Thames Tue

[stedj]

Hi Im Planning A Trip Up The Thames On Tuesday The 13th Sept Anyone Got Advice On Where And When To Launch ,car And Trailer Parking ,what There Is To Look Out For And Anybody Is Welcome To Join Me If They Want. Any Advice Welcome Thanks Steven.

[John Kennett]

There's some info here: What's the speed limit on the Thames and where can I launch?

John

[Richard B]

Good FAQ John!

Steve, which stretch of the Thames are you interested in, approximately? Oxford, Reading, Windsor or London area?

[stedj]

Any Prefarably Putney To The Barrier But Open To Sugesions

[Richard B]

That's probably most fun for a RIB.

Haven't ever take ours down there! Have a great time.

[timw]

Putney is best.

Chas Newens Marine based there can help you launch and recover for a few quid.

Dump the trailer on the road amongst all the Rowing boat trailers, you won't get a ticket (unless Eupa is about!)

Feed the meter for the car, you should get easily enough time to do the barrier and back.

As you go down stream after Putney Bridge and before Wandsworth Bridge, you will see a jetty on the North Bank with various boats on it. That's where I keep my Rib, grey and blue. I might be there on Tuesday, if I am, pull over and I could join you for a bit of the run down there.

Beware there is no petrol only diesel available from the fuelling barges.

...Richard, it's about time you did the Thames.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by timw

...Richard, it's about time you did the Thames.

I don't suppose the visits to the Tattershall Castle count, do they?

[timw]

Originally Posted by Richard B

I don't suppose the visits to the Tattershall Castle count, do they?

Well done time you're beering it up there, let me know and I can pick you up off Savoy Pier next door.

[stedj]

timw wat about tides >laurching time and do u have dirctions for the marina . come on richard the more the merrier

[timw]

Check out the tides from Easytides. Use Hammersmith or Albert Bridge as reference points.

Launching at Putney quite easy at any tide, however if it's low you'd be better off with a 4X4 as the concrete slip way turns to gravel. Again, Chas Newens Marine will be happy to launch and recover you if you pay em.

To get to Putney by road, I can't help as don't know where you're coming from, but once there you turn down a small road just West of Putney Bridge, by a restaurant called Thai Square. Carry along down the this road and the first slip you get to is outside Chas Newens Marine, and then there's a larger slip 100 yards further on outside the boathouses. This is where most people launch.

Once out on the river, a very important thing to take with you is a bread knife with rope attached to the handle. This is because at some states of tides there is quite a bit of debris in the water and you might need to cut a bag or bit of rope off the prop. Never happened to me but wise precaution in these waters.

Go slow at Putney (the rowers get angry) but as soon as you get to Wandsworth Bridge half mile down stream you can really open up as no speed limit from there to the open sea.

Expect to be stopped by River Police who check all unknown boats on the river...usually they're friendly and only delay you for a few minutes.

If you're going up to the Barrier a good place to stop for lunch is Greenwhich Yacht club, downstream of Cutty Sark, nice new clubhouse built out on stilts, with all tide moorings. Call them first as a visiting yachtsman.

Thames can seem be quite daunting with lots of river traffic and quite fast flowing Tides at times, but you be used to it after a little while out there and it's very rewarding.

Carefull of shallow water near some of the banks at low tide