Crinan canal pilot recommendation

[JumbleDuck]

Transit booked for tomorrow, no reply from Quandary (off sailing, I guess). Can anyone recommend one of the other pilots?

 

[ctva]

Andy from Tayviallich.

 

[skip50]

Andy Grant (Lochgilphead) 07738003955. Highly recommended, is a sailor, not all are.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Are those the same Andy?

 

[SaltIre]

Here's a 5 year old post by Quandary, with contact numbers:

Last year you may recall that Scottish Canals managed to annoy some of their regular customers by introducing 'assisted passage' and doubling their charges to pay for it, those who like to do it themselves were allowed to but still charged the higher rate. It did work though quite a number of regulars continued to employ Hugh or Jim or their back up team (of which I and Toby the dog am (are)one) as the assisted scheme could sometimes be a bit hit and miss. This year assisted passage has been dropped and the increased charges have been reduced a bit, Scottish Canals have arranged with local restaurant 'YotSpot' to provide a piloting service for those who want it, for which they will charge £60 per transit. Hugh and the rest of us who used to do it will continue to assist those who want us, our charge will not be much less. Using ' Yotspot' will possibly have the advantage of someone with an established business to sue if things go pear shaped but it is unlikely that their pilots will have the know how or experience that Hugh's team have, might not match our banter either. We enjoy doing it, it is a great way to get exercise, beats walking the dog along the towpath. Off course you can go back to doing it yourself, far the best option, a transit is a good four hour physical workout and in company with other yachts you make new friends, possibly for life.
Last year a lot of boats were annoyed when they turned up and were told about the cost of assistance which they did not want or need, this year I suspect there will be boats turning up who could have brought a helper but will not because they may now be expecting assistance, so a good chance for the Canal to annoy the customers they missed last year.
If you should want to pre-book 'Starship Enterprise' help, Hugh's (Captain Kirk's) number is 07717396755, if you can't get him, ring me (Joe) on 01546 603799 where there is voicemail or you can always send a PM, if you want 'Yotspot' to find a pilot for you they are in the old steamer terminal building in Pier Square, Ardrishaig.

 

[SaltIre]

Here's another:
Crinan Canal pilot
Only has Quandary/Joe's home number, as above, and Hugh Kirk was 80 and "retired"...
Hugh might be able to advise: 07717 396755
Good luck.

 

[skip50]

Are those the same Andy?

Sorry, no idea.

 

[ctva]

Are those the same Andy?

Yes. Couldn’t remember his second name.

 

[Quandary]

Hugh is retired and out of contact, Joe (me) in Tob. Andy Grant is my recommendation, Mike Murray is another sailor who knows what he is doing but I suspect is elsewhere just now, the canal list is not vetted for competence or updated, anyone can be put on it and you can be on it for years after death.
Some only do it at weekends (? Pitman who used to do it for Yotspot (now defunct) is back but only at weekends) Mickey ? and his son are active, keen to take your money but far from being sailors.
Sorry about the vague reply but I do not know complete names, scale of greed or competence of my competitors but have worked with Andy and he is the second best pilot available this year..

 

[penfold]

Without wanting to cast nasturtiums, how much competence do you need outside basic boat handling under power? The provided Skipper's Guide is reasonably lucid.

 

[SaltIre]

Without wanting to cast nasturtiums, how much competence do you need outside basic boat handling under power? The provided Skipper's Guide is reasonably lucid.

A swimming qualification would be grrrrrreat. Also the ability to whistle. I have fond memories of repainting "whistle" signs when I worked on the Crinan Canal.

 

[dutyhog]

Andy was at home earlier this evening, emailing me.

 

[seafox67]

I used Micki and his son back in 2019. They are not sailors (I think work in forestry) but got me through both directions quickly with no problems. I'm single handed so I stayed on the boat and they caught the lines and worked the locks. (07917 622553 back in 2019)

 

[tyce]

Im heading through in a few weeks, family of 4. Is a pilot advised for the first time. My kids are nearly 16 so well capable of helping but want to make it as stress free and relaxed for the missus as possible.

 

[adwuk]

Im heading through in a few weeks, family of 4. Is a pilot advised for the first time. My kids are nearly 16 so well capable of helping but want to make it as stress free and relaxed for the missus as possible.

You'll be fine. 2 people on the boat and 2 on land will see you through quickly. No doubt you will be travelling through with a single hander, so they will commandeer one of your offspring from time to time - seems to always happen that way!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Im heading through in a few weeks, family of 4. Is a pilot advised for the first time. My kids are nearly 16 so well capable of helping but want to make it as stress free and relaxed for the missus as possible.

If you do your preparatory work, reading the guide from Scottish Canals and having the long lines and snatch blocks, turning blocks or good fairleads ready, it is very easy with a family you describe. I have been through a few times with crew and single handed, with and without pilots.

I set up the boat with a a snatch block on the quarter and the bow and two long lines (multi plait) with large bowlines on the end, each lead to a winch near the helm, on my port side because I kick the stern to port in reverse (significantly). I just use 5 fenders, 3 at the beam, one at the quarter area and one at the bow area, all high near the gunwale. If rafting is likely, I have just used 2 on the side that people would raft against me. Some folks recommend large ball fenders, but my experience suggests that they are not needed. However, I would think that ball fenders would be useful because of their larger diameter, especially at the ends.

In preparing yourself, make sure the kids, understand their chores, which I am assuming will be running ahead and preparing locks, catching lines, then operating locks. From reading posts by Quandary, one of the pilots, who posts on here, some of the lock gates are getting difficult to operate, so if the kids are lightweight that may be an issue. With crew, the big bowlines are dropped over an arm and then the crew climbs the lock ladder, bow line goes way forward onto hook at canal side (or bollard), where helm then pulls tight, similarly stern lines gets walks aft, dropped over a hook (or bollard), and helm pulls tight. Then lines are adjusted as level changes. I won't discuss how to open the sluices as I can't remember clearly, but it is in the guide. When the gates are opened, lines are dropped, then crew runs to the pontoon ahead or to the next lock and helm motors out then prepares lines, rather than waiting for kids to climb down ladders. Know how to throw a line up and onto a lock then crew can just carry on running to the next lock.

If you see the canal as an experience to be enjoyed and not as a fast transit, then a family trip, managing the locks yourselves, should not present a problem and can be a pleasant and fun experience. I would recommend a big front door mat as grass clippings, sand, grit and mud can all be brought onto the boat from the canal paths, hence the mat helps to minimise the crap being spread around, throw it over the side, tied on with a sail tie, between flights of locks. When motoring along, have a bucket on a line and slosh the decks down to keep the dirt at bay. Note that dirt is only an issue if it has been raining, if the banks are dry then no worse than anywhere else.

Download the Skippers Guide from here Boating on the Crinan Canal | Scottish Canals
Book ahead your passage with Scottish Canals. I think it is now mandatory to book ahead. If you just turn up you may have to wait until booked in boats get passes a certain point, not sure about this.

 

[tyce]

Big thanks to both of you for your excellent advice. We fancied making a trip of it and spending a night somewhere on the canal so sounds like pilot not needed.

 

[Stooriefit]

Tyce - the midges at Cairnbann will be delighted to hear about your plans and have put an order in for extra cutlery!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Tyce - the midges at Cairnbann will be delighted to hear about your plans and have put an order in for extra cutlery!

Nothing that appropriate midge deterrent products can't control.

 

[Cheeky Girl]

We are planning to use the canal at the end of July heading North
How far in advance do we need to book as I see the conditions state non-refundable.