Wednesday 20 October 2010

Troubled Waters

If you walk around any marina or stretch of moorings anywhere in the country there will be horror stories and tales about a local stretch of water. Depending on the location of the mooring depends on the severity of the tales.

Burton Waters and the local online moorings are no different. The horror stories all revolving around the River Trent and Trent Falls. The strange part of this though, is that those spreading the rumours have never been to where these horror stories are about. How can this be?

For the record the River Trent is not the easiest water to navigate but with the correct charts and some common sense it can be safely navigated with no trouble at all. Many boats travel this stretch of water with ease. The ones that do come across trouble tend to not be prepared or carrying the charts.

Trent Falls has all sorts of tales attached and people are terrified of the place. For what reason I don’t know as all that is there is the confluence of the Rivers Trent and Ouse and the forming of the River Humber. It is a vast expanse of water with shallows galore but again with the correct charts it is perfectly possible to navigate this water with no problems.

Where these tales of horror and woe originate is anybody’s guess, but my advice is don’t write of a stretch of water on someone’s say so. Research the area for yourself and make up your own mind. There are a lot of exciting places to explore on the UK’s waterways, don’t let people put you off trying.

5 comments:

  1. Thanks, just came across your blog as I have acquired a boat, and want to take it right up the Trent, out to the estuary. From what I have read it appears that only experienced people can traverse this part of the river, is this correct, and how would this be enforced?
    Could I not attempt this from gaining knowledge from experienced boaters (I am now in a sailing club, reading up on it and getting the proper charts?

    FWI the boat I have been given is sound and seaworthy.

    Thanks in advance for any advice.

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  2. There are no limitations on experience as such but it is advisable to have the VHF certificate, VHF set and the necessary experience of using it. There are a lot of very large commercial vessels as you get towards the Humber.

    The correct charts are essential, the channel below Trent Falls shifts very quickly and you can not always see from one bouy to the next depending on the visibility conditions.

    Most important is getting to know your boat before hand. Make sure it is well maintained and has clean fuel tanks. Boats that have been river bound for a long while can be prone to lots of crud in the bottom of the tanks which can be stirred up on lumpy water and block the filters cutting the engine. Not an ideal situation to say the least.

    The trip under the Humbe bridge is one you wont forget though. Enjoy but stay safe.

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  3. Thanks, The boat I have Is a 20 ft sailing vessel, she needs new sails, and only has an outboard, although I have no photos of her yet, she looks very similar to this:
    http://hampshire.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=190078
    I am wondering if an outboard is powerful enough for this trip.

    Thanks very much for replying.

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  4. There are plenty of sailing vessels with small outboard engines that use the Humber estuary. You just need to remember to go with the tides. Fighting them wont be an option.

    Enjoy your new boat.

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  5. Thanks again, looking forward to it.

    ReplyDelete