JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
I'm from Paisley too, originally. I actually saw him smile this time, which was a little unsettling.
CRINAN CANAL Assisted passage???
- Thread starter Quandary
- Start date
I'm from Paisley too, originally. I actually saw him smile this time, which was a little unsettling.
Digger F
Active Member
Quite an interesting thread for a change. Luckily on the Caley Canal the only problems we seem to suffer are the reluctance of skippers to observe the speed limit past moored craft and one of the Barge Skippers who seems to think he is the actual owner of the Great Glen Waterway. As for the Lock and Bridge Keepers they are the best advert for an efficient waterways system but still get abuse from some Gin Palaces who fail to see why a road bridge should have a traffic priority just so that locals can get to work or an emergency vehicle can attend an incident. On the plus side for short-handed all locks and bridges are staffed.... perhaps that is why it costs nearly 200 quid to take an 11mtr from one end to the other.
alan_d
Well-Known Member
Yes, I went through double-handed a few years back and we quickly worked out that it was best if the shore-side person had the boathook. As you say, they can often hook the warps if you leave them hanging over the lifelines, and it is a lot easier to hang a bowline over the end of a boathook proffered from above than it is to throw a line ashore.
Kylora
Well-Known Member
This has been an excellent thread.
As Aquaplane said earlier, we took 'Mistral', our 27' x 8' x 2.3T Albin Vega through the canal from Crinan at the beginning of August this year.
I had the bow line rigged through a block at the aft end of the pulpit, via a second block on a stanchion base at mid beam to a coaming winch.
The cleats on a Vega consist of a round wooden horizontal bar supported by metal pillars. The stern line was fed through the resulting gap so it couldn't 'escape' and it was easy to vary the friction drag on the line. Each line had a big bow line loop tied in with a small loop of thin cord tied through like a chain link. These small loops sat on the point of an extended boat hook so that the crew could pass up both lines together to the shore crew from a mid ships position.
We were treating the transit as part of our summer cruise, so intended to take our time coming through. We had gone out via the Mull, virgins there too, and mainly used marinas and visitor buoys so for us the transit cost wasn't too high.
We came through the Crinan Sea Lock, Lock 14, and the Crinan Swing Bridge without a shore crew during our first afternoon. We were Port side to, so had to keep out of the hole in the wall of Lock 14, which would have swallowed a chunk of the boat, never mind just a fender. We told the girls on the controls that we were new, and asked them to treat us gently, which they did though I'm sure that one of them undid one of my bowlines as a bit of sport as we left Lock 14.
Our shore crew were using their own boat at Tayvallich as a base, so they drove to Dundardry to meet us at Lock 13. As related by Aquaplane, a larger boat with a crew of 4 caught up with us just as we were going into the lock, so we tied up well forward. We found it hard work to control our stern during the fill as the vertical line has a limited affect. We might have been better to use the winch for the stern line as there was never any great load on the bow line. JumbleDuck's idea of using the offshore cleat, and bringing the line back to the boat to double the purchase, would have helped, maybe with a bit of bungy to the push pit to keep it away from the water near the prop.
Between Lock 13 and 12, I persuaded the other (bigger, heavier) boat to overtake and enter the lock first. This fill was easier for us, and the skipper of the other boat used the wash off his rudder to control his stern, in fact that's all he did, he took nothing to do with his lines. His bow crew used a cleat at the bow, whilst his stern crew took up the slack in her line on a winch after he had kicked the stern in. He only had 1 crew ashore and he spent most of his time handling lines only which put an unfair load on my crew.
We stopped for lunch after Lock 9 and left the other boat to their own devices. We transited Locks 8,7,6,and 5 on our own (no declared water shortage then) which was easier for our shore crew because we only needed to open one gate.
We spent the night at Cairnbaan, and set off in the rain on our own to the jetty above the petrol station outside Lochgilphead where we went shopping.
Our shore crew drove to Lock 4, and helped us down to the basin. We had always intended spending the night in the basin, which is just as well because it was blowing a hoolie outside. The basin gradually filled up with rafted out boats as lots of people decided that the conditions beyond the lighthouse were pretty poor.
The weather on the next day was still poor, so I amused myself by manning lock 2, and we spent another night in the basin.
We might have spent a third night as conditions were still poor, but Aquaplane and Lady S turned up with a suggestion that Aquaplane and I take the boat to Tarbert, whilst Lady S drove my crew round.
Thinking about Quandary's other thread about spend. We ate on board on the first 2 nights, bought 10 litres of diesel and the makings of lunch at the garage, and ate ashore on the 2 nights at Ardrishaig.
Ash
As Aquaplane said earlier, we took 'Mistral', our 27' x 8' x 2.3T Albin Vega through the canal from Crinan at the beginning of August this year.
The male / female boat crew were canal virgins, but our male / female shore crew, Aquaplane and Lady Stormrider, are experienced canalists. Aquaplane uses the technique of staying ahead of the boat and preparing the lock.
I had the bow line rigged through a block at the aft end of the pulpit, via a second block on a stanchion base at mid beam to a coaming winch.
The cleats on a Vega consist of a round wooden horizontal bar supported by metal pillars. The stern line was fed through the resulting gap so it couldn't 'escape' and it was easy to vary the friction drag on the line. Each line had a big bow line loop tied in with a small loop of thin cord tied through like a chain link. These small loops sat on the point of an extended boat hook so that the crew could pass up both lines together to the shore crew from a mid ships position.
