River Anchor

[stuart]

Due to take my first trip on the river seven in a couple of weeks between Stourport and Worcester (down stream I think!).

 

I'd like to make sure the boats ready for it - what type and size of anchor do I need to get? Anything to avoid? Its a 45ft cruiser stern liv. boats.

 

Any other items I'll need for river work?

[NB Esk]

Hi stuart, if it was me,I'd be taking 2 anchors and always be using the upstream one.

Other items?....lifejackets.

 

Cheers and have a good trip.....

[Keeping Up]

For an anchor, the bigger the better, but there's no point getting one that you can't lift. Generally 15Kg is recommended for normal river work. With a 45 foot boat you could probably use a 10 or 12Kg in most circumstances but go for a 15Kg if you can lift it OK.

 

Attach a good long length of chain to it; the weight of the chain pulls the anchor down into the river bed. Certainly not less than 4 metres of chain and preferably up to twice that. When deciding if you can lift your chosen anchor, allow for the weight of the chain too when recovering it (although being unable to recover the anchor is preferable to its not being heavy enough in an emergency).

 

Finally you need a long length of strong rope, at least 60 feet for a river like the Severn, attached to the chain at one end and attached to the boat preferably by its own anchoring point and not the T-stud. It's no good just reaching to the river bed, it has to be long enough to be pulling almost horizontally. And it's always said that if everything jams up and you can't get the anchor up, you can cut the rope with the breadknife.

 

Personally I keep my chain (all 70 feet of it) in an old builders bucket and the rope (with a shackle on the end for attachment) in a plastic rubbish sack. You don't want it sprawling all around to trip people up.

 

As has already been suggested, get a lifejacket for anyone who isn't a really strong swimmer (including the dog if necessary). Have a mobile phone if possible.

 

Make sure your bow and stern lines are long enough. On some other rivers you nead 50 foot ropes, but the Severn locks are all manned and have plastic coated steel hawsers set verically into the walls, so you just hook your ropes round them and ride up or down them and a normal length of rope is fine; I don't think that applies on the locks on/off at Stouport and Worcester so you want a minimum of 20 feet (preferably 30) in each case (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong there).

 

If you moor on the river overnight, allow some slack in the lines in case the river goes up or down a few inches.

 

I always find it very reassuring to look at the map well before each lock so that I know which way is to the lock and which way is to the weir. They are all very very well signposted on the Severn, but I still feel more comfortable to know it before I see the signs.

 

Make sure your engine is running well, and isn't going to overheat. A great many people get on to the river, open up the throttle (because you can) and then overheat and break down. There are two answers here; firstly, if you can find somewhere to do so, run the engine hard somewhere for an hour and check that it doesn't get really hot. And secondly, when you're on the river, just because you can go really fast doesn't mean that you have to. Make yourself travel at the same speed as you would on the canal; it'll seem slow, but what's wrong with that? The current on the river will be gentle, and you'll be surprised how many miles you cover even at a slow speed.

 

Having said all that, the Severn between Worcester and Stouport is an easy and safe trip. Don't spend too much time worrying about the safety aspects, just relax enjoy the journey.

 

Allan

[John Orentas]

Another common problem when on the river, the extra rocking and pitching of the boat can disturb the sediment in the fuel tank causing it to be drawn into the filters. It is a good idea to change the filters before making the trip and carry spares with you.

[AndyM]

Due to take my first trip on the river seven in a couple of weeks between Stourport and Worcester (down stream I think!).

 

I'd like to make sure the boats ready for it - what type and size of anchor do I need to get? Anything to avoid? Its a 45ft cruiser stern liv. boats.

 

Any other items I'll need for river work?

 

Hi Stuart,

 

I have just bought a 14kg Danforth anchor with 3mtrs chain and 30ft of rope as I am on the Cam and the Ouse rivers. This was recommended for my 50ft Liverpool Boat from Limekiln Chandlers at a very good price. Hope this helps.

 

Andy.

