Thames Rules for Continuous Cruising?

[Tracy D'arth]

The Oxford canal is a narrow canal, keep your wide boat away as you will cause untold aggravation to everyone else  and it will be most unpleasant for you and everyone.

[David Mack]

31 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said:

The Oxford canal is a narrow canal,

Apart from the section between Braunston and Napton and, in limited circumstances, up to Barby Marina on the northern section.

[ditchcrawler]

32 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said:

The Oxford canal is a narrow canal, keep your wide boat away as you will cause untold aggravation to everyone else  and it will be most unpleasant for you and everyone.

Its OK it wont fit through Isis Lock or Dukes Lock onto the canal. I think if he needs to stay in the Oxford area then a mooring will be required unless they doss down Ducks Cut 

[David Mack]

 

'Continuous Cruising' as a concept only exists on the CRT waterways. Other navigation authorities do not give you the specific choice of either having a mooring, or of continually moving within specified criteria. That said some other authorities do not require you to have a designated home mooring, and on rivers, mooring against private land (out of the main navigable channel) is just a matter between the boater and the landowner. But public mooring places are far fewer and most have significant time restrictions.

The OP should start looking at marina moorings in the Oxford area.

[Tony Brooks]

Be aware that the vast majority of the Thames banks and river bed are owned by the adjacent property owners and they may not allow mooring or charge for it. If you don't know how to look after yourself and boat when rivers go into flood, then my advice would be get a berth in a marina, and the only ones close to Oxford that I can think of are Oxford Cruisers near Eynsham or the marinas at Osney. I don't think Bossoms Boatyard accept bats as large as yours.

[BoatinglifeupNorth]

@Redhawk106 You say you don’t want to sell your widebeam and rent a flat, how about selling your widebeam and buying a Narrowboat you may find it easier?

[Tony Brooks]

3 minutes ago, BoatinglifeupNorth said:

@Redhawk106 You say you don’t want to sell your widebeam and rent a flat, how about selling your widebeam and buying a Narrowboat you may find it easier?

 

In my view that would make far more sense than trying to CC or get a large wide beam mooring on the Thames. However, there may still be a commute from a fair distance like Lower Heyford, but at least that has a railway station. It all depends upon how much time is available to get a mooring where you can live-aboard and keep your head down.

[Redhawk106]

Would be willing to find a marina, all options are currently being looked at, just don't want to give up on boat life. And at this point im just looking for more information on what we can do. Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'll look into the marina's mentioned.

 

I agree that getting a narrowboat would make things a lot easier as we would be able to use the Oxford canal, and potentially much more, however, I don't think this would be an option, as my fiancee has already said she actually wants to get a bigger boat (proper widebeam rather than our narrow 10ft widebeam), as we need more space with the new addition of the baby.

 

Also aware that even going up and down the thames, its going to be hard going/impossible with pump out and water facilities which seem few and far between.

 

There is a requirement to live within 25KM of Oxford, so I don't know if that makes things more flexible or worse...

So.... hence I'm nervous its going to mean we have to give up on boat life. I'll look into the marina options mentioned and hope that someone can suggest more things to look at.

 

Thanks for the tips so far, appreciated.

[blackrose]

Sorry but I'd lay money that with a growing kid it won't be long before your wife changes her mind and says she wants to move back to land.

 

I don't just mean that with respect your family. I'm just a bit cynical. I've seen so many men who've had to give up their dream because of a woman. That's the normal way of things I guess... It's why I didn't buy into the whole marriage and kids scenario.

Edited April 23 by blackrose

[Tony Brooks]

12 minutes ago, Redhawk106 said:

Would be willing to find a marina, all options are currently being looked at, just don't want to give up on boat life. And at this point im just looking for more information on what we can do. Thanks for the suggestions so far, I'll look into the marina's mentioned.

 

I agree that getting a narrowboat would make things a lot easier as we would be able to use the Oxford canal, and potentially much more, however, I don't think this would be an option, as my fiancee has already said she actually wants to get a bigger boat (proper widebeam rather than our narrow 10ft widebeam), as we need more space with the new addition of the baby.

 

Also aware that even going up and down the thames, its going to be hard going/impossible with pump out and water facilities which seem few and far between.

 

There is a requirement to live within 25KM of Oxford, so I don't know if that makes things more flexible or worse...

So.... hence I'm nervous its going to mean we have to give up on boat life. I'll look into the marina options mentioned and hope that someone can suggest more things to look at.

 

Thanks for the tips so far, appreciated.

 

Water and pump out facilities are adequate on the Thames. The EA provide water points at a number of locks, while pump outs are at some locks and various boatyards and marinas.

 

Those places where there is no riparian owner or the riparian owner does not enforce their rights are few, and those that there are seem to be full of "squatter boats" for much of the time. This includes some of the backwaters around Oxford. There are official EA moorings but they are for 24 hours only and some allow a longer stay but at £x a night (I have no up-to-date figures). I would suggest £10 would not be too far out except in places like Henley who charge more, especially during the regatta and festival.

