"Mike Stevens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >On Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:15 PM [GMT+1=CET], >Julian Tether <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> The bit between Limehouse and >> Westminster bridge was very choppy and really unsuited to anything >> with low freeboard, I think that possibly the PLA should ban >> narrowboats from this reach when the trip boats are running. > >With all due respect - I think that's piffle. I've done the tideway from >Limehouse to Teddington or Brentford quite a number of times in various >boats including our present one which had low freeboard, with no problem. >It can sometimes be a bit "bumpy" between Limehouse and Tower Bridge, but >nothing dangerous if you choose your conditions right. I'd not do it in >more than a force 3, and certainly not in "wind against tide" conditions.
In my experience, it is *always* choppy outside Limehouse lock, enough to be at least mildly uncomfortable in the barge. >The wash from the trip-boats is fairly easily dealt with, by turning across >their wake, and in any case is a lot less than that of the rubbish tows. I don't think so. We were once overtaken by one of the Millennium boats near the WI Docks entrance lock (a little further downstream, but that makes no difference for this discussion). It was going very fast, and creating a serious wake. I turned away to take it on the stern quarter as much as possible, but even so the barge rolled so much that the gunwales went under. Fortunately, the decks are all sealed, so very little water got inside. However, there was almost £1,000 damage to stuff on board, and a lifering was lost overboard. We started legal action against the company, but in the end our insurer covered the loss as that was thought to be less expensive than suing . Narrow boats do need to be carefully prepared for these waters IMHO. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