[Clarissa]

Hi Stuart,

 

I have just bought a 14kg Danforth anchor with 3mtrs chain and 30ft of rope as I am on the Cam and the Ouse rivers. This was recommended for my 50ft Liverpool Boat from Limekiln Chandlers at a very good price. Hope this helps.

 

Andy.

 

 

As a confirmed anchor <grin> I second what's been said by Keeping Up, and the others here. One of my own is have something to get into if the boat sinks, just a blow up kids dinghy on the roof or summat. Otherwise don't let the whole tension of going tidal wind you up, if a complete anchor like me can get away with it over 16 years there can't be anything too bad in it. Personally I find the added heartbeats of tidal waters is what makes it more enjoyable. Yachties argue endlessly about the best type of anchor, I would guess a delta, Danforth type for muddy, weedy estuary with strong tide. Plough, or CQR is what I have but they do pull through mud, or plough thereselves along in heavy wind or current and weed can wrap on the hook and make it useless.

Be very careful with the rope and chain when you drop the anchor as the pull of a heavy ship as the anchor bites can do terrible damage aboard as the ship swings to the anchor and the rope sweeps across the deck.

 

Mostly, ignore the horror films in your imagination depicting what tidal waters are going to be like, they are just waters with currents, enjoy the rippling power, be part of it, Cap'n.

[DHutch]

Make sure your engine is running well, and isn't going to overheat. A great many people get on to the river, open up the throttle (because you can) and then overheat and break down. There are two answers here; firstly, if you can find somewhere to do so, run the engine hard somewhere for an hour and check that it doesn't get really hot. And secondly, when you're on the river, just because you can go really fast doesn't mean that you have to. Make yourself travel at the same speed as you would on the canal; it'll seem slow, but what's wrong with that? The current on the river will be gentle, and you'll be surprised how many miles you cover even at a slow speed.

Also, in the manual for the ribble crossing it recomends to set out with a full water tank, and then run the hot water out of the calorifyer if the engine is geting too hot.

- Not sure how much this helps, certainly not at all if you dont have a calorfiyer!

 

 

Daniel

[stuart]

Thanks for your postings folks.

 

I've just done a oil & filter & fuel filter change on the engine this weekend and given it a 4 hour blast to make sure everything is okay.

 

I've never had a problem overheating - its only 12 months old engine anyway!

 

Limekiln Chandlers always recommend the 14Kg anchor - I think its the only 1 they sell!!

 

Will probably pop into them and see how much it is. Do you remember how much you paid?

 

I'm aiming to do the stourport to worcester bit on the same day so wont be mooring on the river. I'm sure it will be okay, just sounds scary !

Edited March 27, 2006 by stuart

[Big John]

Limekiln Chandlers always recommend the 14Kg anchor - I think its the only 1 they sell!!

 

Midland Chandlers price for a 14kg anchor is £81.

[Hairy-Neil]

I don't think that applies on the locks on/off at Stouport and Worcester so you want a minimum of 20 feet (preferably 30) in each case (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong there).

 

Allan

 

The locks out of Stourport for narrow beam craft are narrow so no roping is necessary as a rule.

[Keeping Up]

I'm aiming to do the stourport to worcester bit on the same day so wont be mooring on the river. I'm sure it will be okay, just sounds scary !

Personally, rather than carry on to Worcester I'd much prefer to stop overnight about an hour above Worcester at the Camp House Inn. It's a fantastic pub. Good beer, home-made food, and a cider that's at least 50% rocket-fuel; every winter it floods which is why all the electric sockets are half-way up the walls, but the locals carry on using it until the water in the bar is too deep for their wellington boots, then they help the landlord carry everything upstairs until the spring!

 

Allan

[Hairy-Neil]

 

 

I'm aiming to do the stourport to worcester bit on the same day so wont be mooring on the river. I'm sure it will be okay, just sounds scary !

 

Remember also the Severn locks and those up into the basin at Diglis are manned passage only and run operating hours including closing for lunch and sometimes T breaks too.

