Messing about on the River

August 27th 2016

It was great to be back on board Life's too Short and better still to be joined by friends for a trip along the Thames. Rather than try to cater for 10 people on board we all met at The Crown for dinner, it's just along from the marina and was an excellent choice, the food was fantastic.

After a long, lazy lunch we made our way to the marina and onto the boat. Somehow with a bit of shuffling around we had everyone comfortably seated - spread out between the cockpit and cabin.  The boat sat very low in the water at the stern, hardly surprising though! As we left the marina and joined the Thames it was immediately apparent that our steering was adversely affected by the weight (or weight distribution) but with concentration it was perfectly manageable if a little zig-zaggy at times!

We headed downstream and through Sonning Lock. The river was incredibly quiet, we hardly saw another boat! Maybe Reading Festival was attracting people the other way? There were even plenty of moorings available upstream from Sonning Lock, very odd for a bank holiday weekend!

Things were different when we got to Shiplake, a queue of boats waiting to go through, so we decided to turn around and make our way back. As we did this a number of boats came out of the lock and a couple of others left their moorings on the island - suddenly the river seemed to be a bit busier! I don't know what the hurry was but all the other boats were very keen to get past us (we were bang on 8 kph of course), maybe it was a bit of a race to find moorings on The Lynch or Hallsmead Ait as that's where they headed after passing us. Either way it was a bit unnecessary and I don't think the fishermen or kayakers appreciated the wash.

Trouble free passage through Sonning Lock and onto the home straight where we were soon greeted by a very odd sight - a few people sat in what looked like a paddling pool, drifting down the river!

When it got closer we noticed it was in fact being propelled and steered by someone swimming behind. They were not alone either, a trial of various inflatable followed including a number of unicorns, a bouncy castle, armchairs and a golden goose! What a wonderful way to enjoy some time afloat, they must have been having a right laugh!

We arrived back at the marina at about 6:00, tidied the boat and headed home, tired but happy.

Picnic on The Lynch

Saturday 30th July 2016

It's been a while since we went anywhere on Life's too Short, we've spent time on board at the marina but we haven't been anywhere. As per usual we made a plan, this time for a 'Friday to Sunday' return trip to Marlow but Lady Luck wasn't in on the plan so we were limited to a day trip instead as we needed to be at home to look after an injured cat.

On arrival at the marina we were pleased to at last be given the 'missing' centre cushion for our cockpit. On delivery it was the wrong size so went back to be adjusted - and then went missing for a while. A new one has been made and a quick trial fit (without the board underneath or the backrest in place) seemed to be OK but thinner than all the others, I can't be bothered to ask for yet another!

After our leisurely arrival we got ready and set off after midday with a revised plan of getting to Henley for a picnic. We made a good start and were soon through Sonning Lock.

A good start and a quiet river doesn't always mean you will reach your intended destination on time! As we approached Shiplake Lock we could see a queue that stretched back beyond the end of the lay-by with boats holding off. I presume the lockie was on lunch and the progress on 'self help' was very slow. We looked at mooring on the island for a while but the boats already there seemed to have managed to space themselves out leaving ¾ boat lengths between each other making it impossible for us to join them.  So we turned around and headed back up river.

We were soon at the 2 large islands 'The Lynch' and 'Hallsmead Ait' so we decided to take a look around them to see if we could find space to moor, according to the Thame Guide these 2 very overgrown looking islands are free to moor at.

As luck would have it (for a change) there was a lovely mooring available so we were soon tied up (where the marker is in the picture above) and enjoying a picnic!

We had a 'friendly' goose keeping look out and for good measure he was later joined by a few ducks!

The inquisitive teenage boy in me couldn't resist going exploring, there were some well trodden footpaths in both directions so I headed off to see if I could get all the way around.

Just along from where we moored there was another good mooring but a large branch had fallen from the tree last night rendering the space unusable. Luckily it didn't fall on the family who were camping  here when it gave way!

The island is a great example of what happens when you let nature manage the space, there clearly is nobody managing the upkeep of the place although there is evidence of many visitors. The island is very overgrown and there are lots of self-seeded saplings vying for space with the older trees. There are also many fallen trees. I couldn't find a way to get right the way around but I took a few photos on my adventure.

The path to . . . .  where?

Remains of the root-ball of a large fallen tree

Not much path here!

Made it to the other side

The family camping had moved to a new pitch, near the rope swing

I particularly liked these two trees, one is an old tree that has fallen at some point but still grimly determined to grow a branch upwards and the other is a relatively young tree wise brand is embedded in the other tree. To me they look like two old romantics, having a cuddle while gazing out over the beautiful river!

