Dunx
Active member
Does anyone know if you can overnight in the sea Lock at Ardrishaig. Just want a night but no info on canals website, other than buy a 4 day license.
Ardrishaig
- Thread starter Dunx
- Start date
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
Yes, and I have done it regularly. They leave the gates open when they go home. It's convenient, but a little noisy when water starts coming over the top gate. There is a waiting pontoon outside which was out of use for rebuilding; I don;t know if COVID-19 has closed the new version.
Hang on a minute. Do you mean "in the sealock" or "in the basin"? They still have basin (ie non-transit) rates as far as I know - I paid a fairly small amount for two nights in the Crinan Basin when a storm was forecast three or four years ago.
Hang on a minute. Do you mean "in the sealock" or "in the basin"? They still have basin (ie non-transit) rates as far as I know - I paid a fairly small amount for two nights in the Crinan Basin when a storm was forecast three or four years ago.
scottie
Well-known member
PM to quandary
Dunx
Active member
Thanks Jumbleduck. We’ve spent a few calls trying to get a straight answer from the canal people, yesterday was £4.30 a metre overnight, this morning was only if you transit. Will go in and speak as it’s a lovely day...
Sandy
Well-known member
Gulp, are they serving dinner with wine at that price?
[2574]
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The Ardrishaig basin is a noisy nightmare that I would never voluntarily endure again. HGVs running over the bridge from about 04.00hrs means a very early breakfast followed by a long wait before the canal becomes operational. And as for paying £4.30/m - that’s really funny!
Dunx
Active member
I had so much disinformation from people on their help numbers it really wasn’t funny, all it has done really is put us off. Opted for Loch Gair in the end, very pleasant and a good price too , free!!
[2574]
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Loch Gair free and much more pleasant....why wouldn’t you.....
Can that berthing price be right @ £4.30/m? Ardfern I see is only £2.60/m; how could the canal possibly get away with charging that much?
Can that berthing price be right @ £4.30/m? Ardfern I see is only £2.60/m; how could the canal possibly get away with charging that much?
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Dunx
Active member
I think they got their pricing wrong TBH, very reminiscent of Lymington where one marina described themselves as reassuringly expensive. What a load of nonsense...
Dunx
Active member
Price was similar too!!
Quandary
Well-known member
In Tobermory just now but the new waiting pontoon at Ardrishaig is taped off because the fancy alloy access bridge jams on its guide stanchions as the tide drops and then comes under tremendous compression stress as the pontoon it rests on rises. The canal say they want the bridge (one of those complicated things that transforms from a ramp to a stair as the angle changes) replaced, I think it just needs a couple of horizontal guides to keep it between the stanchions. However if you need to use the pontoon you may be tempted to untie a few knots and move the barrier. It has been going on all year as the local kids find it a useful swimming platform. You can overmight in the sea lock, it is noisy with water and traffic and you need to keep adjusting your lines or have big fenders all round. Most people anchor in Loch Gilp, reasonable depths and good holding SE of the moorings or Tarbert is only nine miles down Loch Fyne with better pubs.
Not surprised they do not know what to charge but there is a 'haven' rate for both basins which they should know.
Not surprised they do not know what to charge but there is a 'haven' rate for both basins which they should know.
Dunx
Active member
The brow and steps out to the pontoon is working well now with the addition of a roller on the bottom of the steps. The major issue is that the starboard side of the pontoon (inbound) has silted up. We draw 1.7 and we’re hard aground 2 hours either side of LW. Datum is therefore about 0.8 at the moment. Staff appeared genuinely shocked and have reported it. Guessing the lack of operation during Covid means there has been a lack of scouring. The good news was the berthing charge reflected the inconvenience. Allowed us a walk to Lochgilphead where I holidayed as a child 40+ years ago, it still appears the same ...
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Heading up today to wait overnight and enter the canal tomorrow. Booked a pilot to help as it will just be me. Thanks for sharing the depth information Dunx. If I can get into the sealock I may have a whisk(e)y or 3 to drown out the noise and be ready for tomorrow. Canal is closed Saturday and Sunday, this weekend so hopefully I can get aa the way through on Friday. Little wind today so a boring motor northwards to Ardrishaig, may get sea breezes this afternoon, ENE, perhaps a fetch up the Loch but I know it will be on the nose and fickle as usual.
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Glorious day!
bikedaft
Well-known member
eek indeed... hope your trip through the canal goes well
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Transited the canal with no issue. Some observations:-
- Transit time 08:30 to 14:45: 6 hrs 15 mins.
- Need to book ahead because if you turn up and pay you go to the back of the queue (if it’s busy).
- On line booking is dead easy.
- At Bellonoch Bridge you may have to wait as bridge operator also operates the one near Crinan basin.
- If no one is at the bridge call the Ardrishaig office. Take the number with you as I had to walk to the wee bridge keepers office where a sign told me to call the office.
- The foam makes yer hull manky.
- Everyone was very pleasant and helpful.
- I had booked pilots to help which was good.
- Check closing times on the web site as booking calendar shows closed days. There was a couple of boats arrived mid morning and they may not get through until Monday as closed this weekend.
- I rigged one long bow line, one long stern line, through snatch blocks on the bow, quarter and lead back to my sheet winches. This worked very well, Allowed lines to run easy, pull tension in fast unlike fair leads which can have a lot of friction.
- Take sun cream, I am fried and now a real red neck!
Quandary
Well-known member
Don't let that Ardrishshaig sealock foam dry on your hull, it is mainly sh*t and sticks like it.
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Just completed the port side clean. A scrubbing brush was slow work. In the end a foam backed green meanie with soap and water cleaned it off. However that light yellow stain is prevalent so it’s out with the Oxalic Acid later. It’s too hot to continue. Who would have thought that was a valid excuse in Scotland.