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You may find this information helpful when researching the area
Regulations
Bye laws of particular relevance to leisure boaters are:
The name of any vessel must be clearly displayed.
Any vessel 12 metres (approx 40 ft) or more in length suffering damage must inform the PLA Harbour Master, must not proceed above Lower Hope Point or move, if above Lower Hope Point, without the Harbour Master's permission. Lower Hope Point is near Tilbury, roughly 30 miles downriver from London Bridge - you are likely to be above it!
A competent person must be in charge of a vessel at all times
All vessels must comply with the appropriate navigation light requirements. Don't think you can get away without lights if it's dark - it's not unknown further upriver or on the canals, but is absolutely not recommended here!
All vessels shall be equipped with one or more anchors unless under 7 metres (approx 23 ft) in length or a rowing boat. An anchor really should be considered essential equipment - not because the rules say so, but simply common sense. If you have an engine failure or fouled prop, when the tide is really running you will definitely want something to stop you careering along with the tide.
Any river user must not navigate while under the influence of drink or drugs. PLA Harbour Service launches are equipped with standard breathalyser equipment, and Masters are instructed to administer this test as appropriate.
Any craft not registered with the EA will need to be licensed before they may go upstream of Teddington. Visitors licenses may be purchased from the lock keeper, who will either sort out the paperwork while you are locking up or, more often, ask you to moor up once through the lock and walk back to the office.
Richmond lock
Between Teddington and Richmond, the water level is maintained at or above half-tide level. This is achieved using vertical sluice gates suspended from Richmond footbridge. When raised - from approximately 2 hours before high water to 2 hours after high water (remember that HW here is about 1hr later than high tide at London Bridge as shown on tide tables) - passage through the centre three arches is possible. This is indicated by two fixed orange lights at the head of each span.
If the sluices are lowered, or an arch is closed to navigation for any other reason, the orange lights are replaced by three red disks in a triangle pointing downwards. At night there are red lights in the same formation.
The span nearest the lock is now permanently closed to allow the PLA to moor their launches alongside the lock! This does leave the other two free for use though.
When the arches are closed, passage is possible via the lock on the Surrey bank. A large illuminated sign on the lock flashes the message "Use lock" with an arrow pointing to it! There is a charge to use the lock, currently £5.00 (April 1997). Boats small enough to be picked up and carried may use the boat rollers on the Middlesex bank and avoid paying.
It is sometimes a difficult job to attract the lock keeper's attention, and it can easily take half an hour or more to get through the lock. There are no bollards or rings which means relying on the hanging chains to control your boat.
The lock office is a good source of information about tides and suchlike, and can be contacted on 020 8940 0634.
Vital statistics Length 250'0" Width 26'8" Maximum fall 10'0"
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