The First Overnight Away From the Marina!

20th and 21st June 2016

David,  good friend of mine who I met through learning to fly wanted to come for a trip on the boat along the Thames, so as I'd recently fitted the Ruddersafe I thought it would be an opportunity to try it and to make sure it didn't fall off!

On arrival at Thames and Kennet Marina the weather wasn't great but it was scheduled to improve in the afternoon so we just chilled for a while until it brightened up.

We left the marina and headed east, soon we were at Sonning Lock, David's first and as luck would have it we had to operate it ourselves so he could play at being the lock keeper!

The cruise down through Shiplake to Marsh lock was pleasant and uneventful, we just admired the beautiful houses we passed along the way. Marsh Lock was attended so we were swiftly through.

 

We passed through Henley bridge and around the regatta course, there were many people busily setting up marquees and stands on both side of the river plus lots of rowers practising.

We thought about pushing on to Marlow but decided Henley would make a better stop for the night so we turned around, back down the regatta course, under the bridge and moored up on the park.

We experimented with the hood, just to see how easy it was to open it up to enjoy the sunshine, I'm sure it would be neater to remove it completely!

After some beers in the sun we headed into Henley where we enjoyed a lovely meal in Cau (steak) with a few beers, then back to the boat. The rest of the evening was spent talking about flying and making some rough plans about places to fly to meet up again. Time for a drop of port then some much needed sleep!

Next morning we started the day with bacon sarnie (is there any other way??) then headed back to the marina.  The approach to Marsh Lock was a bit challenging due to strong current from the weir and gusting cross-winds (to use a flying term!). The boat was being bobbed about a fair bit but as I approached the shelter of the lock it was fine.

Marsh Lock

We motored back up river past the lovely houses again, through Shiplake Lock and then tied up at the lay-by for Sonning Lock.

Val Wyatt Marina, with contentious 'house boat' office

Some pontoons heading downstream, leaving Sonning Lock

Once through Sonning we tied up on the bank and went for a snack at the cafe behind the lock, very nice it was too!

Moored at Sonning, first time the stakes have been used!

Soon we were back at Thames and Kennet Marina.  We stopped at the fuel pontoon so I could fill the tank (from a jerry can, but still best to do it on this pontoon) and we brimmed the water tank ready for  the next trip.

Finishing off the Ruddersafe and New Cleat

19th June 2016

Today I returned to the marina with future son-in-law Lewie to finish fitting the Ruddersafe, yet another fender and a new foredeck cleat. Lewie and my daughter Alex are getting married next weekend and will be using our boat for their honeymoon - I want to make it as easy as possible for them and the Ruddersafe has a good reputation for making the boat more controllable.

A couple of weeks ago when I tried to fit it there was a fault with the bracket on one side, Norfolk Marine sent me a new one straight away but I haven't had the chance to fit it before now. As I'd done most of the work previously it didn't take long to switch the bracket over (utilising the paddling pool once again!)

I think the Ruddersafe is designed to be a bit closer to the propellor than I've got it.  The anti-cavitation plate on this engine gets much narrower further forward and the curvature means it would be hard to get the clamps on properly so I'l try it like this and see how it goes.

Next up, the cleat on the foredeck. The standard item is not very big and struggles to take the 2 mooring ropes and the one for the anchor, so I decided to fit something a bit more useable.

To access the fixings meant removing the forward headlining inside, quite easy to do. I was surprised that the cleat was only held on with 2 M4 fixings, the 2 on the stern are fitted the same and already both are loose.

I chose one of these to fit and used 4 M6 fixings (and bedded it on silicone) so it should be fine.

I wasn't able to use the 2 existing holes as they weren't quite spaced the same (and not straight!) so I filled them with Araldite and drilled 4 new holes.

From underneath you can see that the ply lining has to be drilled away so that the washers and nuts are recessed, otherwise the roof lining won't be able to go back on. So the cleat is only fixed to the outer layer of GRP, but this looks quite thick and with 4 fixings it should be fine. Drilling upwards with a 16mm bit to counterbore the 4 holes was a bit nerve-wracking, one small slip . . . . .

Lewie re-fitting the headlining panel

New post has plenty of room for all the ropes

The new bow fender was easy to tie on.

Once the work was finished (we also added another 25l fuel tank to increase range) we went for a trial run up to Caversham lock and back, the Ruddersafe makes a very clear improvement to straight line stability.