Need Help Towing A Cruiser From Datchet To The Lee

[Andrius Karpis]

Hello boaters, need some advice. Just bought a Buckingham Cruiser (length 6.09m, Beam 1.98m, Hull material FRP) on my way from Bray marina to London an engine died ... Managed to get to closed mooring not so far from Datchet (got all wet ) near a river Jubilee and Thames Junction. and now i need to towel it away to river Lee, some how ... any advice? got Bss and river license. and my budget is not so big max 600£

cheers, for your time

Andy

[Andrius Karpis]

Hello boaters, need some advice. Just bought a Buckingham Cruiser (length 6.09m, Beam 1.98m, Hull material FRP) on my way from Bray marina to London an engine died ... Managed to get to closed mooring not so far from Datchet (got all wet ) near a river Jubilee and Thames Junction. and now i need to towel it away to river Lee, some how ... any advice? got Bss and river license. and my budget is not so big max 600£

cheers, for your time

Andy

Edited: Merged from a separate posting in Crew Swap

Edited April 24, 2014 by Grace & Favour
We don't need two posts on the same subject, Andy

[Sir Nibble]

When you get to the Lee you will need to fix the engine anyway so why not do it now and save hassle? What type of engine is it and what's wrong?

[Alan de Enfield]

When you get to the Lee you will need to fix the engine anyway

 

Not necessarily - permanent moorers dont need engines - and, if you have a 'broken one' you dont need move for years and years and years.

[magnetman]

best to make sure its properly broken.

 

What would be the best way to achieve this?

 

Sorry not trying to make a joke of a breakdown I think snibble's suggestion is a good one

[saltysplash]

Kris Cruisers are at Datchet, have you had a word with them?

[magnetman]

If its a fairly light cruiser you could consider having it transported by road - not sure if it'd go on a trailer ,?

[John V]

Try giving Thames Towage a ring....Big tugs don't go up that far but could probably arrange a tow by a work boat/tug does, land transport as well. Has web site so try Google him

[magnetman]

Seeing as its going to the River Lea and is a 20ft cruiser I would definitely trailer it as there are a lot of locks or some serious tidal work so you would want a reliable boat. Otoh If it's an outboard then £600 would buy a decent replacement..

[MtB]

As already suggested, £600 would pay for it to be trailered to your destination. A tow would cost a similar amount probably so better to get it mended where you are.

 

What sort of engine is it? It could turn out to be something simple like a fuel blockage as 'it just died'. Kris Cruisers may well be able to fix it for you for a lot less than the £600 you have.

 

You do have fuel in the tank, don't you?!

 

Might also be worth a call to Bray marine if you bought it from their brokerage.

 

MtB

[John V]

Is there a slipway close to where you are ? or would you need to be towed to a slipway. A tow by a river based tug/workboat would probably only take you to Bow locks rare to find boat legally able to work both PLA and C&RT waters

[MtB]

Is there a slipway close to where you are ? or would you need to be towed to a slipway. A tow by a river based tug/workboat would probably only take you to Bow locks rare to find boat legally able to work both PLA and C&RT waters

 

In addition, the Thames at Datchet is EA water!

 

MtB

[OldGoat]

The nearest slipway is upstream at Windsor (underneath the road bridge).

The River's still on yellows so needs a good boat to tow it.

 

Downstream there's a small public slipway about 1/4 mile downstream of 4All Marine who also have a slipway (but will charge). Nearest lock is Penton Hook.

[John V]

 

In addition, the Thames at Datchet is EA water!

 

MtB

 

problem's more that skippers need local knowledge ticket to work different areas of the river when towing....PLA pretty heavy duty where that's concerned. C&RT is more about boat licensing

Your comment about getting engine fixed is possibly the best as with any other method he'll have spent his money and still have a bust boat, only the scenery will have changed

[MtB]

 

Your comment about getting engine fixed is possibly the best as with any other method he'll have spent his money and still have a bust boat, only the scenery will have changed

 

Exactly.

 

And engines which are running fine and spontaneously stop are rarely expensive to fix. Almost bound to be fuel-related rather than a deeper problem.

 

MtB

[Proper Job]

Buckingham 20's are usually outboards. I'm not actually sure if they made an inboard version.

 

As others have said - for your budget of £600 you should be able to get it fixed or pick up a good secondhand one

[John V]

 

Exactly.

 

And engines which are running fine and spontaneously stop are rarely expensive to fix. Almost bound to be fuel-related rather than a deeper problem.

 

MtB

 

 

Huh!!! I have a 40Hp 2 stroke Suzuki that was the exception to that rule......if you ever have a couple of hours to spare I'll tell you its tale of woe..

[magnetman]

Nearest Lock Pent on Hook?

Not if he's by the Jubilee exit.. upstream is Romney and downstream is Old Windsor.

 

I had an outboard failure at Datchet when I was little and a friendly boater towed me down to Laleham where there was/is a public slipway.

My out board failed due to a stripped spline on the driveshaft at the bottom of the leg. Major problem.

 

 

By the sound of the op location he will have had the Queen's guards telling him he's not allowed to stop there

 

Ah.. nearest lock to the slipway...

[Alan de Enfield]

 

 

Huh!!! I have a 40Hp 2 stroke Suzuki that was the exception to that rule......if you ever have a couple of hours to spare I'll tell you its tale of woe..

 

Suzuki - most complicated outboard in the world, Never ever buy one.

 

Used to know (quite well) a boat mechanic on Anglesey - he tried and tried with Suzuki's and in the end refused to even try to repair them as he could not charge for the hours neeeded to sort out the smallest problem - they had / have a 'black box' that controls everything and it was very unreliable.

[Tony Brooks]

Does the yard at Romney have a slip or straddle carrier? Been a few years since I went that way, may all be housing by now!

[Sir Nibble]

The OP has made 2 posts, the one starting this thread and an identical one in crew swap. I am inclined to suspect that further advice is redundant, we either offer the tow or forget it. If it were me I would be by now eagerly following the forum expertise to fix my motor. I have doubts as to whether this boat will ever reach the Lee.

[cereal tiller]

Does the yard at Romney have a slip or straddle carrier? Been a few years since I went that way, may all be housing by now!

Yes,The boatyard bottom side of Romney lock has a Gantry hoist which can lift and travel with boats of up to 10 tons and 33 feet.length

 

CT

[Proper Job]

If I were the OP I'd be perusing ebay and other boaty web sites looking for a secondhand outboard around the 25hp region (more than enough for a Buckingham 20)

[magnetman]

I expect the op is in fact partaking of a beer with another boater who is kindly towing his his boat down to teddington. Wish it was me out there but I'm stuck with small children to look after

[ChimneyChain]

I expect the op is in fact partaking of a beer with another boater who is kindly towing his his boat down to teddington. Wish it was me out there but I'm stuck with small children to look after

Yep life can be so cruel can't it !!

 

Darren