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Tackling the Thames with confidence
So many boaters have asked us about the Thames after our two visits in the last two years — and most of them have been put off tackling this rewarding river by the thought of fast-flowing water, shortage of moorings or expensive moorings. They should find some reassurance in this snapshot guide to the Thames sent to me by Dave Biggin who we first heard from when we passed him on the Llangollen canal last summer. He and his wife Lindsay were having a narrowboat holiday as a change from their Dutch cruiser Tanerliq which they keep at Caversham.
“We have just got back from a week’s cruise from Caversham to Teddington, and then back upstream to just below Abingdon, and back to Caversham. We got reports from home of torrential rain as we cruised along in mostly glorious sunshine. We had one day of rain, but we have got the clothing for it, as well as the luxury of inside & outside helms, so it is only the locks which require oilskins.
Last week the stream was fairly fast and there was a pretty strong wind, but as long as one is aware of the two items and reads the situation ahead, it is not difficult to navigate - and I have experience of both narrowboat and cruiser. I think the horror stories of wind and strong currents causing difficulties are mostly from those with small, light cruisers, where a breeze will see you crabbing up the river and trying to get into locks sideways. The added weight of most narrowboats means that you can usually sail / power through the wind, albeit at a slight angle. The keepers put boards up if the stream is seriously strong, but that does not usualy happen until the winter. I have seen boats broken down soon after joining the Thames due to the extra continued power requirement (and therefore strain) on the engine. A well serviced engine of modest HP will cope, but the emphasis is on serviced, and cooling systems in particular. In the last week there were as many narrow boats as cruisers moving on the Thames, and the majority were on visitors’ licences.
The Thames locks do seem to present a lot of NB crews with a problem. Yes, they are bigger. Yes you have to rope and turn your engine off. But other than this, they are gentler and easier than canal locks. The biggest problem - nay danger - that I see, is crew jumping off boats, rope in hand, in a frantic rush to tie up. The main difference between canal and Thames locks is that with canals you have to get off the boat, on the Thames you don't. Taking time to watch a few cruisers in and out of a lock will give you some hints - especially on how to throw a rope properly. Watching how others do it is good advice for mooring as well. You will see a number of boats with the anchor down, whilst firmly attached to the bank. My advice is copy it. Rivers have weirs and bridges, and towpaths have yobs and alcohol. Don't have an anchor? Get one — it’s a life-line on the river, apart from mooring. It should be kept to hand, with the warp attached to the boat at all times.
We spent nights at:
Maidenhead, next to Jenners Cafe for breakfast. Highly recommended caf,
but not the nicest place to moor. Better to go just below the bridge on
the rowing club side.
Penton Hook Marina, £15, expensive, but you get electricity and showers.
Walton on Thames, just below Walton Marina, next to a pub called The
Angler. Walton Marina sells Sea Otter boats, and I was seriously tempted
by one of the craft there.
Hampton Court, proper moorings, very popular. Free for 24 hours, then £5
for the next 24. Obviously perfect for the Palace, which is not cheap, but well worth
a day.
Windsor - moor on either side. The town side has concrete path, the other
is a field belonging to Eton College and charges £4. Good for dogs etc, but
the bank is quite high.
Goring, a limited number of moorings just below the lock, but you can find
further spaces further downstream. The Bow Thai is a Thai restaurant with
seriously tasty prawns.
And finally in the middle of nowhere - very nice.”
Dave Biggin
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