Extreme Sibbing at the top of the Thames.

[Nos4r2]

Myself and Whisper did something we've been talking about for quite a while today.
We took a couple of SIBs to the most upstream point on the Thames that we could get them into the water at Cricklade (this is about 10 miles above where it's supposed to be navigable), and took them down to what's considered the first navigable point at Lechlade.

These are just my pics and vids-Whisper has more graphic ones-including the first couple of obstacles. The 1st one we had to get out into the river, drag the boats up the bank and round the fallen trees.

The second one, we had to turn the boats onto their edges and drag them on one tube through the gap.

This isn't one to do alone, and not with a large group either. The Thames flows quite fast and is nearly totally blocked in many places, with only just room to get a sub 3m SIB through

[Nos4r2]

Just after Castle Eaton, Whisper's motor refused to restart after a refuel and I had to tow him for about 3 miles to Hannington, where we'd arranged for Sixy to bring another motor.

#1-this is how dirty the boats were after half a mile.

#2 and 3 are self explanatory.

Pic #4 is the launch site in Cricklade.

Pic #5, waiting for another motor at Hannington Wick.

[kerny]

Nice pics looks like you both had a good day out. Is that a Dobey in the last pic Nos ?

[Nos4r2]

More.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by kerny

Nice pics looks like you both had a good day out. Is that a Dobey in the last pic Nos ?

No thats me in the boat

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by kerny

Nice pics looks like you both had a good day out. Is that a Dobey in the last pic Nos ?

He's my Doby/Border Collie cross pup. He's 20 weeks at the mo, getting him into it early so it doesn't bother him. He's loving it so far.
#1-the dog.
#2 and #3-This is how dirty the boats were when we pulled them out...

[kerny]

Looks like his tail has been docked on the first pick. Great dogs we used to have one a few years back

[kerny]

Originally Posted by whisper

No thats me in the boat

Ah!! thought you looked wruff

[stray]

Looks like fun, take a chainsaw for those trees next time.

[whisper]

Just about to have my tea so I'll upload my pics in a bit...

[Nos4r2]

Youtube vid 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNSF2_umv_M&

[mick]

Looks like a fun day out.
Bit like going green laneing we always took a chainsaw and shears

[Nos4r2]

Cutting the trees isn't an option-there's a whole winters worth of debris piled up against them.

[Nos4r2]

SIBs used-
Mine-Seago 285 with Yamaha 8hp 2stroke,
Whisper's H2O 2.4m with Honda 2hp/ Suzuki DT2.2.

Surprisingly, it was far easier in the Seago with 8hp as the keel seems to make it way more controllable and the Yam has a shallow drive setting that barely touched the bottom at all compared with Whispers.

However, if the start had been much worse with blockages, the trade-off with the extra weight wouldn't have been worth it.

[whisper]

Getting ready at Cricklade...

[whisper]

The first 150 yards....

[whisper]

Nos I can't see your vids dude

[whisper]

As you can see we were having a rubbish day

[whisper]

.....

[whisper]

Sorry about the mud on my camera!