River Thames - Marlow to Maidenhead

[CJL]

Got to hand it to my crew for taking loads of photos on Saturday.

If your so inclined have a look at this link and click the slide show option.

http://www.chriswall.co.uk/photos/20...er/index2.html

Chris

[timw]

What sort of speeds did you get up to?

[The Edges]

Originally Posted by CJL

Got to hand it to my crew for taking loads of photos on Saturday.

If your so inclined have a look at this link and click the slide show option.

http://www.chriswall.co.uk/photos/20...er/index2.html

Chris

How was the slipway where was it?

[CJL]

Speed - well topped out at about 10knots at one point but really should be doing 8kt.

Slipway - Quite shallow for a big boat but easy to push off a decent roller coaster trailer. Parking can be difficult but you can launch then park the car round the back of the lock whilst your crew drives the boat to meet you.

Very good day out.

Would reccommend to others


Chris

[Tim M]

Why do you have a flashing orange light on your A-frame?

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Why do you have a flashing orange light on your A-frame?

Cause I was asked to be a marshal for the Great River Race and the Nelson Flotilla and the Port of London Authority had asked for it as a requirement of the events. If you look under the A frame in the shots showing the front of it there are two little LEDs that flash in unison which are a bit more discreet but only visable from the front. Unfortunately the PLA said it wasn't obvious enough!

Chris

[CJL]

Originally Posted by The Edges

How was the slipway where was it?

Sorry missed the where was it question!!

Its in Marlow at the end of St Peters Street. The place to park your car and trailer is Mill Road

See on the map here;

http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.c...multimap.y=124

[CND]

The landing stage is quite handy there and the top of the slip is lined with railway sleepers.

Very Pretty area!

[Nick Hearne]

Chris, looks like you had a great day out!
Did you just turn up & pay for your license at the first lock you turned up at?
If so what is the cost?

Windsor castle in background, from last year!

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Chris, looks like you had a great day out!
Did you just turn up & pay for your license at the first lock you turned up at?
If so what is the cost?

Windsor castle in background, from last year!

Yep just paid at Marlow Lock for a day permit and off we went. Its £10.50 for a 6m rib with a 2.0 beam (Cough cough!)

Chris

[The Jackeens]

Great shots Chris!

Looks like a top day out
Us

[CND]

I think it would be a good cruise with a good number of RIBS once the weather gets colder!

Up to Henley, we did that last year, it was a good long trip tho!


CND

[Mike C]

Originally Posted by CJL

Speed - well topped out at about 10knots at one point but really should be doing 8kt.

Chris

Er.... I think you'll find the speed limit is 8 Kilometres per hour, (which is about 4-5ish knots) They are very hot on it too - especially in a RIB!

There are several other slipways in the area. Cookham near the bridge. Aston near Henley has one down a narrow lane but the best around here, though a bit away from where you were is down the side of Windsor Leisure Pool. Concrete, purpose built, free trailer parking and lots of (paid) car parking.

Glad you had a good time. I always have a Thames trip at the end of the season to de-salt!

Mike C

[pmorgan]

Looks like you had a great trip, glad to see that the Northern Exposure has not lost her pulling power...

[CJL]

Originally Posted by pmorgan

Looks like you had a great trip, glad to see that the Northern Exposure has not lost her pulling power...

Don't know what on earth you are talking about!!

Chris

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Mike C

Er.... I think you'll find the speed limit is 8 Kilometres per hour, (which is about 4-5ish knots) They are very hot on it too - especially in a RIB!

Mike C

Exactly thats why we "topped out" at ten knots!

Plus the River Patrols tend not enforce the speed the rigorously, more the size of your wake. Most of the River Patrols now know me so i don't get too much hassle. They know I slow down to nearly stationary near rowers, fishermen and dinghies.

The whole reason for the speed limit is to prevent bank erosion not really for safety reasons.

Chris

[Richard B]

So, exaclty which stretches of the river, and in what circumstances, is it ok to do 10kts (18.5kph) rather than keep to the 8kph speed limit?

And can we all do this, or is this a "privilege" for Environment Agency staff?

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Richard B

So, exaclty which stretches of the river, and in what circumstances, is it ok to do 10kts (18.5kph) rather than keep to the 8kph speed limit?

God help us!

[Richard B]

Which of your three versions of your post would you like me to answer?

Yes we do carry a table of life saving signals. I don't bank on help from God, because he helps those who help themselves

May your God be with you

[Hugh Jardon]

i have spent a lot of time on the river and the speed limit is 8 kph or slower if you are creating a big wash.

they often show more interest in boats that are potentially fast that cause a bit of a wake at slow speeds

i always get comments like ....thats a bit engine for the river etc etc....and it is only a honda 90....so i cant imagine what they will say when a rib is on the river with a large donk on the back

i suspect they will be very suspicious that a ribber will tear off when out of sight, would be surprised they would be happy for one to scoot along at 10 knts

but.....looking forward to joining the crowd on the river next month