"stevengoodyear" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I have just purchased a 1920s wooden boat, Green Tara. 40' long 10' >wide with air-draft of 8' I want to put her on the River Lee. But I do >not seem to be able to find out bridge heights. > >I have found out the lowest bridge is 6.10" but do not know where on >the Lee it is. > >Can anyone suggest the best place for me to put her where I can get the >most out of weekend cruising? > >Any help and or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Steven, I keep my barge at Hertford, and so have travelled the length of the Lee many times. I have also measured the clearance under most of the key bridges. Coming up from London, the limiting bridge headrooms are as follows (subject to change if the pounds in question are not at weir crest level). Lea Bridge (A104) in Hackney is 2.45 m, and pretty well flat. Enfield Lock bridge is the same or slightly higher, also flat. Aqueduct Lock bridge is the same or very slightly lower, also flat. Ware Town bridge is about 2.3 m. Above Hertford Lock, Mill Road bridge is about 2.2 m, and Folly Bridge is 2.1 m. The only full-size winding hole above Hertford Lock is upstream of Folly Bridge. However, even a full-length narrow boat (or barge the same length) can wind immediately below Hertford Lock, or where the lock cut joins the main river, or above Ware Lock, or below Ware lock, or in the maltings arm above Ware Town bridge. With a boat of your length, you will have a lot of other options. Given your air draft, it looks like you will have to suck it and see. There is a launching ramp at Rye House, owned by EA. It is often locked, but I don't know who to phone to get access to it. While I'm at it, I should warn you that you probably shouldn't try the Stort, as Roydon Mill bridge is about 2.3 m, Roydon rail bridge is 2.1 m, and there are several other lowish ones. I'll look forward to hearing how you get on. And maybe seeing you cruise past my mooring? Good luck. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
