Richmond to Limehouse, advice please

In message <4k72vvFaroslU1@>, Angela Jefferies
<angej41.uk> writes
>
>We're planning to go downstream to Limehouse. Does anyone have any advice
>about this trip? I believe that one needs to exit Richmond before the gates
>are lifted, ie by lock. Is this correct? How much time should be allowed for
>the trip? How difficult is it to get in to Limehouse? Is it best to go past
>the entrance and them turn back upstream to get in? Is there a very strong
>current? Is there a time of day when it is best to do the trip, in order to
>avoid all of those nasty trip boats, etc?
>
We did the journey a few years ago in our 40 foot cruiser stern boat
powered by a Lister SR2. We departed Teddington lock at 0930, about 20
minutes before HW, and we were off Limehouse entrance at 1250, but we
carried on to the Thames barrage and turned there at low water at 1400
and came back up on the flood finally entering Limehouse Lock at 1525.

The main problem was the trip boats or rather the wash caused by them.
As Cristoff has already mentioned keep watch behind you as well. The
only time we got into a bit of a roll was when one of the fast ferries
came up from behind us unnoticed and the wash hit us on the quarter,
from then on we made sure that our stern was pointing into overtaking
wash and bows on from wash from in front. When they coincided it didn't
matter too much. The main problem from wash, we had, was from
Westminster Pier to just after Tower Bridge.

Make sure you let VTS know you are on the river and what your plan is
for the day, as I assume you don't have VHF.

We called up the Limehouse Lock keeper about 40 minutes before we
arrived and went straight in, far easier than going into Sharpness Lock
from the Severn. If you have to wait at the pontoon outside keep your
engine running, as I have heard of a boats engine getting water into it
via the exhaust. Probably apocryphal!

Have a great journey it is well worth it and it is a great feeling
passing through the heart of London by boat.

Chris
--
Chris Watts
Nb Madrigal of Bristol

"Chris Watts" <chris@seadog.> wrote in message
news:cnwXdKC7S63EFwyO@seadog....
> In message <4k72vvFaroslU1@>, Angela Jefferies
> <angej41.uk> writes
> We did the journey a few years ago in our 40 foot cruiser stern boat
> powered by a Lister SR2. We departed Teddington lock at 0930, about
20
> minutes before HW, and we were off Limehouse entrance at 1250, but
we
> carried on to the Thames barrage and turned there at low water at
1400
> and came back up on the flood finally entering Limehouse Lock at
1525.

Thanks for your posting Chris.
As a matter of interest to owners of cruiser stern nb's with air
cooled
Listers, does your boat have air grilles in the sides of the hull? and
did
you have adequate freeboard to cope with the wash from large boats?

<<SNIP>>

> We called up the Limehouse Lock keeper about 40 minutes before we
> arrived and went straight in, far easier than going into Sharpness
Lock
> from the Severn. If you have to wait at the pontoon outside keep
your
> engine running, as I have heard of a boats engine getting water into
it
> via the exhaust. Probably apocryphal!

Have you done the Severn tideway in the same boat?

Cheers
Phil

"Angela Jefferies" <angej41.uk> wrote in message
news:4k72vvFaroslU1@...
>
> We're planning to go downstream to Limehouse. Does anyone have any advice

Its 3.5hrs or so from Teddington to Limehouse so if you leave Teddington at
high water you should be down to Limehouse in plenty of time.
The limehouse lock keeper has published a booklet with advice on both the
upstream and downstream passage call him and he will post you a copy.
After the 1st September if the boat is over 13.5m (43ft) YOU WILL NEED VHF
and be licensed for it, this is a new rule that has been brought in by the
PLA.
The approach to Limehouse is not difficult it just need treating with
respect.
Turn the boat so that it is facing upstream and is just downstream of the
lock entrance. There is a wooden wall on the downstream side of the entrance
its soft and sprung. Ferryglide the boat over until you are alongside and
touching this wall then when you are ready just roll the boat round the wall
into the lock. Keep as tight on the wall as possible and then you will not
get caught so much by the ebb as it comes across the entrance to the lock.
If you try and do a direct approach you will end up hitting the upstream
wall of the entrance and there is very little you can do about it.
Finally if you haven't done an upstream passage first and are aware of the
conditions through Central London DO NOT attempt the downstream one, that
may seem a little harsh but IMO its the safest way.

Julian

"Julian" <julian@negearth.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ebpa67$esf$1$8300dec7@news....
> high water you should be down to Limehouse in plenty of time.
> The limehouse lock keeper has published a booklet with advice on both the
> upstream and downstream passage call him and he will post you a copy.

I have just received a copy of this book and I have to say it is on of the
best guides I have seen to the tideway. Well worth reading prior to
departure.

J

In message <TNqdnag1Aq-TK0LZRVnyrg@pipex.net>, Phil R
<ditchcrawler@water.com> writes
>Thanks for your posting Chris.
>As a matter of interest to owners of cruiser stern nb's with air cooled
>Listers, does your boat have air grilles in the sides of the hull? and
>did you have adequate freeboard to cope with the wash from large boats?
>
We do have air grills and we just about had enough clearance. The only
time we had a cough and a splutter from that area was when I was
surprised by a fast ferry coming from behind and didn't have time to put
the stern into the wash. The splutter was only very brief.
>Have you done the Severn tideway in the same boat?
Yes we have. We went from Bristol to Portishead Marina and then to
Sharpness 24 hours later. Both passages were in anticyclonic conditions
with no wind, though I reckon we could have coped with a force 3
provided it wasn't wind over tide. At least from Portishead you can see
what you are going out into whereas from Sharpness you are fairly
sheltered for the first part of the journey.
Cheers
Chris
--
Chris Watts
Nb Madrigal of Bristol
For Sale @ £29K

Thanks to everyone for the advice.