 

So you need to be within 15 miles of Oxford so  there may be moorings at Abingdon Bridge Marina or Abingdon Marina. That would be a bus commute. Oxford seems to hate cars, so make driving into the city diffcult.

[MtB]

1 hour ago, ditchcrawler said:

Its OK it wont fit through Isis Lock or Dukes Lock onto the canal. I think if he needs to stay in the Oxford area then a mooring will be required unless they doss down Ducks Cut 

 

Isn't Dukes Cut wall-to-wall CMers nowadays?

 

 

2 hours ago, Redhawk106 said:

Sorry to ressurect an old thread, but I'm doing so in the hopes that the OP can also provide an update on how it went for them. We are looking to do the same thing, as we need to be in the Oxford area for work soon, and we are currently in a marina in London. We have a 55ft by 10ft widebeam, so we're not sure what to do. I've heard we probably wont fit onto the Oxford Canal due to width, but I've not confirmed this yet.

 

Does anyone have suggestions on what we can do, we need to be up there by around September and I don't want to have to find that the only option is to sell the boat and rent a flat in the Oxford area. We've only just lived aboard for 2 years, and not even had a chance to do any cruising in the the countryside. It's just been renovations none stop and then a baby came along which slowed the reno's down.

 

Any and all tips welcome, I really want to be able to continue our life on the boat for a couple years longer at least!

 

Cheers!

 

 

Would Reading be close enough? There is an excellent train service to Oxford.

 

Thames and Kennet Marina has bags of widebeam berths and is the only marina I can think of on The Thames that turns a blind eye to living aboard. Or used to anyway.

[ditchcrawler]

16 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Isn't Dukes Cut wall-to-wall CMers nowadays?

 

 

Not been for a while

[MtB]

Just now, ditchcrawler said:

Not been for a while

 

Ambiguous! 

[ditchcrawler]

Just now, MtB said:

 

Ambiguous! 

OK I will spell it out, I am not aware of the latest situation with boats moored along the banks of Ducks Cut. The last time I went that way there was still room for more

[magnetman]

1 hour ago, blackrose said:

Sorry but I'd lay money that with a growing kid it won't be long before your wife changes her mind and says she wants to move back to land.

 

I don't just mean that with respect your family. I'm just a bit cynical. I've seen so many men who've had to give up their dream because of a woman. That's the normal way of things I guess... It's why I didn't buy into the whole marriage and kids scenario.

Been there done that got the tee shirts and now live on my Boat by myself. Much like I did before the whole reproduction thing happened ! 

 

She asked me to marry her but I said no not interested in marriage. We have great kids and are there for them and no bad feelings. 

 

 

Edited April 23 by magnetman

[MtB]

1 minute ago, ditchcrawler said:

OK I will spell it out, I am not aware of the latest situation with boats moored along the banks of Ducks Cut. The last time I went that way there was still room for more

 

You wouldn't know if you've "Not been for a while"...

 

Or you might have been suggesting its "Not been (wall-to-wall CMers) for a while". 

1 minute ago, magnetman said:

Been there done that got the tee shirts and now live on my Boat by myself. Much like I did before the whole reproduction thing happened ! 

 

Similarly here. I married one person and after a number of years she had turned into five. 

 

Found out what was causing it though... 

 

 

[magnetman]

the wide bean situation on the River is crazy. I saw three of them in the Cliveden reach yesterday on various random towpath side moorings. 

 

I hope these are not being used as floating apartments or reality is going to kick in. 

[MtB]

1 minute ago, magnetman said:

the wide bean situation on the River is crazy. I saw three of them in the Cliveden reach yesterday on various random towpath side moorings. 

 

I hope these are not being used as floating apartments or reality is going to kick in. 

 

Fatties strike me as quite unsuited to river use. 

 

Ok, unsuited for any sort of proper boating.

 

 

 

[magnetman]

I avoid mooring near these things as there is a very high probability of getting woken up early by engine droning noises. Its just the way it works. Nobody would ever have such a vessel and use it as a Boat. There will be power and hot water demand. 

 

Its a rotten situation but in the end it is better than clutching your nuts, everyone's going to pieces, guns being pulled for a mercy clipping and all your intestines is mashed out through your balls. 

 

 

1 minute ago, MtB said:

 

Fatties strike me as quite unsuited to river use. 

 

Ok, unsuited for any sort of proper boating.

 

 

 

There were several at Lechlade last time I went up there a few yars ago. 

 

 

[MtB]

5 minutes ago, magnetman said:

 

There were several at Lechlade last time I went up there a few yars ago. 

 

 

Unable to turn around, presumably?

 

 

[magnetman]

Below the bridge. 

Lechlade always a fun run. 

 

Might try again in the light cruiser this summer. Its funny when people ask how it goes under bridges. Its very low air draft with the gear down but 3ft4 water draft is interesting above Oxford. 

