webntweb Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Just received a copy of Le Boat's Thames Guide. About 80 pages, A5, good quality gloss paper. Really comprehensive guide to the river and its facilities but not an awful lot about the boats - they only show 5 of the 14 classes of boats they have available and then only thumbnail pics. Unfortunately none of their boats will go above Oxford thus missing out on 30 miles of lovely river, a lot of it reminiscent of the Waveney above Beccles. The 40 and 45 footers they sold to Woods would have passed under the two Oxford bridges that are a block to larger craft. Their base at Benson is a comfortable week's return trip to the top of navigation just above Lechlade. Lots of wild moorings and pubs about half a days cruising apart who are generally more grateful of your custom than those in the lower reaches, some of whom have been known to refuse overnight mooring to hirecraft – "they spoil the view from the lawn for our customers". Still a very nice brochure which would be really useful to anybody contemplating a Thames boating holiday. Roy 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxwellian Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 The Thames above Oxford is lovely with some very narrow bridges, the boat we were on had quite a bit of battle damage due to previous encounters, not us I must add. Well worth a visit, but I enjoy the Broads much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 The Thames based hire craft often get a lot more damage due to a lot of concrete locks !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxwellian Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Yes you are right, the boat we were on had chunks and gouges on the hull and superstructure. It was interesting to watch the others, some can put the boat exactly where they want it and some were bouncing off things everywhere. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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