Anyone Know If There Are Public Slipways Around Inveraray?

[JumbleDuck]

The Vital Spark is more interesting. Now, for some reason I read that she was Vic 32 (72?), I cant remember. However, the Vic I remember on the Clyde in the 1980s was a steam vessel and had both a large funnel in front of the wheelhouse and a series of small set of steam whistles, also in front of the wheelhouse, which were used to whistle tunes. I may be mixing up my puffers though.

You are, sort of. Vic 32 is the puffer based at Crinan, converted to take passengers. http://savethepuffer.co.uk/

The puffer at Inverary is the Vic 72, formerly known as the Eldesa and then Eilean Easdale, which was the last puffer in commercial service and has been diesel powered for ageas. She was renamed the Vital Spark when she went to Inverarary, but has no connection with any of the film/TV adaptations of the books. http://www.pufferbar.com/the-puffer.php

The most recent TV Vital Spark was the Vic 27, formerly Auld Reekie, which has been on the slipway at Crinan for years. http://vic27.co.uk/

The only other surviving steam puffers that I know of are the Vic 56 (http://www.vic56.co.uk/) and the Vic 96 (http://www.vic96.co.uk/), both of which live at Chatham. The Scottish Maritime Museum have the Spartan, ex Vic 18, (http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/622/spartan) but she has been substantially modified and was converted to diesel a long time ago. She is the only surviving Scottish-built puffer.

 

[DaveS]

Thanks again for all listings of slipways. I never took the Wayfarer as the boy headed off on a sail training yacht from OYT this week. He was on the waiting list and a space came up. As LadyOldBoots and daughter can take it or leave it when it comes to dinghy sailing they chose the leave it option.

Both slips at Inveraray are not suitable for heavy dinghies like the Wayfarer, but Lasers, yes. The beach launch at Minard would have been easy for rubber wheeled launching trollies to bump over. That was all I checked out when in the area.

A while back both the vessels below had been discussed on here, so I thought I would post a picture of them tied up at Inveraray pier. The Arctic Penguin is for sale at a fixed price of £87k, price dropped by 50%. I believe she was a lightship at one time so may not be the best sailing vessel in the world should she ever be renovated. I suspect her fate is to be scrapped.

Better days for both posted here http://www.visit-inveraray.co.uk/visits.html

The Vital Spark is more interesting. Now, for some reason I read that she was Vic 32 (72?), I cant remember. However, the Vic I remember on the Clyde in the 1980s was a steam vessel and had both a large funnel in front of the wheelhouse and a series of small set of steam whistles, also in front of the wheelhouse, which were used to whistle tunes. I may be mixing up my puffers though.

Sadly the pier is in ruin at Inveraray and access blocked as it is unsafe. I am sure his Grace, The Duke of Argyle could afford to have it repaired or even replaced. Such a facility could be developed to allow yachts to lie alongside and even for the likes of the Waverley and other tourist vessels to berth, no doubt increasing business in Inveraray. A worthy cause for tourism and maybe even commerce. The volume of logs being moved along the roads is quite staggering and they could be moved by sea if the volumes were economical. Years ago timber was moved from Campbelltown to Irvine by sea.

Ex Vic 32 (Vital Spark) and Arctic Penguin

Most interesting. I drive past there regularly on my way to the boat, but it's years since I stopped.

I agree with your thoughts re. the D of A. Our landed gentry are always keen to emphasise their role as custodians of the land but, with the odd notable exception, a bit less enthusiastic about actually doing anything practical for the community. Fewer timber lorries to dodge on the A83 would benefit everybody.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I agree with your thoughts re. the D of A. Our landed gentry are always keen to emphasise their role as custodians of the land but, with the odd notable exception, a bit less enthusiastic about actually doing anything practical for the community. Fewer timber lorries to dodge on the A83 would benefit everybody.

I was impressed by the size of the stack of wood on the timber quay at Ardrishaig a couple of weeks back. Less impressed when I watched it being loaded onto a lorry.

 

[Quandary]

I was impressed by the size of the stack of wood on the timber quay at Ardrishaig a couple of weeks back. Less impressed when I watched it being loaded onto a lorry.

Never seen that and our windows overlook it, we have two ships operating from here, Ayress takes the small stuff to Troon for the pulp mill but all the useful logs are taken to Ireland By Raba, she took the last load to Sligo, though the majority goes down to Youghal. Each port seems to have a different market, Fishnish goes to Workington in Isis, while Loch Aline across the sound seems to send a lot to Corpach in Burhoui. Our favourite ship was 'Boisterous' very small but gave a cheery hoot as she left port each time, sadly no longer around, probably just not big enough for the trade.

 

[ianj99]

I was impressed by the size of the stack of wood on the timber quay at Ardrishaig a couple of weeks back. Less impressed when I watched it being loaded onto a lorry.

Don't you mean unloaded? The timber lorries are pain in the neck in mid Argyll transporting timber from the many forests to Fort William or Ardrishaig. The drivers are an inconsiderate bunch as well - never pull into a layby or slow down to a crawl to let the traffic past and then floor it upto 56mph (they are supposed to stick to their speed limit of 40) on the few straights so no one can get past, especially not the darn motorhomes and foreign tourists in their own car.
The police are on the ball as usual - radar guns catching the unwary entering and also leaving the villages a few mph over the limit, but never have words with the timber lorry drivers or sight seers dawdling along at 35mph.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Don't you mean unloaded? The timber lorries are pain in the neck in mid Argyll transporting timber from the many forests to Fort William or Ardrishaig. The drivers are an inconsiderate bunch as well - never pull into a layby or slow down to a crawl to let the traffic past and then floor it upto 56mph (they are supposed to stick to their speed limit of 40) on the few straights so no one can get past, especially not the darn motorhomes and foreign tourists in their own car

It was definitely loading. However, that was maybe just to rebalance a pile of something.

Down here in deep SW we have huge numbers of timber lorries too and they are without doubt the biggest menaces on the road. The driver seem to be prats without exception; there are agree routes to which they are supposed to stick, but don't, and they treat the white line down the middle of the road with casual disdain. Every so often the cops clamp down on them, which produces better behaviour for an hour or two afterwards.

And ... relax ...