It is worth having these handy tips below at hand:​

1. It is essential to licence a boat before arrival at Sharpness, otherwise CART will charge double, even for a visitor licence.

2. Bridges Sharpness to Gloucester all open for unlimited air draft, however a number have to be arranged 24 hours in advance or are not opened in rush hour. 3 approx 4 mtr or may be slightly  more under these advance notice bridges

3. See CART web site for river and canal visitor charges.

4. Have to make a declaration to conformity with BSS tests. If staying longer than a month the boat will need to comply with the BSS and have a survey to prove its compliance.

5. 10 ft draft Gloucester to Worcester bridge allegedly, however more like 2mtr.

6. Less than 2 mtr draft above Bevere Lock to Stourport.

7. River flows at 1/4 to 1 kn at summer levels, much more in times of higher rainfall.

8. River very responsive to rain in the welsh hills. Rises and falls quickly, so care is needed not to get beached on country moorings.

9. Tide goes over the weir at Maisemore when tide is above 9 mtr at Gloucester.

10. A lot of dangerous drift wood particularly Tewkesbury and below and is even more severe when the tide over-tops Maisemore weir.

11. The deep areas on bends are on the wrong side, due to Thomas Telford blasting the shorter route in the 1850's

12. Commercial gravel barges operate above to below Upton,

13. A lot of our members cruise the Avon, which is particularly pretty, but has a somewhat low bridge in Tewkesbury.

 

Club Member David Bagshaw has also been sounding the bends of the river, initially between the Club and Upton. These soundings can be made available as kml downloads to club members to aid navigation of the shallow waters.

 

These soundings are for indication only,  and  NOT FOR NAVIGATION.

 

David Bagshaw is copyright holder of the data, which is shared by commons creative licence.​