River Boating Forum

August Bank Hol. 2008

What with the awful weather we have had this summer, this was the 1st weekend away on the boat.
So the plan was to set off mid morning with the intention of getting to Pershore before the moorings were full. Things didn't quite go to plan, son and daughter inlaw have the chance of a new house in Brockworth (Glos). So I decided to make a small detour and have a looksee at what he might be buying. I wasn't disappointed, it looks very nice with views of the Cotswolds. So by the time I got to the mooring at Bredon after a late breakfast at the new Brockworth Tesco's it was gone mid-day.
So by the time we had loaded the boat and said hello to the owners of 'Tranquillity' who live in Lancs and were down for the weekend. They are still renovating the inside after the sinking last year. It was 1:15 when we left the mooring.
The trip to the first lock at Strensham went well, the lock was manned by LANT volunteers so just had to sit on the boat and let them do the work.

The thing that struck me was how little traffic there was on the river for a bank hol. It wasn't until we got just passed Eckington Bridge that we caught up with another cruiser going quite slow. Now after Eckington the river gets narrow and twisty so overtaking is not recommended. It wasn't till just before Nafford Lock that they waved us by. As I passed them I asked if they were going through the lock, if they were I would wait for them. As it turned out they had borrowed the boat from a friend and had not done a lock before. Again as we approach the lock LANT volunteers were on hand to see us through but had to wait for a boat to come down. While we were waiting I got talking to the other couple and they were going to Pershore as well. So they followed us up.
Still very little traffic??

I had noticed that there seemed to be a bit fresh water on the river so I started to think about Pershore bridges. The first is called the new bridge followed 100ft or so later by the old bridge which the new replaced many years ago. The water can get very turbulent through the arches of the old bridge and getting the boat lined up for the navigational arch is very tricky at the best of times. To-day was no exception, I aimed the boat corrected it aimed again and gave it some welly. Through the arch we went.
Now just after the bridge the river bends to the left so you cannot see through the trees if anything is coming down. I had just looked behind to see if the boat boat behind was ok, when a big widebeam 35ft+ Broads Cruiser came storming round the bend. No warning horn. He did stop a bit quick when he saw me. Now by rights I should have given way to him had he sounded his horn. But all was well in the end.
Just after the bridge is Pershore lock, the deepest on the river. No problem I thought volunteers will help us through. I moored up as the lock was against me and walked up to the lock. As I got there the volunteers were just packing up for the day.
So I started setting the lock and explained to the other couple on the other boat about the Ground Paddle on this lock. (the only one on the river, I think)
By now it was late afternoon 4:30 and I was getting a little worried about mooring spaces.
We got through the lock and headed the last half mile to Pershore moorings. At first glance things were not looking good, the moorings were packed with cruisers very few NBs
Then I saw a gap where the stream/surface water outlet is and headed for it. There was just enough room to get the two boats in albeit we were nearly touching. What a wonderful idea of DawnCraft to have a Inboard Outboard engine. If my engine were hanging off the back we would not have got both boats in.
By now the clouds were rolling in, so time to explore then look for a meal before the rain comes.
Tomorrow Evesham.
TBC

Lady Barbara II
R.I.P.

Sadly Sunday afternoon the floods got the better of her.
Had a phone call just gone mid-day from the mooring, could they cut the rope as the stern was down.
The next call was to say that the rope was cut but had a lot of water inside.

Not sure why but it seems that the Stern rope mooring ring got jammed and didn't slide up the mooring pole. (I was on the boat on Thursday and checked the ropes before I left. The rings seemed loose enough) This dragged the stern down and she took on water, by the time I got there she was down.

Insurance company informed this morning, claim form will arrive tomorrow.
Have made enquiries at Marina next door of getting it raised but at the moment not a cat in hells chance till the river goes down. If ever.

The river Severn at Upton rose about 3 foot between Sat morning and Sun morning. Which effects the Avon.

Steve

Belated, but sorry to hear of your loss - If it is a loss? Would it not be viable to refloat her and make good any damage. I would like to think an insurance payout would more than cover the damage if you repair it yourself perhaps leaving a little profit?
The weather has been poo, I hope no else has suffered the same fate, even my old girl took on a lot of water and she is on dry land!! This has been caused by the window leaks due to not having the sealing insert fitted. After bailing out I tried soaking the roof with a hose, and it poured in via the two roof windows it will be fixed this weekend (2 more windows to do tomorrow).

I spoke to the mooring owners on Sat and they know someone who has a Cherry Picker. The plan is to lift the stern slightly and use a high capacity pump to clear the water. This hopefully will be the cheapest way to do it. The grounds too soft for a crane.
So hopefully this will happen this week and the boat will be afloat again.

Then the hard work will begin as I expect it will be full of mud.
The outboard will have to be flushed out and checked over, which may be expensive.
It's a shame it happened but that's life. This weekends weather was good for boating.
Keep thinking of the things that are on the boat that may or not be ruined. Bacardi should be ok.

Spent the day down in Poole harbour taking down a friends mast on there sailing boat ready for lift out. Though it's a bit early it can only be done when the tides right.
They've had the same problem this year with the lack of good weather. Only used it a couple of times this year.

Steve

As i said on the DC owners what a shock, cherry picker should be a good choice.
Obviously just need to plug all the window that are still under water and lift enough to pump water out and hopefully pump out faster than it can get in.
It is devastating, when they raised Soul Musik last year because she has window that just unclip and open they couldnt get a seal, so had to have divers and air bags to get her partially floated and then take her across the river to get straps under her to lift her a bit more and then pump her out.

Hope all goes well, keep us updated.