chain ferry

[Keith Tindell]

No wonder here on the Island the council are always bleating about their shortage of money. For a very small fee i could easily of advised them when spending money like water on the new chain ferry, even lowly me could have advised on draft, and lowest astronomical tides etc, what a disaster. For anyone who does not know the Island, this ferry SHOULD run from Cowes to East Cowes, and carry cars and foot passengers, and save a journey of some 12 miles for cars. You may have seen that at low water it cannot operate, as it touches bottom, and foot passengers had to wade ashore. The council is now facing huge claims from car owners who grounded on the ramps, because they are too high. In addition, even when it was running it exceeded noise levels, and had to stop running in the evening. It has now been taking off the run altogether, while the brains that got us here, rethink the problem. Not all the idiots are in Westminster kt



Troubled £3.2m Cowes 'floating bridge' taken out of service - BBC News

[Bengy Roberts]

No wonder here on the Island the council are always bleating about their shortage of money.. Not all the idiots are in Westminster kt



Troubled £3.2m Cowes 'floating bridge' taken out of service - BBC News

asipods save money,,well on liners anyway BENGY

[robpage]

you cannot use Asipods in the shallow draughtof the River Medina , this is one major reason the floating bridge / chain ferry is used ,

[Lewis McColl]

Is there a noise restriction ? what about water jet propulsion or is that not feasible? probably not cost effective regardless

[robpage]

these things are in very shallow water and vi rtually beach at each trip end , the underwater chains lift up , take a bite around a diesel driven cog , and it hhauls itself along , this means they are tetered to the chains for the journey

[Lewis McColl]

Okay Rob , I have been on the same typeof thing up in the lake disrict at Hawkshead and also across Strangford Lough in N Ireland.

[robpage]

it is a very simple well estabished system , my undrstsnding is the new floating bridge has has major electrical failures , and the car ramp to slipway angle has bridges a few cars ripping bumpers off

[Keith Tindell]

Thats correct Rob, but it cannot operate at all states of the tide also, the old one operated for years, and rarely did the tide stop it, only on the equinox tides , kt

[Bengy Roberts]

is this like the mortlake ferry BENGY.

[robpage]

similar , that is cable I believe not chain ,