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Johnglenys
89 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Jan 2014 : 15:12:17
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Does anyone know if you can navigate from the Kennet & Avon onto the Bristol Channel and the up to the River Severn?
Thanks |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2014 : 16:10:54
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Yes. It depends on your boat though...... Time, tide and excellent weather are essential. A reliable, big enough engine. Flares, chart and a bit of local knowledge will be useful too.
Have a read of this.... The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow. An absolutely fantastic read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Unlikely-Voyage-Jack-Crow/dp/1574091522
He did it the other way round.... admittedly in a 14 foot sailing dinghy, but then he went on to sail the channel in the same boat!!
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 32 "Liberty"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
Edited by - Deano on 31 Jan 2014 16:11:46 |
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mike
United Kingdom
80 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2014 : 16:22:39
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Yes BUT its essentially a coastal passage.
Big tides and fast flow, you need a well found boat, powerful engine experienced crew, possibly a river pilot, check your insurance covers the trip, navigation equipment, auxiliary engine etc etc etc.
Not saying don't do it but the inland waterways it ain't.
Mike |
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Johnglenys
89 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2014 : 17:54:47
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| What do you think about a Norman 27 with a 15hp engine? Would definitely have a pilot. |
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merlin
United Kingdom
400 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2014 : 19:43:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Johnglenys
What do you think about a Norman 27 with a 15hp engine? Would definitely have a pilot.
Think you would need to think about that John
don't think the Pilot would even come on board
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Johnglenys
89 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2014 : 00:20:21
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| Maybe not a good idea then.... |
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mike
United Kingdom
80 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2014 : 10:49:38
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Tend to agree with Merlin, but it's worth asking Bristol Pilots their opinion.
Even if they are not adverse to the idea your big problem is costs.
A. Getting the boat up to spec. and B.Standby costs - you have to have a very good weather window, so you may have waiting time for both pilot and possibly an escort vessel also unless you are already in Bristol you have mooring charges whilst waiting.
Whilst not as adventurous but probably cheaper to move by road
Mike
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Johnglenys
89 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2014 : 14:20:17
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| The idea was to plan a mammoth round trip from home (Leicester). Probably around a month. I will check with the pilots and insurance plus lots of research and planning. Just looked as if it would be an interesting cruise. |
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df
United Kingdom
5994 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2014 : 17:34:51
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It's probably do-able but with only 15hp you'd need to time the turn of the tide spot on to hit slack water at the avon/bristol channel bit to get taken down the avon and pushed up the bristol channel, I'd want a lot of local knowledge first as the flood rips up the bristol channel fiercly even on the smallest of tides, it's no good having a good push if you have no steering, a norman is not my first choice for surfing the severn bore with or anywhere in the top ten...
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
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consumedbynature
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2014 : 23:50:06
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I've started researching this myself with a view to completing in my Shetland Black Prince which has a 120hp inboard. I've heard of narrow boats completing the trip with the use of a pilot and doing the trip in two parts with a stay at Avonmouth in between tides, so it's theoretically doo-able.
In the summer I travelled the tidal Severn between Tewkesbury and Gloucester. This was done between level one bores. What struck me was the massive amount of debris carried in the river. There were huge trees being flung around like they were twigs.
I couldn't believe the amount of intrepid narrow boaters who were running the gauntlet and hanging onto the wall near Gloucester lock
Shetland Black Prince -Fizzy - Worcestershire Avon
(Formerly owned a Norman 20) |
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consumedbynature
United Kingdom
108 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2014 : 23:53:29
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Continuing on from my last point it would be essential to have a decent secondary engine in case some debris fouls your prop
Shetland Black Prince -Fizzy - Worcestershire Avon
(Formerly owned a Norman 20) |
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Johnglenys
89 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2014 : 13:30:19
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Thanks for the info/advice so far.I will carry on with gathering info and making provisional plans. I would make a nice round trip if it was possible without to much danger.
"The Norman 27 and 32 were the only boats that specifically stated inland waterway use only".
Does anyone know why Norman say this?
Thanks again for advice so far. |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2014 : 16:58:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Johnglenys
"The Norman 27 and 32 were the only boats that specifically stated inland waterway use only".
Does anyone know why Norman say this?
Because the hull shape was not stable enough.
Have you thought about having it lifted and trailered round???
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 32 "Liberty"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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Johnglenys
89 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2014 : 21:06:34
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That's worth thinking about.
By the way Deano, The book you recommended arrived today. Had a quick flick through and it looks to be very entertaining. Thanks. |
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adi-n-chez
United Kingdom
1980 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2014 : 19:50:23
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Now dont shoot me down......
I know the Bristol channel has a mighty tide !,now having run the Tidal Thames out of Limehouse in a 37'Sewer Tube , I would have been far happier in our 22 with a Honda 15 on the back - Mainly because of the side washes from the commercial craft.
Plenty of Tubes have run the Severn with a pilot & survived. I would be far happier with at least a 25HP lump & a nicer shaped hull, but a 27 is still better than a Tube !
I would take advice from a Pilot - One thing for sure is they wont take you if the craft or weather is unsuitable.
Other choice John in a month is Leics Line , Oxford , Thames , then in at Brentford (Easy) GU back home via the Oxford & Cov etc (Youve done that bit) or if you have time thru the East End , out at Limehouse & back in at Brentford then same way back via GU.
The Thames is lovely from Oxford to Brentford , coupled with a bit of Tidal to Brenford (No worries there)
We did it from Oxford via the East end & back via the Cov & T&M in 15 days , took Dad 5 days to get the boat to Oxford for us so easy peasy !
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
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mike
United Kingdom
80 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2014 : 16:28:52
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Same as Adi don't shoot me down, but this is a discussion forum.
Norman 27 is a 24 with an aft cabin added (Norman 27 Brochure)
Norman 23/24 are OK for coastal (see Norman History)
Norman 27 has a waterline length of about 25' so the beam to width ratio is about 3.5/1, not outrageous. So why did Norman say the 23,24 & 25 were OK for coastal but not the 27.
Lighter layup?, getting into the 1980's and they had one eye on possible litigation?, other unknown factors?
Not saying to anybody go out and take a 27 across the channel, but I am just curious why they said no coastal. Fully understand with the 32.
I await further comments. |
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Bristol
