Moorings on the Gloucester & Sharpness

[Joshua]

I have just bought a new sailing boat and want to moor my narrowboat alongside the new boat while we fit her out to our needs. Both boats are 66ft. I had in mind the G&S.

I probably wont need the moorings for longer than 18 months.

I will need to take the sail boat out into the Bristol Channel from time to time so near the sharpness end would be good, but access to Gloucester and Tommi Nielsons would also be an advantage.

The new boat (66ft x 14ft4 x 7ft) is currently in Plymouth and I am trapped on the T&M near Burton, by the winter stoppages. I can’t cruise south until the 3^rd March, so will have to hire a car to visit the G&S to make arrangements for the new boats arrival. Any forward planning would be helpful, I know there are some CWDF members with boats on the G&S and I would appreciate some leads.

Any alternative ideas for good places where both boats can coexist for a while, would also be gratefully received. Thanks.

[Graham Davis]

How much does your sail boat draw?

[Joshua]

How much does your sail boat draw?

 

7ft ( Photo )

[cotswoldsman]

How much does your sail boat draw?

Doubt it is as much as this one that passed me on The G&S just before Christmas

 

[johnthebridge]

What type of boat is she? Does she draw 7' over her beam? If she does, you'll struggle to moor her alongside in a lot of places on the G&S, even if you put her on the outside of your narrow boat. The canal is a nominal 16' in the centre, but the sides are usually anything from virtually nothing, to around 6', apart from areas like both docks and the section below Purton.

Also, the "powers that be" won't be too keen on two boats breasted up with a total width of over 21', especially near bridges or on bends, so I suggest you ask them first, and find out if they're agreeable in principal. If they are, and they can offer you a suitable spot, your best bet is to "survey" it yourself with a suitably sized pole, as I can virtually guarantee there will be nobody on the Gloucester section now who has adequate knowledge of dredged depth sufficient to ensure you of a safe spot.

Also be aware that, without warning, the level can alter quite quickly, owing to water supply requirements, back-pumping, or Sharpness making a level for shipping, so what might appear alright for your boat one day, could dump you on the bottom fairly promptly the next. Not desirable if she's old, made of wood/GRP or has a fin keel. If you do have any specific locations in mind, I can probably help with limited advice.

[keble]

I can't add much to johnthebridge's advice, but it would be worth talking to the main boatyards (R W Davies at Saul and A D Marine at Gloucester). They may be able to help with mooring.

PM me if you want any help on the ground☺

[Robbo]

 

7ft ( Photo )

Can't help you with your mooring question but more boat porn please!

[cotswoldsman]

There are empty LTM between Llanthorry Bridge and High Orchard Bridge that would be ok but think CRT would want you to take 2 moorings

Edited January 25, 2014 by cotswoldsman

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

Sharpness marina is worth talking to.

[Joshua]

What type of boat is she? Does she draw 7' over her beam? If she does, you'll struggle to moor her alongside in a lot of places on the G&S, even if you put her on the outside of your narrow boat. The canal is a nominal 16' in the centre, but the sides are usually anything from virtually nothing, to around 6', apart from areas like both docks and the section below Purton.

Also, the "powers that be" won't be too keen on two boats breasted up with a total width of over 21', especially near bridges or on bends, so I suggest you ask them first, and find out if they're agreeable in principal. If they are, and they can offer you a suitable spot, your best bet is to "survey" it yourself with a suitably sized pole, as I can virtually guarantee there will be nobody on the Gloucester section now who has adequate knowledge of dredged depth sufficient to ensure you of a safe spot.

Also be aware that, without warning, the level can alter quite quickly, owing to water supply requirements, back-pumping, or Sharpness making a level for shipping, so what might appear alright for your boat one day, could dump you on the bottom fairly promptly the next. Not desirable if she's old, made of wood/GRP or has a fin keel. If you do have any specific locations in mind, I can probably help with limited advice.

 

She should be OK, she has a full keel and dries out quiet nicely (see the photo link in my earlier post) but I will bear in mind what you say when looking at potential moorings. Many thanks.

 

 

I can't add much to johnthebridge's advice, but it would be worth talking to the main boatyards (R W Davies at Saul and A D Marine at Gloucester). They may be able to help with mooring.

PM me if you want any help on the ground☺

 

 

Thanks, I’ll PM when my travel plans are sorted, maybe we could meet for a drink.

 

 

Can't help you with your mooring question but more boat porn please!

 

Link updated. http://s145.photobucket.com/user/go4mph/media/Josefine0002_zps77bf4c7f.jpg.html

 

 

 

There are empty LTM between Llanthorry Bridge and High Orchard Bridge that would be ok but think CRT would want you to take 2 moorings

 

 

 

Didn’t know you were on the G&S, will see you soon then!

 

 

Edited January 25, 2014 by Joshua

[bottle]

There are empty LTM between Llanthorry Bridge and High Orchard Bridge that would be ok but think CRT would want you to take 2 moorings

 

Yes an excellent spot to watch and listen to the seagulls cr*p on your boat(s)

 

It is their favourite spot for carrying out their ablutions.

[johnthebridge]

 

 

She should be OK, she has a full keel and dries out quiet nicely (see the photo link in my earlier post) but I will bear in mind what you say when looking at potential moorings. Many thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good, but also be aware that the underwater profile at some locations can have quite a steep slope away from the piling. She looks a very nice old girl, and you wouldn't want her falling over! She's not British built is she? She looks a bit like a Baltic trader. When and where was she built? What engine?

