Meanderings

Navigation Issues

admin — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:35:52 +0000

Many river users consider dredging (or lack of ) to be a major issue and, given financial and logistical constraints, it seems unlikely that any major undertakings will be possible in the foreseeable future. Dealing with the fairway, the Customer (…)

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Thames MotorBoaters Association

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:10:41 +0000

Launched a new user group today – the Thames MotorBoaters Association or TMBA for short. Read all about it and join up at www.tmba.org.uk

The Need for Lock Keepers

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:18:28 +0000

User operation of locks The advent of Out of Hours Power (OHP) at locks has made it easier for river users to transit locks when lock keepers are not available. Until recently, this was mainly before and after the working day. (…)

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First Trip Out !

admin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:49:55 +0000

Nice day today and nothing else getting in the way so had the first trip in the Hardy since it was delivered to Penton last October. Engines started fine and a lot quieter than I expected being right on top (…)

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Happy New Year

admin — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:05:31 +0000

I trust you all find 2011 meets your aspirations and that we all enjoy good cruising on the river or wherever you may be. The last knockings of 2010 brought a prolonged spell of severe cold weather with snow and (…)

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Downsizing

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:11:17 +0000

After much deliberation during the summer months, we decided that a 36 foot steel boat was becoming both physically and economically more demanding than our current needs. So, after some seven years we decided it was time to move on. (…)

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Information Sources

admin — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:18:29 +0000

The PAGES section of the menu at right now contains a new link to sources of information of historical and current interest about the non-tidal Thames.

No more new Brooms ?

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:44:46 +0000

Long established boatbuilders C J Broom have shut down their boat manufacturing side and laid off 70 or so employees. Full story here: http://www.mby.com/news/497748/cj-broom-sons-closes-with-loss-of-70-jobs

Deep in Doo-Doo ?

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:46:35 +0000

Apparently the EA pump out stations at Boveney and Shiplake are both out of action. With several hundred boats converging on Beale Park for the IWA Festival this weekend one wonders where all that poo is going to finish up (…)

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Why shouldn’t Narrowboats use the Thames?

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 07:53:14 +0000

Isn't it time we got over this NB-phobia thing and moved on? They are just people like us who enjoy being on the water but in a different type of boat. Yes, NB's may be more suited to the canals but that doesn't mean they can't (or shouldn't) be used on the Thames. We could argue that many of the cruisers on the river are more suited to being on the sea - particularly those that create significant wash even at low speed. Many NB's visiting the Thames for the first time need to adjust their thinking and relearn some procedures but that doesn't mean they are some sort of alien beings.