Speed guns on the Thames

[jamiebae]

WTF?!

Some jobsworth on the news saying '18kph with excessive wash' in a disdainful voice while wearing a high-viz vest....

[FourWheelDrift]

Only one response needed, torpedoes.

[tank slapper]

What part of the Thames and what type of boat?

[jamiebae]

I fancy getting a small boat to play about with on the Thames, but with a rigidly enforced 5mph limit I might as well just swim!

[Oily Nails]

As above..Torpedo their ass..and the politicians at the same time

[ninja-lewis]

http://www.the-river-thames.co.uk/tidalnav.htm

8 Knot speed limit (14.8kph) above Wandsworth Bridge and a £2,500 fine for excessive wash. Supposed to limit the effects of boat wash on riverbanks and other river users. TBF, tried rowing at school and I really wouldn't have fancied someone creating the slightest of washes anywhere near my very low in the water boat.

[RizzoTheRat]

I wonder if you'd get away with exceeding the limit in a hovercraft?

[tegwin]

RizzoTheRat said:

I wonder if you'd get away with exceeding the limit in a hovercraft?

Ironically a hovercraft traveling BELOW the speed limit would create more wash/wake on the water than one traveling above the speed limit.... (Below the speed limit the craft would be sat in the water, above it and it would take off and "hover")

[SeeFive]

They have them now and again in Portsmouth Harbour entrance, monitoring the small boat channel.

I came in one day with an engine electronics fault, meaning that if I cut the revs it would stall, and be a pig to restart. In the tidal race caused by the harbour basin emptying out of that entrance that would not be a good idea. So, I barreled in on the plane at about 25kts, shot into Gosport marina (shouting apologies the whole way at disgruntled berth holders getting the wash) where the boat stalled as I backed off to get into my berth. Loud shouts of "anyone catch a rope please".

Never got a call / ticket. Just black looks from the other berth holders... you know, the ones with masts. Anyone would think I had a 30foot jet ski or something...

[AnotherClarkey]

tegwin said:

RizzoTheRat said:

I wonder if you'd get away with exceeding the limit in a hovercraft?

Ironically a hovercraft traveling BELOW the speed limit would create more wash/wake on the water than one traveling above the speed limit.... (Below the speed limit the craft would be sat in the water, above it and it would take off and "hover")

What type of hovercraft would this be? I know they have to go over a bit of a 'hump' to get up to speed but they can be hovering at 0 knots.

[DJFish]

My buddy is one of these evil doers as part of his summer job and to be fair to him he is otherwise normal and likeable.

The harbour where he works had major problems with the Romford Navy descending at the weekend, blatting around on 70kts Jet skis and running over swimmers etc so they had to impose a ban which has to apply to everyone, a classic case of a minority ruining it for everyone.

I personally feel that the sea is one of the last great unregulated playgrounds and should be left well alone!

[jamiebae]

tank slapper said:

What part of the Thames and what type of boat?

Near Abingdon, a bloke on the bank with a radar gun pointing it at a small motorboat of some sort.

[Sixpackpert]

AnotherClarkey said:

tegwin said:

RizzoTheRat said:

I wonder if you'd get away with exceeding the limit in a hovercraft?

Ironically a hovercraft traveling BELOW the speed limit would create more wash/wake on the water than one traveling above the speed limit.... (Below the speed limit the craft would be sat in the water, above it and it would take off and "hover")

What type of hovercraft would this be? I know they have to go over a bit of a 'hump' to get up to speed but they can be hovering at 0 knots.

All type of hovercraft. They blow a hole in the water under about 5 knots (hump speed) that you have to climb out of before the craft hovers on the surface. If you sit in this hole you simply become a big ball of spray as you attempt to start moving forward as the rear segments are scooping up water. The problem is bigger with integrated craft (as oppose to ones that have a lift engine) but is the same across the board.

With regards the speed limits, we are classed as a vessel so the limit does apply.