Crinan Canal, more hassle

[Railbob]

Webbie I think you are absolutely correct in your assumption here, on Facebook the topic has been closed for further comments after someone asked the OP if she had any sailing experience, I think that says it all ��

 

[Quandary]

I cannot find any mention of this booking system or the early convoy system on the SC website. Nor on their Facebook page (where I asked, but got no reply).
I suspect this is fake news.

I do not think it is fake news even if it should be, the author is one of the managers on the Crinan and the outdoor staff have all been briefed on it. The MOA is among organizations that it has been sent out to. Story is it was dreamed up after a trip out to see Neptunes staircase. The objective seems to be to operate with a reduced workforce. The reason why it may not be on the website might be that not everyone thinks it might be a good idea?

 

[MM5AHO]

The canal isn't a novelty or a scenic diversion any more for me, more a shortcut.
I've lost count of how many trips through there, but certainly between 70 and 100. As a business model its a bit doomed. An ancient asset with a high maintenance cost, a market that doesn't allow much more than their current charges, and a staffing requirement that adds to these costs. I've been though in recent years where only a handful of boats transitted that day, so perhaps an income of a few £100s. Of course there are busy days when they might have some 10s of boats. But I can't see economic sense in it overall, and can't see a way to make it work. I guess it will stumble along as now, with the Government stepping in now and again with a grant. (way of getting general tax payers to contribute to the cost of something for a the few).

 

[A1Sailor]

I do not think it is fake news even if it should be, the author is one of the managers on the Crinan and the outdoor staff have all been briefed on it. The MOA is among organizations that it has been sent out to. Story is it was dreamed up after a trip out to see Neptunes staircase. The objective seems to be to operate with a reduced workforce. The reason why it may not be on the website might be that not everyone thinks it might be a good idea?

How many managers are there? In 1978-79 there was one, plus an accountant who ran the office.

 

[Quandary]

Well, Helen, who does reception, looks after berthing contracts, clerical and communications and has been known to come out and operate locks or bridges when needed could probably do it all too.
There is a rather grand house above the basin, latterly an hotel, but now boarded up, vacant and quite derelict which used to be Canal House where the manager used to live, I am told he was usually a retired Naval officer and wore a uniform, he had stables, haylofts, a water turbine generator and a grand garden with staff to work it. Of course that was when the canal was part of the steamer route from Glasgow to Oban and on out to the Islands.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Having thought about it, I'm warming to the idea of being able to prebook a convoy place up to 24 hours in advance. One of the recent hassles has been turning up without knowing when you'll be able to set off, so knowing that a group will be leaving at such-and-such a time and that you have a place in it could be a significant improvement. "Hello, Ardrishaig. I'm thinking of coming overnight from Port Bannatyne. Have you a convoy place tomorrow?" "Sure. The 9am group is full, but we'll put you down as number three for the 10am one. No need to rush, just be at the sea lock for 9.30, please"

 

[Quandary]

Good luck with that, if the current performance is an indicator you could be waiting a couple of hours trying to find someone to come back to operate each bridge.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Good luck with that, if the current performance is an indicator you could be waiting a couple of hours trying to find someone to come back to operate each bridge.

Well, that's the thing. Scheduled convoys could well work better at time of staff shortages than go-when-you-can. We'll see.

 

[rbmatthews]

Just came through the Canal yesterday - in Crinan Basin as I write. We arrived at Ardrishaig around 2030, and at the advice of the female staff member whom we had talked to by phone earlier, we stayed overnight in the sealock and were let through at 0830 in the morning when the staff arrived. We (two of us) teamed up with another boat of three, previously unknown to us, and went together all the way through. We could have done it easily in a day, but stopped overnight at Cairnbarn. The staff opened up the bridges along the way, the rest of the locks we did ourselves. Neither of us had a pilot - it would have made things slightly easier, I suppose, in preparing the next lock each time, but quite doable without. I have to say that all the staff members we met along the way, male and female, were very friendly and helpful.

