JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 254
Loc: Mid-Thames
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We had a very nice day today bringing the boat up the Thames. Left about 9 from Laleham and was greeting by Doolittle and his camera. Nice to put a face to the handle.
Made out way up to Bray for fuel and lunch at the excellent restaurant there. Met Mike Gates which was also good after our talks last week.
Only lock we found hard was Bray with some really odd eddies just at the lay-by below the lock. No harm done but two big commercial boats had real problems there just before us. We eventually aborted and the lock was open so went straight in. Everywhere else was fine.
Loaded the kids at Cookham and made our way to the marina.
Not the greatest of welcomes. We made a bit of a hash of getting into the new berth. It is very tight with little turning room and a big boat next door. Anyway two people came and helped with the lines and with a bit of fending off the big boat we got in.
About an hour later a chap came down saying he keeps an eye on the big boat and he had a call from 'friends' in the marina and we apparently collided with it. It was a collision apparently as the big boat moved and they don't move without something happening (like a fend-off with hands). Now there was no collision and hence it isn't an issue but are people that panicky about someone touching their boat? Hopefully an isolated example but it was actually quite upsetting particularly for my wife as we were taking it ultra slowly specifically to avoid any problems like that. Put a bit of a dampener on the day I must say. Certainly plan to get some tuition on close quarters manouvering, but we weren't that bad, took it very slowly and sorted it out in the end.
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Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4797
Loc: London
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Glad you had a good day and many more to come 
Boats move very easy so i wouldnt worry about the gossips in the marina , just enjoy your boat .
I have to add that this is one reason why i dont like marinas . I go boating to get away from the gossiping old twats that moan about parking spaces and basicly have [--word removed--] all to do all day apart from moan about other people enjoying life .
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Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
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Blackfeather
regular
Reged: 21/12/2004
Posts: 1008
Loc: Berks - home, boat - Poole
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Quote:
gossiping old twats that moan about parking spaces and basicly have [--word removed--] all to do all day apart from moan about other people enjoying life .
Don't know why but that made me giggle.
Well said.
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6846
Loc: Surrey uk
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Glad all went well and you found a few 'interesting' spots.
As for the 'incident' in the marina, you can do without neighbours like that, and the berth sounds a tad unsatisfactiry for you.
If it were me, I would be having a word with the marina and requesting a more suitable and 'friendly' spot.
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
ThamesBlog
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pande
regular
Reged: 29/03/2008
Posts: 94
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Must agree with Boatone. You need to change your mooring spot if possible.
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BEEZ RETURN
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 254
Loc: Mid-Thames
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Will talk about it with the marina. Also do plan to get someone to come out with me to talk through approaches to berths like that, I am sure I could have done a much better job. Wasn't helped by not having any lines on the pontoon that we could pick up. I think an alongside mooring may be better - she will turn in her own length but is heavy and ponderous (matching the owner I suppose!)...
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Lady Gay
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miket
regular
Reged: 21/06/2001
Posts: 1464
Loc: N Hampshire
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May be the response by the "friend" could have been handled more sensitively, having surreptitiously checked that no damage had been done first.
I have to be honest and say that if I have several hundred Łk's worth of boat (you say big boat) I would be delighted to be informed by a fellow bertholder that I should inspect for any damage, following an incident such as yours. There may well be no damage, but at least I would be prudent to rig a few more fenders just in case!!
If there was damage then it is only fair that, if of sufficient note, your insurance company should pay the repairs.
Sorry to be so brutal, but if you are still learning to handle your new boat and intend on additional instruction/ practice, I applaude you. However, in the meantime take it very slowly, and have lots of fenders and crew to minimise the chance of damaging someone else's pride and joy!
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 254
Loc: Mid-Thames
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Mike, it is the approach that is the issue, not checking for any damage. Of course if there was damage it would be paid for. And yes, as I think I made clear, I was and will be taking it very easily.
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Lady Gay
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 254
Loc: Mid-Thames
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Anyway, to wrap this up. Spoke with the owner of the boat next door, and he is fine. I think it may have just been some over enthusiastic friends who could have been a little more diplomatic.
Still not sure our berth is ideal for our sort of boat.
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Lady Gay
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Ramage
regular
Reged: 09/07/2006
Posts: 575
Loc: Hampton Hill
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He is probably pleased not to be next to some oik in a Birchwood!
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Paul
http://www.braycruiserclub.co.uk/
http://www.birchwoodboats.aceboard.com/
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 254
Loc: Mid-Thames
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Well, he did say that it could be worse...
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Lady Gay
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No_Regrets
regular
Reged: 09/07/2007
Posts: 1392
Loc: Welwyn Garden City, Herts UK.
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Ha ha ha.....hang on a fooking minute... 
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The scourge of Windsor, and notorious founder member of the 'Upper Thames Birchwood Massive' now outlawed by the EA and River pressure groups, currently planning a nice comfy retirement in the aft cabin of a Broom.
Now can anybody recommend any non-marking slippers?
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apollo
regular
Reged: 12/09/2003
Posts: 1185
Loc: Thames
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Yeah, it could have been a BIG Birchwood
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Gavi
regular
Reged: 01/06/2006
Posts: 1577
Loc: Sunny Staines
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Glad to hear it - hope you have a wonderful time being based from there.
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 254
Loc: Mid-Thames
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Went out with an instructor on Saturday who drives and moves traditional boats for a living. He confirmed that the berth we had was possible to get into and out of but it is really tight and no way to avoid some fender rubbing with the other boat particularly in any wind. He said he would not want to berth boat with less than 3 crew.
The owner of the boat next door saw us practising and decided that he was going to struggle as he is much longer and juts out well into the basin from the quite short pontoon. He is essentially the biggest boat in the marina.
So he moved which helps him and gives us much more manouvering room!
We will have another wooden boat in next to us and I am very comfortable with my ability to get in and out of the berth now even with some wind.
The tuition was helpful and confirmed my boat control was pretty good, I just was getting a little overcome by the lack of space.
(and the same neighbours are sitting on the top of their boat supervising the marina day after day - not sure their boat ever goes out!)
Thanks for the advice and help.
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Lady Gay
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