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The Nene-Ouse Navigation Link - weed / hair algae


gbclive

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Eastbound on the link route.

All was well untill Floods Ferry Corner where the River Nene branches south towards Benwick and we joined the Whittlesey Dyke towards Peterbough.

Immediately slowed, then came to a stop.

We are a 63’ trad with a 30” draft and an elderly 22HP Kelvin J2.

(Actualy less as we can’t get the rated 1000 RPM?).

Cleared a mountain of weed from the prop - crawled 10 yards, then stuck again.

I suspect the main issue is the weed and algae, compounded by our draft and power.

Some weed boats have been dispatched by the Mid Level Ops Engineer to try and help.

Aparently the EA will not allow any water to be supplied from the Nene at the moment.

A 26” draft NB, no doubt with more power, managed to creep past with a lot of welly, and continued to make some slow progress.

 

Beer, food and cassettes for a week - it’s not a bad spot to be stuck?

 

 

 

 

4D1E71B1-0081-470E-9009-53D86418B61B.jpeg

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Having boated a lot on the Middle Level in a deep boat with a large slow prop, I can at least give you some advice.

 

Forget the weed hatch. As you found, stopping and clearing the prop leaves you in exactly the same position within seconds. Blanket weed is fairly fragile, and does break up, so you're losing chopped up weed and gaining new weed all the time. The trick is to get to equilibrium between rate of weed collection and rate of weed loss whilst there's still enough of the prop uncovered that you can move forward.

 

To do this: 1) maximum power, to chop the weed as far as you can. 2) Keep going, no matter how slowly. The slower you're moving forward, the slower you're collecting new weed, so you should get into a position where you're still creeping forward and with high engine revs you're chopping the weed up as you collect it. 3) Whilst you're moving, you'll have steerage way, and can keep out of the sides and away from the worst. If it's windy (especially a cross wind) this is much more difficult. 4) When you do stop completely, take a breather, give the engine a breather to cool down from its flat-out exertions, then pole the boat forward until you reach a relatively clearer area. Clear the prop, pole the boat into the middle of the channel (both ends) and give it maximum beans again, The aim is to get enough forward speed to be be able to steer before the prop clogs completely. Again keep going, even if slowly, for as long as possible.

 

Hope that helps. We only got hopelessly stuck once, and had to be pulled by a 4x4 driving along the top of the flood bank. That was by far the fastest I'm ever moved on a boat in the Middle Level!

 

Cheers,

 

MP.

 

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Update:

Thanks MP - will give it a try?

the  cavery arrived after an hour or so in the form of 2 twin screwed zillian HP weed chompers and their boss in his 4x4.

We had managed a few hundred yards quanting.

Towed a mile to clear the very worst of it - just passed a NB eastbound - they also had to be rescued this morning, so expecting more trouble ahead☹️

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1 hour ago, gbclive said:

Update:

Thanks MP - will give it a try?

the  cavery arrived after an hour or so in the form of 2 twin screwed zillian HP weed chompers and their boss in his 4x4.

We had managed a few hundred yards quanting.

Towed a mile to clear the very worst of it - just passed a NB eastbound - they also had to be rescued this morning, so expecting more trouble ahead☹️

It should be better now until the other side of March. There's another weed-prone section as you're leaving March, than it gets better until the junction with New Pophams Eau. The junction to Marmont Priory lock is a lottery. Well Creek after the lock is shallow and slow anyway, but shouldn't be too weedy until either side of Nordelph.

 

The worst parts are around outfalls from pumping stations, farms and sewage works - all the nitrate!

 

MP.

 

 

 

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6 hours ago, MoominPapa said:

It should be better now until the other side of March. 

Hopefully a final update ?

There was indeed a second stretch of dense weed a mile or so further on (MP - we are heading away from March?)

This was perhaps half way between Floods Ferry Corner, the scene of our first encounter, and the Twenty Foot Drain.

We did try MP’s suggested technique (thank you) but I think our small engine simply had insufficient power to chomp up the huge amount of weed and algae, even at “high” power.

Also vibration and black smoke discouraged extended use of high power.

 

It was interesting to see the lack of thrust as normally shown by a stream of water and bubbles extending aft in a narrow cone.

Today the stream was often sideways as the propeller failed to live up to its name and instead just thrashed the water about in all directions.

 

This time we were rescued by Matt on NB Tinkertoo who kindly towed us about a mile untill we cleared the second “infestation”.

From there to Whittlesey was more or less clear of weed, but it was still a bit slow going at times due to lack of water.

Contrary to earlier advise from MLC’s, we passed several pumps extracting water for irrigation.

 

Fingers crossed for our final day tomorrow on the ML’s towards Stanground.

With all the excitement I forgot to book, so an apologetic call will be made in the morning.

 

 

 

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2 minutes ago, gbclive said:

Contrary to earlier advise from MLC’s, we passed several pumps extracting water for irrigation.

 

Fingers crossed for our final day tomorrow on the ML’s towards Stanground.

Ah, well, if you had visited after the licence fee introduction, the mlc, i feel sure, would have dealt with the weed problems with the new funds. 

 

You could also have moored at one of the numerous newly built moorings :)

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35 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

I use to travel at tickkover in those conditions

Tried that as well - the MLC supervisor suggested this.

No luck for us, but we are not a ‘normal’ sort of boat.

The 58’ boat with a modern Lister that towed us clear seemed to make light work it.

41 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Ah, well, if you had visited after the licence fee introduction, the mlc, i feel sure, would have dealt with the weed problems with the new funds. 

 

You could also have moored at one of the numerous newly built mooring:)

?

 

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Gbclive- I left Bill Fen at lunchtime and finally got through Ashline lock about 8.30 tonight. It was bloody hard going I have to say. Currently moored on top lock landing (gasp) as visitor moorings are a tad full at the mo..?

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8 hours ago, PaulJ said:

finally got through Ashline lock about 8.30 

That’s us you can see rafted out on the park.

Leaving soon towards Stanground - might see you later if you are also heading off?

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1 hour ago, PaulJ said:

Passed you about 6.30.

You must have been quieter than a very quiet thing - thankyou?

One or 2 patches, but not as bad as yesterday and plenty of water.

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21 hours ago, gbclive said:

You must have been quieter than a very quiet thing - thankyou?

One or 2 patches, but not as bad as yesterday and plenty of water.

Lol. Was a pleasure to meet you and your good lady-alot less challenging at that point too..? 

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