Weather and views were stunning, it must be one of the most beautiful canals in the world, and it would be a real shame if it had to be decommissioned.

 

[[2574]]

We similarly had a good passage through last week. A little muttering at Ardrishaig about boats locking in at low tide consuming too much water, if that is a problem then Scottish Canals should make users aware that they only lock HW +- 3 hrs or suchlike. However locking in and out at Crinan end without any such comments or concerns. Staff all helpful with a smile, pleasant trip. Likewise we were two up and managed it no trouble, our second time through. Key thing is the crew member on board to have control of the bowline whilst in the cockpit (whilst steering and doing the stern line) by using a long line via a series of blocks from the bow. Showers at Crinan need more oomph.

 

[Quandary]

I had to move our boat from its winter berth in Ardrishaig to its summer berth at Crinan Rings, so wanting to be kind to the wife and avoid a busmans holiday we went via Campbeltown, also stopping in East Loch Tarbert, Gigha and a diversion to Craighouse.
Comments; locking out at Ardrishaig was slow because to save water they were waiting for a boat booked to lock in at 15-00 which of course did not turn up. Tarbert marina continues to improve its facilities and is busy but the village itself looks just a wee bit down at heel, Campbeltown is very busy, rafting from late afternoon but friendly and a town with an appearance of improvement, can recommend the coffee bar in the cinema foyer and of course the Ardshiel with its friendly atmosphere amazing selection of malts and very well prepared food. Bit of drama on the way back when the massive wind tower trucks coming away from the new pier tried to squeeze past cars illegally parked in front of the cinema, cops went in and interrupted the show but no one owned up. They ship (Hong Kong) was massive, they have dredged that side of the harbour to 9m. The marina leaflet recommends leaving to round the Mull 2hrs. before Dover HW which I thought too early unless you were going right up the Sound of Islay, we left at Dover minus 1/2hr. and carried good tide the whole way to Gigha. Next week the three distillerys are having their open days on consecutive days with free tours, sports and entertainment, sounded like fun.
Rounding the Mull was interesting, no wind until we got near the Light then filled in from behind so we started sailing; within minutes we were getting 30 kts. off the cliffs with gusts to the mid forties, no time to reef and it was a very broad reach anyway so speeded up to 8 plus knots. with a bit of broaching and occasionally lying on our side, shaking like a poisoned pup. This on a day with a forecast of 8-12 kts, assured the wife it would only last ten minutes but did not start to decrease until we cleared the cliffs over half an hour later, sea was quite flat but white all over.
Plenty of free moorings in Ardminish bay and nobody on the pontoon which anyway would have been noisy beam to the waves from the south. Hotel virtually deserted, seems to have lost much of its business to the bistro by the beach which was surrounded by camper vans. Gardens really spectacular and not to be missed at this time of year, but peacocks are gone and they are gradually going wild, nice in that state if like me you do not go in for too much tidiness. Nice reach over to Craighouse after lunch, only boat in then two came in later, wee cruise liner visiting the distillery but their ribs had gone before we went ashore. A lot of small tents on the hotel lawn, sea kayakers, bar busy, food good, well pleased. Wind died to nothing overnight and the the swell started to come in with the rising tide, the wind had been SSE so was not expecting such a shaking, rocking, rattling and rolling the boat until about 05-00.HW. (Craighouse would be busier today with some light rain to cool the runners going up the Paps in the Scottish Peaks Race.)
Motored to Crinan the next day with more than a knot of rising tide under us from about an hour before HW Dover. Replenished our diesel at the wonky fuel berth then locked in without any delay, unloaded our bags to the car in the basin and then took Corona up to her berth at the Rings, much more fun than going through.
There are no locking restrictions yet, other than those applied by the staff trying to save water on thir own iniative but there should be, they were similarly profligate last year for too long, so finished up only locking at HW which is unreasonably restrictive. Delaying locking for even just one hour after low water particularly at springs would allow service to be maintained for much longer, it has been a dry winter followed by a long spring drought which hopefully might continue.
Recommended, paricularly the Ardshiel.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Nice story Quandary.