Crinan Canal, situation easing.

Q

Quandary

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 Mar 2008
Messages
8,214
Location
Argyll
Visit site
Another update, I have started a new thread for this so that it is noticed.
There has been some rain and the restrictions have been eased slightly from today (Thur. 23/8/18)
Max. draught is now 2.0m. and the high tide entry window at the sea locks has been increased from 2 hours to 3. (1and1/2 hrs. either side).
Not a lot of difference but it may help somebody
 
I am guessing that the situation has improved. There was loads of water gushing under the road at Ardrishaig yesterday. Clearly too much of the stuff now!
 
Today we brought two boats through from Crinan, despite an early start from above lock 14 we missed the window by about an hour but managed to persuade the girls to fill the sealock earlier and hold it for us so that both got out. Their justification was a delay at Crinan Bridge which is manned by the Bellanoch bridge keeper who was not expecting them.
Moral, leaving Crinan to come through, tell them you are going.
There were only two boats in the other direction, a total of four transits for the day, never seen it quieter in summer.
Hoping to lock out and go north ourselves tomorrow, not looking forward to pushing a foul tide most of the way.
 
Thanks Quandary. Useful to know.

Is the area of reduced depth primarily in the top reach only, or throughout the canal?
Clearly only needs one constraint to stop a transit, but equally if likely to be scraping bottom throughout the canal it would be a bigger worry than just going dead slow for a shorter section. Keen not to add dents to keel :-)

Enjoy your cruise North
 
It applies mainly to the Crinan reach which loses the most water, however yesterday the levels there were close to normal, the broken lock gate on 10 means they need to top up the pond above when boats are going through and in consequence the levels in the top reach vary and sometimes look quite low to me. If they are happy admitting 2m. draught boats they must have a tolerance on that? Between Cairnbaan and Oakfield Bridge there is a stream coming down which deposits gravel, identify by white painted steel bridge handrail on north side.
 
Another update;
the situation continues to improve, the canal is back to all-tide locking in with the proviso that if you are the only boat you may be asked to wait an hour in the lock in case another boat turns up, they are hoping to ease the 2m. draught restriction shortly but I am not joining in the rain dance.
 
I'm unsure if this is on any other post, but the Caledonian Canal has restrictions on it presently. At Fort Augustus, gate 2 has been taken out of operation "due to cracks in a buoyancy chamber, which was placing unsafe loads on the hinges". This is as told by Scottish Canals staff last week. I arrived in the upper basin at 09:00 hrs, and was in the lower chamber at 16:00 hrs. The gate being inoperative requires the canal to be 'double locked', I think that was the term used, which in reality means that there are only 2 'Ups', and 2'Downs' per day. The fix won't be possible for months, and is a BIG job!
 
steve yates said:
How long you out for? might bump into you next week
Click to expand...

That was a fortnight ago, just came back yesterday. The foul tide was much less of a problem than expected, almost negligible in Loch Linnhe north of Lismore, except for Corran Narrows which has circular eddies both sides.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top