Crinan Canal Re-opening?

[Quandary]

For those of you Clydesiders itching to get out to annoy the isanders, Scottish canals websites are still advertising the re-opening of the Crinan as 1st May, just over a week away. But to my untrained eye the chances of this happening are remote. The contracters have stacks of men 'working' on every one of the locks from 1-4, so far they have not managed to complete work on one and the reach from Cairnbaan is stiil dry and will take quite a time to fill. Completing a pair of gates at 4 would allow this to begin but while there is plenty of manpower and plant in attendance for extended hours, there appears to be a marked lack of direction or urgency. My best guess at present would be opening by mid to late May.
The good news is that the weather is benign and the alternative route via the Mull and Gigha would be an enjoyable mini cruise. (Though I do not recommend Ardminish or Craighouse in even moderate easterlies.)

 

[yotter]

Have you got any photos of the empty canal?

We had hoped to travel up enroute to visiting relatives in Tarbert and stop to have a look since been going through for over 40 years and never seen it empty, but the palgue put paid to that:-(

I wonder how many sluice handles they recovered?

 

[Quandary]

No pics, empty it is just a mucky ditch with about 1/2 metre of now dry silt and a muddy stream running through it, bicycles, traffic cones, wheely bins but no handles, ( the Canal guys use a magnet to recover those that fall in) The rumoured gold Rolex watch reportedly dropped by a 'wealthy' yachty below lock 4 has not turned up either, any watch that falls in to the Canal is bound to be a Rolex, us yachties would never wear anything less, (and Casio straps hold better.) It has been well scoured by a sucession of bottle collectors.
What is remarkable is how much of it is through solid rock and how the vee shape gives such a narrow width at full depth, normally in the middle third but beyond Oakfield bridge closer to the east side, the south west side close to the overhanging trees is remarkably shallow.

 

[penfold]

Someone should do a drone film of it drained.

 

[adwuk]

There was one done a few weeks back (not mine). Interesting to see the Ardrishaig end at least.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Great video just to see what it looks like empty.

Quandary, are they fixing the damaged grouting in locks or just doing gate work?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I am a total cynic, as some of you will no doubt have picked up. I assumed that the canal would be run down and then closed, focusing on pathways, walks and cottage rental. Glad that some repairs are underway to preserve its use. I much prefer a canal trip than rounding the MOK, which to be frank is a bore.

 

[Quandary]

Great video just to see what it looks like empty.

Quandary, are they fixing the damaged grouting in locks or just doing gate work?

They have promised me that all necessary grouting will be done, a self confessed cynic like yourself I do not think they have done any, I suspect they forgot to include it in the contract until it was too late, they wouldnt be lying to me surely? if I find any I will report back. I do not see how they can replace the lower gate on 5 without draining the whole reach east of it unless their dam building skills improve remarkably. Having said that the steel coffer they have outside the sea lock has held despite being overtopped. The village thunders all night with massive generators and several oversized pumps at every lock, sucking great quantities of air very noisily, they seem to like to pump the same water over and over, we are looking forward to the return of silence and undisturbed sleep.
I suppose it is a familiarity problem but I prefer to go via the Mull or Rathlin, especially if I can get a dram in the Ardshiel.

 

[penfold]

The Mull was less of a bore when the pub on Sanda was running.

 

[Gwylan]

Share the doubts a out prospective opening dates.

How long will it take for the canal to actually refill?

 

[JumbleDuck]

They have promised me that all necessary grouting will be done, a self confessed cynic like yourself I do not think they have done any, I suspect they forgot to include it in the contract until it was too late, they wouldnt be lying to me surely? if I find any I will report back. I do not see how they can replace the lower gate on 5 without draining the whole reach east of it unless their dam building skills improve remarkably.

Was/is there not a stop gate somewhere near Miller's Bridge?

 

[dgadee]

What about the Caledonian? Any idea of whether it will be 1st May for transits?

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I much prefer a canal trip than rounding the MOK, which to be frank is a bore.

I much prefer a boring trip round the MOK than an ‘exciting’ one!

Anyone know what it will cost to transit the Crinan this year?

 

[JumbleDuck]

I much prefer a canal trip than rounding the MOK, which to be frank is a bore.

I like rounding the mull from west to east because in my boat I have to leave Gigha well before the tide turns, and the smooth acceleration from 3 kt to 6 kt SOG as I cross Machrihanish bay, and then to 10+ kt past the lighthouse never fails to amuse me. The other direction is a bit of a grind, though because after the fun bit is over there is such a long haul to Gigha.

 

[ctva]

Helen at the Crinan Canal Office will happily answer all question with no guessing, 01546 603210.

The west side of the Crinan will be opening next weekend for those of us with floaty things there.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I much prefer a boring trip round the MOK than an ‘exciting’ one!

Anyone know what it will cost to transit the Crinan this year?

I agree.

Its not not the technical challenge that is boring, it’s the long sail down, round and up that is bland scenery.

 

[Quandary]

Was/is there not a stop gate somewhere near Miller's Bridge?

Between lock 4 and the former Loch Fyne distillery, it is now too decrepit to use, they had a temporary and apparently ineffective barrier a bit north of it for a while, polythene and sandbags.
As I understood the programme they had allowed 2 weeks for refilling the reach, not sure what the minimum time really is, a months heavy rain would help, there is an awful lot of tidying/reinstatement around the locks when they eventually complete the task. It was not lack of labour, there were always more guys in orange rompers watching than doing anything.

 

[WGWarburton]

I got a call this morning to say that the re-opening is now scheduled for 13th May, I'd previously been in touch to ask about transiting to Bellanoch at the beginning of May, so they were kind enough to let me know that wouldn't be possible. No great surprise and good to be given some notice.

Cheers,
W.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Between lock 4 and the former Loch Fyne distillery, it is now too decrepit to use, they had a temporary and apparently ineffective barrier a bit north of it for a while, polythene and sandbags.

Perhaps reinstating that will have to come before the next set of repairs. Of course it would depend on which side it was designed to keep water on.

As I understood the programme they had allowed 2 weeks for refilling the reach, not sure what the minimum time really is, a months heavy rain would help, there is an awful lot of tidying/reinstatement around the locks when they eventually complete the task. It was not lack of labour, there were always more guys in orange rompers watching than doing anything.

An oldie but a goodie:

 

[penfold]

I much prefer a boring trip round the MOK than an ‘exciting’ one!

Anyone know what it will cost to transit the Crinan this year?