 

The Boat on the right this morning at the country estate. 

 

Its been a while since I had the the other one at Lechlade must be a decade or more. 

[Redhawk106]

I'll check out the marinas mentioned, thanks.

 

As for the boat, its actually a rare widebeam with a V shaped hull, so apparently better suited to river use, but I do understand a river is still very different to a canal.

 

I fully expect we'll move back to land one day, but was hoping it would at least not be for another couple of years, especially after the financial and time investment we put into this boat. We both want to try and make it work on the boat, so I'm going to keep hoping for options. There's plenty within the 55x10ft that we can do to make more space for our young one. Will be heading over to Oxford in a week or so for a couple of days, so will check it out. If theres any areas people recommend I check out, please let me know.

 

1 hour ago, Tony Brooks said:

Oxford seems to hate cars, so make driving into the city diffcult.

I guess theres also the bonus that technically we wont have to be working IN oxford, its more working on different sites in the area, the 25KM area around Oxford, so potentially maybe theres other rivers or canals? We have a car, so its flexible in terms of getting to work sites.

 

Other than the Oxford Canal, are there any other canals/rivers in that radius that have locks suitable for 10ft wide, and more suitable for our purpose?

 

Should also mention that my partner only has to work a few days a week on site, the rest can be from home, and I work full-time from home, so I'm flexible.

 

1 hour ago, MtB said:

Would Reading be close enough? There is an excellent train service to Oxford.

 

Thames and Kennet Marina has bags of widebeam berths and is the only marina I can think of on The Thames that turns a blind eye to living aboard. Or used to anyway.

The thought about Reading is also worth an option. Better than a commute to/from our London marina. And Thames and Kennet Marina is worth calling up, thanks. Only thing I can think as of a problem is that there is literally a requirement to be living within 25KM of Oxford, thats part of the job spec

Edited April 23 by Redhawk106

[MtB]

25 minutes ago, Redhawk106 said:

The thought about Reading is also worth an option. Better than a commute to/from our London marina. And Thames and Kennet Marina is worth calling up, thanks. Only thing I can think as of a problem is that there is literally a requirement to be living within 25KM of Oxford, thats part of the job spec

 

Ah, so this raises the perenial question of what it means to "live" <somewhere>. Could you borrow an address to tell them you "live" at? Or is the actual question "What is your postal address?" perhaps? (It might be different from where you sleep most nights.) What if you tell them you live on your boat in the Oxford area and move around? How would they know where you were on any given night? 

 

Just questions for you to consider. No need to answer them here. 

 

Another idea if you need more space on the boat is to get an additional boat. Then you could be living in two places at the same time! 

[magnetman]

It depends how you want to approach things. There are wild moorings all over the place where you can tie to trees. 

 

Shillingford bridge hotel worth investigating but I think they are full. 

 

Ask lock keepers and possibly get an EA mooring on one of the lock islands. Abingdon is good but I expect he already has plenty of askers. 

 

Its going to be a bit tricky because although Boats seem like a cheap option they actually aren't once you start looking into it and needing to be somewhere. 

 

 

 

Its OK I have been through this process 15 yars young free single and rich with an amazing narrow Boat followed by another 15 yars of dealing with woman and children interaction issues. All the while remaining on Boats but spending a lot on moorings and a barge. The Woman and the girls have gone ashore now so I am on my Boats with my dreams and aspirations and some beer. 

 

Which is ideal as far as I am concerned because I am entirely dedicated to living in Boats. 

 

If the Woman is demanding more space then you have to think about what is happening. 

 

A lot of blokes really want to have a partner. I am not of one these blokes. Reproduction is a biological imperative. 

 

 

Edited April 23 by magnetman
edit to remove odd tree reference

[Redhawk106]

We're definitely not doing it to save money, well aware that whilst it can be done, theres plenty to consider in terms of maintenance and fuel etc etc. We've had to do extensive renovations on our boat, and even we might even be able to make back that money, the boat is not finished yet to be able to sell it for a decent price, still lots of finishing touches without which the boat will look VERY unfinished. So hence hoping we can put that off for a couple of years.

 

So we're not opposed to moving into a marina, its just if they have space, and can fit the boat, and so far its been slim pickings. We are currently paying about £900/month for our central London mooring, hoping that outside of London it will be cheaper, but still the availability and travel distance will be a factor. As for space and a second boat, that would be a great option if we could afford it and it would allow relatives to visit us and see the baby more and even help out with that too. But there's the big big cost element of an extra boat and mooring fees.

 

Im wondering if we could perhaps find a marina 'close ish' and then for the days that my partner needs to be closer to a work site, hope that its near a river or canal, and move the boat closer for those days, and then it would only be the 24hr mooring here and there and pop back to the main mooring for the rest of the time. Is that too intensive to move the boat that much every week? (Not done it yet, just been stuck in the marina).