We were treating the transit as part of our summer cruise, so intended to take our time coming through. We had gone out via the Mull, virgins there too, and mainly used marinas and visitor buoys so for us the transit cost wasn't too high.
We came through the Crinan Sea Lock, Lock 14, and the Crinan Swing Bridge without a shore crew during our first afternoon. We were Port side to, so had to keep out of the hole in the wall of Lock 14, which would have swallowed a chunk of the boat, never mind just a fender. We told the girls on the controls that we were new, and asked them to treat us gently, which they did though I'm sure that one of them undid one of my bowlines as a bit of sport as we left Lock 14.
Our shore crew were using their own boat at Tayvallich as a base, so they drove to Dundardry to meet us at Lock 13. As related by Aquaplane, a larger boat with a crew of 4 caught up with us just as we were going into the lock, so we tied up well forward. We found it hard work to control our stern during the fill as the vertical line has a limited affect. We might have been better to use the winch for the stern line as there was never any great load on the bow line. JumbleDuck's idea of using the offshore cleat, and bringing the line back to the boat to double the purchase, would have helped, maybe with a bit of bungy to the push pit to keep it away from the water near the prop.
I used the TP on standby to hold the tiller, initially adjusting it to the best angle but if the water flow changed and I didn't adjust the tiller, then I was worse off so settled on locking the rudder in the straight ahead position.
Between Lock 13 and 12, I persuaded the other (bigger, heavier) boat to overtake and enter the lock first. This fill was easier for us, and the skipper of the other boat used the wash off his rudder to control his stern, in fact that's all he did, he took nothing to do with his lines. His bow crew used a cleat at the bow, whilst his stern crew took up the slack in her line on a winch after he had kicked the stern in. He only had 1 crew ashore and he spent most of his time handling lines only which put an unfair load on my crew.
We stopped for lunch after Lock 9 and left the other boat to their own devices. We transited Locks 8,7,6,and 5 on our own (no declared water shortage then) which was easier for our shore crew because we only needed to open one gate.
We spent the night at Cairnbaan, and set off in the rain on our own to the jetty above the petrol station outside Lochgilphead where we went shopping.
Our shore crew drove to Lock 4, and helped us down to the basin. We had always intended spending the night in the basin, which is just as well because it was blowing a hoolie outside. The basin gradually filled up with rafted out boats as lots of people decided that the conditions beyond the lighthouse were pretty poor.
The weather on the next day was still poor, so I amused myself by manning lock 2, and we spent another night in the basin.
We might have spent a third night as conditions were still poor, but Aquaplane and Lady S turned up with a suggestion that Aquaplane and I take the boat to Tarbert, whilst Lady S drove my crew round.
Thinking about Quandary's other thread about spend. We ate on board on the first 2 nights, bought 10 litres of diesel and the makings of lunch at the garage, and ate ashore on the 2 nights at Ardrishaig.
Ash
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
I believe you also helped a poor sod with a long keeled boat into his intended mooring spot and put an end to the entertainment he was giving other occupants of the basin.
Kylora
Well-Known Member
Yes, And the next day I managed to squeeze a 44', 17T, ferrocement yacht in beside you! after it had spent the afternoon rafted to us. I was glad to get her leaning against a wall before the wind changed direction!
Ash
ukmctc
Well-Known Member
complain if you paid for the assisted passage, if you didn't then no. As you went through with other yachts, why didn't you just raft and take an easy tow all the way, then you could have assisted at all the locks?
Quandary
Well-Known Member
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
It's not clear who you're addressing, but I did pay for my assisted passage. I didn't pay more for it, but that's not the point. Towing alongside doesn't work if the combined beam of you and your lockmate is greater than the width of the locks,
A1Sailor
...
It is not uncommon for some of the gates not to open completely, thus reducing the available width; not by much, but a couple of feet does make a difference sometimes.
Seatrout
Well-Known Member
From this point, the whisker pole shall henceforth be known as the 'boaby shaft'
Old Troll
Well-Known Member
Crinan Canal
We have recently transited the Crinan Canal on Saturday 24th August using the assisted passage. We entered the Crinan Basin at approx 1100 hours and arrived in the basin at Ardrishaig at 1645 hours where we spent the night not wishing to leave after a long tiring day having departed Poullnadobhran at 0700. During our transit we were well assisted by the staff who could not have been more helpfull without exception. There only being two of us onboard we had no shore crew whatsoever. The canal was quiet with no other yacht with us. We had an extended lunch break at lock 9 to allow another yacht transiting in the opposite direction to pass which meant the locks were all filled for us. Having a narrow beam (A Vega) we only required one lock gate open to enter and leave the locks. The Crinan Canal is a nice alternative to the Mull Of Kintyre and can quicker. Thanks again to the courteous and pleasant staff of the Crinan Canal.
We have recently transited the Crinan Canal on Saturday 24th August using the assisted passage. We entered the Crinan Basin at approx 1100 hours and arrived in the basin at Ardrishaig at 1645 hours where we spent the night not wishing to leave after a long tiring day having departed Poullnadobhran at 0700. During our transit we were well assisted by the staff who could not have been more helpfull without exception. There only being two of us onboard we had no shore crew whatsoever. The canal was quiet with no other yacht with us. We had an extended lunch break at lock 9 to allow another yacht transiting in the opposite direction to pass which meant the locks were all filled for us. Having a narrow beam (A Vega) we only required one lock gate open to enter and leave the locks. The Crinan Canal is a nice alternative to the Mull Of Kintyre and can quicker. Thanks again to the courteous and pleasant staff of the Crinan Canal.
