Coniston Water

lightning · 19 June 2018, 16:22

We are going on holiday to the Lake District next month and are staying on the shores of Coniston Water.

I have only ever been on Windermere so is it similar. As in 6/10mph speed limits? What’s it like for SIB use (we loved Windermere but it’s always a bit choppy once out in the middle)

I have Windermere boat registration for our SIB do l need anything else for Coniston? The property owner seemed to think not, and he has moorings on the lakeside.

Is it safe to leave the boat moored up overnight with the motor attached. When we stayed at Golant near Fowey there had been thefts of outboard motors.

Mikefule · 19 June 2018, 17:04

I think you need to register any powered boat to use on Windermere, but there is no need to register for Coniston. There are places to launch a small boat, especially a SIB, at no charge. I suspect you may be charged if you anchor or moor at a facility, and you need to be careful not to block the steam yacht Gondola. 10 mph speed limit applies but I imagine with some flexibility of enforcement if you are sensible. It's not just the wake, but the noise which can be heard for a long way, and the effect on vulnerable water users such as novice groups in open canoes. Be sensible. You can do the whole length of the lake in very little time, but the whole point of a small boat is to potter, land,explore, anchor, picnic, swim, potter a bit more.

Big Al C · 19 June 2018, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikefule

I think you need to register any powered boat to use on Windermere, but there is no need to register for Coniston. There are places to launch a small boat, especially a SIB, at no charge. I suspect you may be charged if you anchor or moor at a facility, and you need to be careful not to block the steam yacht Gondola. 10 mph speed limit applies but I imagine with some flexibility of enforcement if you are sensible. It's not just the wake, but the noise which can be heard for a long way, and the effect on vulnerable water users such as novice groups in open canoes. Be sensible. You can do the whole length of the lake in very little time, but the whole point of a small boat is to potter, land,explore, anchor, picnic, swim, potter a bit more.

Coniston can be as choppy and rough as any other lake when the wind picks up.
You still have the technical 10mph limit...... plus you have less people in powered boats than Windermere and you'll stand out more when give it stick. only 5 miles long so no need to rush anywhere. Good island to picnic on with natural slip for the sib.... can get a few groups on there.

Mikefule · 19 June 2018, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Al C

Good island to picnic on with natural slip for the sib.... can get a few groups on there.

Landing on "Wildcat" Island under power? Sacrilege.

Pikey Dave · 19 June 2018, 21:05

Better drowned than duffers[emoji6]

lightning · 21 June 2018, 21:09

Thanks for the replies, sounds like we made the right choice.

ScottT · 21 June 2018, 21:59

A lot of the shoreline is NT owned so its easy to pick a nice spot to pull up for a picnic. There are plenty of places you can launch (with launching wheels) on the east side. After 6.00pm when the wardens go home you will find some idiots out on the water, a few weeks ago I saw a speedboat with waterskiers flying around for an hour or so.
If your doing a bit of fishing, plenty of Perch & Pike a few Trout and the chance of a Char. If you take away the tourist hire boats, you'll be lucky if you see 20 other boats a day, it's the complete opposite of Windermere.
With it being in a narrow valley if the wind picks up it can get a bit choppy and unlike Windermere there's not a lot of shelter.
If you are planning to go on the island go early morning or late evening, some days its the busiest part of the whole lake.

lightning · 26 June 2018, 17:19

Thanks for the information.
I’ll let you know how we get on.

lightning · 28 June 2018, 17:20

Well we have been here all week and it’s been amazing weather, so hot, but cooler on the lake. We’ve been out on the boat every day and have visited the island twice.
I downloaded a GPS speedometer to make sure we didn’t exceed the speed limit, l found that the boat will sit at 8-9 mph reliably when needed.
However a lot of the time we just pottered around as it was too damn hot to do anything strenuous.