wully1
Well-known member
There was but it didn’t look to healthy.
Crinan Canal Re-opening?
- Thread starter Quandary
- Start date
There was but it didn’t look to healthy.
Simon__
Member
Is it possible to book a pass in advance, or is that not required? Hoping to spend June in the canals, mainly Caledonian, and the website suggests you can but doesn’t show any availability, and seems to require updating for 2021.
We made it through the Crinan in 2019 by just turning up but that was more luck than judgement..
We made it through the Crinan in 2019 by just turning up but that was more luck than judgement..
Quandary
Well-known member
Simon
They are trying to get everyone to pre-book on line but I have never heard of anyone who just turned up being turned away. Or you can phone, Helens number is on ctvas post above, she is still working from home but is very efficient. They do not really appreciate the effect of weather on plans but both sealocks offer haven in the basin when open.
The Crinan is open from the delayed date of 13th May, shortly after that they plan to remove the Ardrishaig waiting pontoon so if you arrive after hours you may need to anchor though it is possible to tie up in the sea locks which are left open overnight, They will be closed every Tuesday and Wednesday plus Sat. and Sunday once per month.
Last year the Cally was not admitting single handers, suspect that might still be the case.
The good news is that despite my extreme age, decrepitude and grumpiness I plan to continue to offer gold star piloting assistance on the Crinan, advice, abuse and xenophobia incuded in the deal, I pass most of the revenue on to Mary's Meals, a local charity feeding school meals to thousands of hungry children world wide, better than sending it to Rishi. Tel. 01546 603799 to book or use the last name (Joe) on the Scottish Canals list.
They are trying to get everyone to pre-book on line but I have never heard of anyone who just turned up being turned away. Or you can phone, Helens number is on ctvas post above, she is still working from home but is very efficient. They do not really appreciate the effect of weather on plans but both sealocks offer haven in the basin when open.
The Crinan is open from the delayed date of 13th May, shortly after that they plan to remove the Ardrishaig waiting pontoon so if you arrive after hours you may need to anchor though it is possible to tie up in the sea locks which are left open overnight, They will be closed every Tuesday and Wednesday plus Sat. and Sunday once per month.
Last year the Cally was not admitting single handers, suspect that might still be the case.
The good news is that despite my extreme age, decrepitude and grumpiness I plan to continue to offer gold star piloting assistance on the Crinan, advice, abuse and xenophobia incuded in the deal, I pass most of the revenue on to Mary's Meals, a local charity feeding school meals to thousands of hungry children world wide, better than sending it to Rishi. Tel. 01546 603799 to book or use the last name (Joe) on the Scottish Canals list.
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
Wonderful timing!
penfold
Well-known member
Presumably the idea of servicing the pontoon while the basin is drained and everything is dismantled was too much of a good idea?
Quandary
Well-known member
I think the excuse is that is a separate contract and as such could not be accessed through the sea lock site. Like only opening a few days a week, it is of course completely in keeping with Scottish Canals ideas on customer service. The expectation is that the pontoon will be extended for community use and to encourage visitors, like Gairloch I expect it will be completely occupied by little motorboats that may be used to go fishing once or twice a year. Is my cynicism starting to show again?
D
Deleted member 36384
Guest
Not cynicism, just a statement of probability based on observable and repeatable practises. It is a fact of pontoons where the local community is allowed to use them that the original intent to supply a convenient visitor space ceases as the little boats fill the spaces; particularly if the supplier of the pontoon is a tax payer subsidised service.
It is a bug bear of mine that we do not have an extensive network of small, local marinas as the little boats show that there is a demand e.g. at Lochgair and that bay a few miles south (Mary Port?). Anyway it will never happen and Scottish council government is bereft of imagination.
penfold
Well-known member
Off the back of the RABT perpetual govt plan to destroy the economy of Mid Argyll and the clearly recreational drug-use inspired Transport Scotland proposal list, I daydreamed a proposal of my own; a synergistic plan, a tunnel from Inverclyde to Dunoon and the rock spoil used to make a breakwater for a marina. Given the amount of subsidy for the dunoon ferry and the traffic level on Western a tolled tunnel would pay for itself in a decade. Suggest that to any politician and their eyes glaze over.
dgadee
Well-known member
You can have a turn-off from the Donaghadee high speed tunnel/bridge/floating tube.
Quandary
Well-known member
Getting desperate, are you? Be patient, Boris is just a bit too busy to fix it just now.
penfold
Well-known member
That doesn't make economic sense; a fixed link inverclyde to cowal does.
Porthandbuoy
Well-known member
Not for Western Ferries it doesn’t.
penfold
Well-known member
Unlike CalMac I have confidence they'd either buy in or find another route not served or more likely ill-served by the incumbent; the distilleries, hauliers and farmers of Islay were well pleased when Western showed up with their cheery red boats, new-fangled Ro-Ro rocket science and the craaazy idea of shortening ferry routes so they are as cheap and as frequent as possible.
WGWarburton
Member
Opening hours posted to Facebook:
No weekend closures listed until the off-season?
No weekend closures listed until the off-season?
claymore
Well-known member
Well, if you go onto village side of the pier in Craighouse (if its vacant) there isn't much of a problem in easterlies and there is so little rise and fall in the tides that there is not much adjusting of lines to be done, once you've been up and down once. Park against the ladder which is fine with a fender board.
Quandary
Well-known member
I was driven to do that years ago (In a Trapper 300 called Quandary, we could not think of a name for her) after a very uncomfortable night, the pier was better but still quite bouncy until a large vintage mobo tied up on the other side.
The weekend opening once a month last year was a union stipulation, surprised but pleased that they have conceded this year. Still think they should man the sea locks seven days. It was at a SWfA meeting in Falkirk that they announced their intention to close every weekend to reduce staffing, I would claim credit for persuading them to think a bit more about it and suggested mid week closing as a slightly better option.
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Simon__
Member
Thank you for this, that’s what I was hoping as our plans will be fluid and heavily dependent on any restrictions. And thank you for providing the contact details, I’ll ring the office tomorrow to find out more.
The only deterrent for us could be the opening times as it would likely be Sunday 30 or Monday 31 May when we’d hope to transit, but I’ll see what they say.
If we do transit and the dates suit I’ll definitely take you up on your offer. We came through the canal with you and another boat, Jolly Womble, a couple of years ago, enjoyed the day and appreciated your help.
wully1
Well-known member
If you’re thinking of heading out west soon then give some thought to where you are going and how your going to moor when you get there as local marinas are fully booked for alongside I’ve heard..
penfold
Well-known member
Anyone who cruises the west coast and only visits marinas might as well stay in the Clyde.
We'll be at anchor for two nights this holiday weekend...