 

Most boats ignore the river section above Stourport. Its officially navigable (BW water) for some distance and often possible to get further too if you're careful about it. Is also possible to go maybe a mile up the River Salwarpe. Not sure if you can wind full length but we turned a 50 footer no problem.

Edited March 27, 2006 by Hairy-Neil

[Hairy-Neil]

Personally, rather than carry on to Worcester I'd much prefer to stop overnight about an hour above Worcester at the Camp House Inn. It's a fantastic pub. Good beer, home-made food, and a cider that's at least 50% rocket-fuel; every winter it floods which is why all the electric sockets are half-way up the walls, but the locals carry on using it until the water in the bar is too deep for their wellington boots, then they help the landlord carry everything upstairs until the spring!

 

Allan

 

Cannon Royal's micro brewery is only a brisk walk from the river at Uphampton. The brewery tour takes all of 15 minutes but on our visit we managed to drag it out all afternoon.

[Breals]

Lets hope the river levels drops or you won't be going anywhere... I'm hoping to do the same trip the other way on good Friday, doing the Stourport ring. I'll look out for you!

[stuart]

Limekiln chandlers are well priced (again!)

 

Danforth type 14kg anchor including 3m of chain for £49

[AndyM]

 

Limekiln Chandlers always recommend the 14Kg anchor - I think its the only 1 they sell!!

 

Will probably pop into them and see how much it is. Do you remember how much you paid?

 

 

Hi Stuart,

 

That'll be the 14kg anchor then!!!!!!!!

 

I "Bought it now" on eBay from Limekiln and paid £29:50 for the anchor - when ringing up to for pay it I recognised the voice on the other end as I had bought from them a couple of weeks earlier, so then I ordered 3m of chain & Shackle £13:00 and 30ft of rope £20 then £10 next day delivery on top. I'm a happy bunny!!

 

To be honest, by the size of the anchor - any bigger and you may need a butty to store it on!!

 

Andy

[Cafnod]

Hi Stuart

I have done the Stourport to Worcester journey several times, in both directions.

apart from heeding the excellent advice given already I would suggest the following:

There are other types of craft you do not usually see; These include commercial trip boats, racing sculls, fast cruisers, sailing vessels, small inflatables. Some of these are moving very quickly and change direction rapidly too.

Keep something warm and waterproof handy, it can change quickly on the severn, rain, wind etc.

There are few places to moor for most of the journey from stourport down, other than emergency moorings the only place you can really stop is at the Worcester visitor moorings by the racecourse.

Keep everything you might need where you can get at it.

In the river locks I have usually held our (very heavy) fifty foot trad against the side with a short boathook.

Do ring the basin officer at diglis to find out what times the locks on the river and at the basin are closed for the night.

At Diglis there is a floating pontoon just SOUTH of the basin entrance, tie up there to go and sort the locks.

If you do get overnighted on the Severn and do not wish to stay on the race course moorings there is a small visitor mooring basin just south of diglis on the port side coming down, it has no facilities but is very quiet and a bit spooky. We have overnighted there to get an early start on river trips.

Remember that due to the draining of the inner basin there are at present no visitor moorings at Diglis itself, you will have to go to the Commandery if staying around Worcester. OR you can get a free mooring at Viking Afloat for one night on mon, tues or wed which is right in the centre of town and very secure.

Beware bandits above Viking, there were incidents last year from Easter on. After you get out of Wocester it is ok though.

 

Richard

[colinjw]

Hi all,

 

We went up the Severn on Friday against a 1 m.p.h. current with no problems in about 3.5 hours.

 

Going downstream is always faster depending on the current but after all, you are only going to be on the river for a maximum of 3 hours giving a decent average speed.

 

Apart from the good advice already posted, I'd advise slowing down slightly when passing moored boats even if they are a long way off. That is if you are on or near maximum revs, the owners of the moored boats can get a bit annoyed if their love and joy gets a tad rocky.

