Time from Teddington to Brentford

[Rustykev]

Just a quickie. Can anyone advise how long it takes to get through Teddington Lock, down the river to Brentford (Thames Lock).

 

We hope todo this on 21 June. High tide at Teddington appears to be 11.40 and Thames Lock is open to 13.00. Would it be better to wait until 22, when HW at Ted. appears ot be 12.08 and Bretford is open to 14.15?

 

Leo is 58 feet, with a RN so has a bit of punch.

[PhilR]

It only takes about 1 to ½ hours from Teddington to Brentford. If you lock through Teddington a few minutes before high tide you should have a straight run down. If you leave too early you may have to wait a while for the half tide barriers at Richmond bridge to be raised. The Thames is normally very tame (excuse pun) on this reach.

 

The lockkeeper at Teddington will give you all the advice you need.

 

Phil

[Rustykev]

It only takes about 1 to ½ hours from Teddington to Brentford. If you lock through Teddington a few minutes before high tide you should have a straight run down. If you leave too early you may have to wait a while for the half tide barriers at Richmond bridge to be raised. The Thames is normally very tame (excuse pun) on this reach.

 

The lockkeeper at Teddington will give you all the advice you need.

 

Phil

 

Thanks Phil. Qite looking forward to it.

[kevinw]

We did this same trip some years ago as first timers on the river. The lock keeper at Teddington is very helpful. The river was very calm until we reached Brentford, where we were suprised by how rough it became (since heard thic called the "Brentford Bounce") - maybe it is better to continue downstream a little, make a 180 degree turn and turn right into the River Brent / GUC entrance.

 

Kevin

[WJM]

It takes 40 minutes with the tide, anything up to 90 minutes against the tide. I do it every couple of weeks.

 

 

Just to clarify about the half lock weir at Richmond. It highly unlikely that a narrowboat doing Teddington to Brentford will ever encounter the weir in it's lowered position. The weir is dropped into the river two hours after high tide and lifted back up two hours before the next high tide. This time window corresponds exactly with the opening times of Brentford Thames Lock. So even if you were to leave Teddington 2 hours before high tide the weir will still be lifted when you get there. On an outgoing tide, if you got to Richmond and the weir were down then you have already missed Thames Lock because the Brent Creek leading into the lock will be empty.

Edited June 10, 2010 by WJM

[Naughty Cal]

It takes 40 minutes with the tide, anything up to 90 minutes against the tide. I do it every couple of weeks.

 

You should really add a disclaimer to that to the effect that times will vary depending on boat type, size, engine power, weather conditions etc.

[WJM]

Narrowboat times - a white plastic can do it in about 35 minutes. Except that that would be useless information, a white plastic couldn't fit under Brentford High Street bridge.

Edited June 10, 2010 by WJM

[Naughty Cal]

Narrowboat times - a white plastic can do it in about 35 minutes. Except that that would be useless information, a white plastic couldn't fit under Brentford High Street bridge.

 

Narrowboat times will still vary as do the heights of "white plastic". Ours for example can get down to 6"5' with the arch lowered others can not.

[blackrose]

We did this same trip some years ago as first timers on the river. The lock keeper at Teddington is very helpful. The river was very calm until we reached Brentford, where we were suprised by how rough it became (since heard thic called the "Brentford Bounce") - maybe it is better to continue downstream a little, make a 180 degree turn and turn right into the River Brent / GUC entrance.

 

Kevin

 

I don't think there's any need to carry on so far that you have to do a complete about turn, but it is advisable to do a nice wide turn rather than try to cut the corner into Brentford. The first time you do it in a narrowboat if the tide is running out fast it can be slightly alarming as the current hits the boat beam on and carries you sideways for a short distance. It can sometimes seem to take a while before your engine kicks in to bring you back upstream.

 

Of course that depend on tides and what time you leave Tedders. Sometimes I've turned in and there's barely any ebb current.

Edited June 10, 2010 by blackrose

[WJM]

I agree with Blackrose, the turn is not that dramatic, there is big pool of still water that you can turn into. One thing to watch out for though; don't turn too tight, allow yourself to drop a little bit, enough to see the Popadums Indian Restaurant. If you turn too tight you will enter the creek on the left and risk colliding with anything coming out. With the MSO boat yard at the end of the creek there can be the occasional big boat in the creek.

Edited June 10, 2010 by WJM

[Richard T]

Thinking of doing this in reverse in a couple of weeks time. HW at Brentford is about 8am which is the time the lock opens. Will we get to Teddington on the last of the flood? Or will be against the tide for the last of the run? Advice on timings welcomed.