Richmond Draw Off and Scout Moorings

This year we have a two month Draw-Off where the barrier curtain at Richmond Lock is not closed , this means the river drops to its natural level at low tide, and the foreshore and manu of the mooring areas dry out.

We treat the draw-off as an opportunity to inspect and repair the Scout moorings and they definitely needed some work. At the start of 2022, we lost one of the pendulum mooring chains, as the chain links dip into the gritty river bed, the links of the chain rub together and eventually wear through.

It was a perfect day, as the rain has held off for a week allowing the river level to drop sufficiently to expose the river bed at our moorings, this was dubbed Trevor Island a few yeas ago as I seemed to spend so much time on it .

Trevor Island and the boat “Dreckly”

It was a perfect day, as the rain has held off for a week allowing the river level to drop sufficiently to expose the river bed at our moorings, this was dubbed Trevor Island a few yeas ago as I seemed to spend so much time on it .

So 50m of heavy chain has been bought (about 100kg) and the main groundchain relaid, plus the broken pendulum mooring chain replaced. As we leave Jubilant on our moorings in the summer, the anchors and ground chain have to be in good condition for such a heavy boat. But… all done now, so hopefully all fine for he next few years.

Trevor Hall Centre Manager

Scout Moorings at Low TIde during the Run-Off