correctly it's about 10 miles of dead straight feckall. Are you sure you want to relocate there?
Once we got to KL, due to lack of daylight we had to moor up for the night and continue up the river next morning. Don't under estimate the speed of the tide in KL. Frightening. We tried to hook on to a mooring bouy but dropped and lost the boathook and the Harbour Master very kindly offered us a mooring against their pilot boat for the night. No joke, the speedo in the boat was registering 15kts and we were standing still moored alongside the PB.
As other have said the run up river has to be carefully timed and treated with respect. We went aground a couple of times the next morning and had to wait for the tide to bring in enough water to float us off (30ft Fairline Mirage drawing under a metre). Definitley talk to the Denver Sluice Lock Keeper, he'll tell you the best days and times to come up, but it's not a doddle, you've got to have your wits about you. But great fun and a real sense of achievement when you get there.
Done the bit from the new lock at Denver Sluice up to Kings Lynn via Downham Market. If I remember correctly it's about 10 miles of dead straight feckall. Are you sure you want to relocate there?