Crinan Canal Re-opening?

[wully1]

Anyone who cruises the west coast and only visits marinas might as well stay in the Clyde.

Plenty peeps will only stop at a pontoon and tend not to go farther than Tobermory... “It’s because of the /wife dog....” is a popular reason.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Plenty peeps will only stop at a pontoon ...

Hence the Saturday charterers' rush down the SOund of Jura at full power - regardless of weather - to snag a pontoon at Port Ellen. But to be fair, they all do Puilladobhran for one night later on so they can say they have had the Scottish anchoring experience.

 

[penfold]

Hence the Saturday charterers' rush down the SOund of Jura at full power - regardless of weather - to snag a pontoon at Port Ellen. But to be fair, they all do Puilladobhran for one night later on so they can say they have had the Scottish anchoring experience.

Midges in the cockpit and cleg bites on the legs from walking over the hill to the pub?

 

[Martin&Rene]

When I first heard they were draining the Crinan Canal, I said "I bet we have a dry spring." Jan to March was about average on rainfall, but even though the West Coast has had more rain than other parts of Britain, I think it has still not been wet. So the question is "how much of the reservoir capacity does it take to fill up the drained sections and are we likely to run into water supply problems later on in the year?"

 

[claymore]

Anyone who cruises the west coast and only visits marinas might as well stay in the Clyde.

Rubbish, elitist patronising twaddle.Its a free world and they can go where they choose.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Rubbish, elitist patronising twaddle.Its a free world and they can go where they choose.

Indeed, but I am sure it's just a form of Scottish dour humour. A bit like on the Clyde where everyone rushes to Rothesay then East Loch Tarbert followed by a hangover Sunday blast round the KOB or Garroch Head, as there is really no where else to go. (-;

 

[claymore]

Sadly that attitude does prevail.
Perhaps its time for an anchor thread only for people venturing to the right of Cape McCartoonie and another for those going out past the Murkyane?

 

[wully1]

When I first heard they were draining the Crinan Canal, I said "I bet we have a dry spring." Jan to March was about average on rainfall, but even though the West Coast has had more rain than other parts of Britain, I think it has still not been wet. So the question is "how much of the reservoir capacity does it take to fill up the drained sections and are we likely to run into water supply problems later on in the year?"

If it stays as dry as it’s been it will run into problems for sure. It’s been exceptionally dry here in the west..

 

[penfold]

Rubbish, elitist patronising twaddle.Its a free world and they can go where they choose.

More a practical observation that there are very few marinas out there; limiting yourself to them seems an exercise in futility, especially if as reported they're fully booked. If you like stepping ashore then the Clyde/loch Fyne has many more options.

 

[claymore]

Gigha Jetty,
Port Ellen
Craighouse Pier
Tayvallich Jetty
Crinan
Ardfern
Craobh,
Kilmelford
Kerrera
Oban
LoachAline
Tobermory
Port Mor
Arisaig
Mallaig
etc. etc.
All have jetties/pontoons where you can step ashore dry footed - which, I think, is what marinas offer.

Very Few?

 

[Quandary]

And you left out Ulva Ferry which some nights might even have two berths available, which is two more than you will usually find at Crinan unless you can get there by 4-30.

 

[Andrew41]

More video of the drained Crinan canal further up near Cairnbaan.

A bit of dredging might be nice too.

 

[wully1]

A bit of dredging might be nice too.

As would a bit of editing so that the informative text didn’t distract from the nice filming in the first half of the video.

 

[penfold]

Crinan isnae a marina, Tayvallich and Craighouse are dinghy only, no mooring at Arisaig, Kilmelfort is a boatyard with a pontoon and you're scraping the barrel counting Kerrera and Oban separately. Most of the others are sufficiently small that good luck will be needed to get a berth after lunchtime.

I unreservedly withdraw the "very few" and substitute "fewer".

Any damn fool can make a list, it doesn't stop them being dull at parties;

JWD
Rhu
Sandbank
Kip
Largs
Rothesay
Port Bannatyne
Ardrossan
Troon
Girvan
Stranraer
Campbeltown
Tarbert
Portavadie
Lochranza(no mooring)
Fairlie(no mooring)
Arrochar
Tighnabruaich(no mooring)
Otterferry(no mooring)
Strachur
There are no fewer than 3 pontoons in Loch Goil although it's fair to say none are for mooring.

 

[wully1]

Crinan isnae a marina, Tayvallich and Craighouse are dinghy only, no mooring at Arisaig, Kilmelfort is a boatyard with a pontoon and you're scraping the barrel counting Kerrera and Oban separately. Most of the others are sufficiently small that good luck will be needed to get a berth after lunchtime.

Ye huvnae seen Claymore trying to get tae the Jura Hotel before last orders then?

 

[claymore]

Crinan isnae a marina, Tayvallich and Craighouse are dinghy only, no mooring at Arisaig, Kilmelfort is a boatyard with a pontoon and you're scraping the barrel counting Kerrera and Oban separately. Most of the others are sufficiently small that good luck will be needed to get a berth after lunchtime.

I unreservedly withdraw the "very few" and substitute "fewer".

Any damn fool can make a list, it doesn't stop them being dull at parties;

JWD
Rhu
Sandbank
Kip
Largs
Rothesay
Port Bannatyne
Ardrossan
Troon
Girvan
Stranraer
Campbeltown
Tarbert
Portavadie
Lochranza(no mooring)
Fairlie(no mooring)
Arrochar
Tighnabruaich(no mooring)
Otterferry(no mooring)
Strachur
There are no fewer than 3 pontoons in Loch Goil although it's fair to say none are for mooring.

OK
A bit of concession on my part - BUT - we didnae mention Salen in Loch Sunart so I think that trumps a few of your points. I usually park on the pier at Craighouse so that is definitely back on the list and you're being a bit picky about Kilmelford.
Now I suggest a conundrum for you to solve. You have 3 friends who you've invited to go for a wee sail for a few days and you'll meet them in Oban when they get off the train.
Will you be taking them onto the pontoons by the North Pier or will you be waiting for the ferry to go across to Kerrera? Scraping the Barrel eh??
Finally - I may be a damn fool - its no secret - but if you fancy taking me on for the singing, dancing and drinking at the party you seem to be organising, then I'm your man.


Did you once make golf balls?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Now I suggest a conundrum for you to solve. You have 3 friends who you've invited to go for a wee sail for a few days and you'll meet them in Oban when they get off the train.
Will you be taking them onto the pontoons by the North Pier or will you be waiting for the ferry to go across to Kerrera? Scraping the Barrel eh??

I would definitely take them across to Kerrera. Nice place, great view of Oban in the distance (best sort of view of Oban), excellent food, exciting start to the trip. Have been to Oban several times since the transit marina opened and have always gone to Kerrera.

 

[wully1]

The transit marina is the work o’ the deil but it’s awfae handy for a stagger back fae The Oban Inn and its new, funcy ooutside tables..

But I prefer the community owned moorings off the sailing club if I ever stop in the grand metropolis.

 

[Quandary]

Just to get back to the thread for a minute, watching progress I am beginning to doubt that the canal wil open in two weeks time, plenty of manpower but very little progress day by day, a lot of them standing about holding back the others, they give the impression of guys enjoying the sunshine, will have a better idea in a weeks time. It seems crazy that they havre not finished work on lock 4 and started to refill the reach and the Dunardry Lagoons. Chance of some useful rain on Monday.

 

[awol]

Wait till the midges come out.