 

The summer hours for the river locks are from 8 a.m. to I think 7 p.m. but all good narrowboaters should be well tied up by then and enjoying a pint/glass of wine/nip or whatever.

 

Enjoy the trip,

 

Colin

 

p.s. If you keep an eye on the weather forecast and see a lot of rain in Wales then 24 hours later it comes down the Severn which ccan raise the water level alarmingly. Give one of the lockies on the Severn a call

to confirm it is o.k. to proceed.

[steveh]

Hi Stuart,

 

in January I took part in the day helsman course with Rod Fox on the River Severn. I signed up for this course for the same reason as you, unsure about rivers, river locks and of course sick of being classed as one of those hopeless hire boaters!

 

Rod told me that is it pointless using an anchor on the River Severn as most of the bed is rock and an anchor will not secure itself to the river bed.

 

I intend to purchase a little piece of kit Rod recommended called a 'short shaft' (cafnod mention something similiar). A short shaft is a short pole approx 3ft in length with a hook on the end. This is ideal for hooking onto the steel ropes within the wall on the broad rivers locks. Remember locks on the River Severn an man'd, on approaching the lock slow until either the lock kepper approaches you and give directions or he opens the locks gates and lets you in. He then will give you a wall to rope against whilst filling or emptying the lock. Remember to have someone on the bow ready with a rope on approach into the lock and informing them roughly which rope you intend for them you moor up against. Once you have the bow secure bring in the stern and use the short shaft to secure the stern.

 

ooops off topic sorry

[Cafnod]

Uhmm good point Colin, if there is a lot of water on they sometimes shut the Sever until it has dropped a bit. The basin officers are very good though, I have had them ring me at home to say there is a window for proceeding.

If you proceed AFTER a flood be sure to watch the main road bridge coming into Worcester, the arches can be completely blocked by debris, three years ago after severe flooding only one arch of the bridge was usable.

Another good number to have handy is SARA, the Severn area rescue association.

[DHutch]

I asked my grandad what weight our anchor is, and after a bit of disscusion we came to figure of "about 17kg"

 

I then asked about how long the chain was, and he said he thought it was about 20fathoms. So guess thats near enough to 25m....?

- Also went on about how it was match to the winch pulley.

 

He then also said, as a rough rule of thumb, the chain should be about 3times the depth of the water.

 

 

Daniel

Edited March 28, 2006 by dhutch

[Cafnod]

A fathom is six feet in length Daniel.

 

 

Hi Steve

I have a boathook about three feet long with a heavy galvansed head, I bought it for a fiver at Malvern boat jumble a few years back. The chap had a few, I wish I had bought more and passed them on.

The shaft is very heavy, not the glorified broomhandle a lot of boat hooks are, I would say this was like a contoured pick or mattock haft.

I have single handed the Seveern a few times from Stourport to Upton, just using this at the stern and having the lock keeper pin the bow with the incoming water (ie no ropes).

All this advice though, the Severn is a lovely river to cruise and not at all dangerous provided you respect the hazards, as in any pastime.

[colinjw]

Many years ago I hired a cruiser (steel) from Tewkesbury and was intending to proceed to Worcester but stopped off in Upton Marina.

 

As I was approaching the pontoon for tying up, this fella came bounding along the pontoon waving his arms about and shouting. "Oh my God" I thought what have I done?

 

However it turned out he was the marina manager or something like that and went on to say that he could not allow me to carry on to Worcester as the river level was going to rise by 25 feet that night!

 

He was a tad out on his information, the level rose approx 30 feet and we were stuck in the marina for the next 4 days. Eventually we were allowed out but we only had time to go back to Tewkesbury and hand over the boat the following morning.

 

Colin

[Alastair]

River here has risen 15ft - Think I'll pop out to take a pic . . ..

 

There you go

[stuart]

Need to give the lock keeper a call tomorrow to see if the seven is passable - its been closed due to the rain we have been having (in wales!).

 

Hope it is open otherwise my weekend adventure is looking unlikely!