 

[cotswoldsman]

 

 

 

 

Didn’t know you were on the G&S, will see you soon then!

 

 

 

Give me a call when you come down will be good to catch up

[blackrose]

When I was coming up the G&S I saw a lot of large white bollards - often on the other side of the towpath and sometimes in the middle of nowhere. Are these old bollards any indication of moorings and deeper water or have those areas since become silted up?

Edited January 26, 2014 by blackrose

[cotswoldsman]

When I was coming up the G&S I saw a lot of large white bollards - often on the other side of the towpath. Are these old bollards any indication of moorings or have those areas since become silted up?

They date back to the "good old days" when real ships used the G&S

Gloucester mid 19th century

 

[Joshua]

 

 

 

She should be OK, she has a full keel and dries out quiet nicely (see the photo link in my earlier post) but I will bear in mind what you say when looking at potential moorings. Many thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good, but also be aware that the underwater profile at some locations can have quite a steep slope away from the piling. She looks a very nice old girl, and you wouldn't want her falling over! She's not British built is she? She looks a bit like a Baltic trader. When and where was she built? What engine?

 

 

 

Thanks, she was built in1931 at Gilleleje, Denmark.

 

By the by, I joined photobucket to store the picture I posted here but then took it down because I couldn’t stand the hard sell rubbish I had to wade through on their site or the loss of rights over my photos.

Can anyone advise a better site to host photos?

I used to put stuff on CWDF but you can’t then delete them at a later date without bothering admin.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Joshua

[johnthebridge]

When I was coming up the G&S I saw a lot of large white bollards - often on the other side of the towpath and sometimes in the middle of nowhere. Are these old bollards any indication of moorings and deeper water or have those areas since become silted up?

 

They're not mooring bollards. Shipping had no need tie up at interim stages on the canal. They were used by the dredger when at work. 16' depth means you've nothing to put legs down on, so wire hawsers were fixed from the bollards on both the towpath and the green bank, across to the dredger. These were then made fast and winched tight, so that she would remain in one fixed position whilst working.

[keble]

 

They're not mooring bollards. Shipping had no need tie up at interim stages on the canal. They were used by the dredger when at work. 16' depth means you've nothing to put legs down on, so wire hawsers were fixed from the bollards on both the towpath and the green bank, across to the dredger. These were then made fast and winched tight, so that she would remain in one fixed position whilst working.

That's interesting. Thanks for posting.

BTW did you work at Glos Lock a few years ago?

[johnthebridge]

That's interesting. Thanks for posting.

BTW did you work at Glos Lock a few years ago?

 

No, but I was the resident bridge-keeper at Parkend Bridge from 1984 to 2003, hence my user name. Back in the day, there were several Johns in the neighbourhood and everyone got confused as to which one you were talking about, so we became French John, Johnny the Coach, Johnny Hot-dog and me, John the Bridge!

[ditchcrawler]

 

They're not mooring bollards. Shipping had no need tie up at interim stages on the canal. They were used by the dredger when at work. 16' depth means you've nothing to put legs down on, so wire hawsers were fixed from the bollards on both the towpath and the green bank, across to the dredger. These were then made fast and winched tight, so that she would remain in one fixed position whilst working.

Thats interesting and makes more sense than what I was told at Saul and that the hobblers (not sure that is the right word) used them to control the boats as they towed them along.

[cotswoldsman]

 

They're not mooring bollards. Shipping had no need tie up at interim stages on the canal. They were used by the dredger when at work. 16' depth means you've nothing to put legs down on, so wire hawsers were fixed from the bollards on both the towpath and the green bank, across to the dredger. These were then made fast and winched tight, so that she would remain in one fixed position whilst working.

Thanks for that

[johnthebridge]

Thats interesting and makes more sense than what I was told at Saul and that the hobblers (not sure that is the right word) used them to control the boats as they towed them along.

They'd have had a job using the bollards on the green bank!

I think "hobblers" was more a of Midlands term wasn't it? "Hufflers" being another I think, but I stand to be corrected. The old Gloucester hands that I knew and worked with (most, sadly, now passed on) only ever referred to them as "the towing/hauling gang". Obviously an apocryphal reference, as the practice mainly died out in the 1860s, when tugs were introduced.

[johnthebridge]

Thanks for that

 

The last "serious" dredger on the G & S, the Thomas Fletcher, was still used in this manner until some years back. That was until the "management" decided that, as handling facilities at Gloucester had been dispensed with and the Oil Dock at the Pilot (Sellars) Bridge was going to be turned into a nice housing estate*, there was no requirement for further dredging.

When you were approaching her whilst she was working, woe betide you if you ignored the appropriate ball signals she had at her masthead, and tried to cross the wire before it was fully lowered!

 

*Mind you, all the streets in it are now named after tankers and other assorted shipping, so that's all right then.

[Rob-M]

I was told by an old boatman that the G&S used to be a left handed canal.

[PaulG]

 

They're not mooring bollards. Shipping had no need tie up at interim stages on the canal. They were used by the dredger when at work. 16' depth means you've nothing to put legs down on, so wire hawsers were fixed from the bollards on both the towpath and the green bank, across to the dredger. These were then made fast and winched tight, so that she would remain in one fixed position whilst working.

*pedant alert*

Except at "2 mile bend" where ships often needed to get lines ashore to negotiate the turns......