Crinan Canal Two Handed

[coastlight]

What's peoples experience of going short handed through the Crinan Canal?
We found ourselves to be the only yacht transiting the canal back in October. Usually there are plenty of other yachts and therefore crew to help out, this time just us.
We found that because of the amount of rain we'd had that the usual ' get the front on first' advce didn't work. so I threw the back rope up to Richard. He'd already got the lock prep'd whilst I got the ropes ready as I headed to the gates.
He made fast the back end, then I drove forward on it, and walked forward to hand him up the forward rope. It worked most times. Only once out of 14 locks did we have any difficulty, despite strong winds.
Any other ideas?

 

[Bodach na mara]

I could describe our experiences of working the Crinan Canal short handed but children may inadvertently read them and be psychologically damaged for life. It was an absolute pig, not made any easier by the lack of facilities at many of the locks to easily get the boat parked while you reset the locks as instructed. On one occasion we ended up with my son having his ear needing stitched after falling against a gate bar, my wife with a knackered back and me with a badly bruised elbow. The only crew member fit for normal duty was our 8-year old daughter.

I have never found that a rule for which end to tie up first works all the way through, and it certainly does not work on the return journey. I have a preference for getting the aft rope on first as I am usually steering and throwing he ropes and the aft one is at least near me at the wheel. I have also found that a long boathook used to hand up the end of the rope is better than throwing it.

Funnily enough, it seems to have got harder over the years instead of easier. I don't remember many problems taking an old six-metre through. With a side-mounted Seagull and no astern gear. We always got lots of help from the crews of the boats ahead as we came in at 4 knots and threw a bucket on a rope over to stop. Especially when we had the CQR in the bow roller. In fact, someone usually took us alongside and towed us right through.

 

[Ubergeekian]

What's peoples experience of going short handed through the Crinan Canal?
We found ourselves to be the only yacht transiting the canal back in October. Usually there are plenty of other yachts and therefore crew to help out, this time just us.
We found that because of the amount of rain we'd had that the usual ' get the front on first' advce didn't work. so I threw the back rope up to Richard. He'd already got the lock prep'd whilst I got the ropes ready as I headed to the gates.
He made fast the back end, then I drove forward on it, and walked forward to hand him up the forward rope. It worked most times. Only once out of 14 locks did we have any difficulty, despite strong winds.
Any other ideas?

I much prefer going through on my own. Other yachts never seem to help - probably because the ones I catch up with are the incompetent gumbies.

I've been through many times with me and one crew and if you get into the rhythm there is never any need to stop. Basically, as the boat is coming up lock N, the shore crew should open the paddles on lock N+2, walk back and open the lower gate on lock N+1, let the boat out of lock N and close the gates behind them, tie them on in N+1, open the paddles there, walk up to N+3 and so on. That's for the flights - there can sometimes be a wee delay for the fiirst lock in each flight, but using a car or bike as well works wonders for that.

You'll notice "gate" above. I am fortunate enough to have a boat with 7' beam, so I only ever need to open one gate. That saves either (a) a lot of time or (b) the need for two on the shore.

If there is a flow across the top of the closed gates it's easiest to have the upstream rope on first. Otherwise it doesn't matter, in my experience. I'd always recommend keeping as far from the front of an up-going lock as possible.

Erm, that's it. It's pretty easy, really. If it isn't, you're doing something wrong, or over-complicated.

 

[agurney]

What's peoples experience of going short handed through the Crinan Canal?
We found ourselves to be the only yacht transiting the canal back in October. Usually there are plenty of other yachts and therefore crew to help out, this time just us.
We found that because of the amount of rain we'd had that the usual ' get the front on first' advce didn't work. so I threw the back rope up to Richard. He'd already got the lock prep'd whilst I got the ropes ready as I headed to the gates.
He made fast the back end, then I drove forward on it, and walked forward to hand him up the forward rope. It worked most times. Only once out of 14 locks did we have any difficulty, despite strong winds.
Any other ideas?

I've done it single-handed in February, which was fun, though slow with lots of ladder climbing.
In strong (head or tail) winds, fastening the windward rope first saves a lot of grief. On the way uphill, keep as far forward in the lock as possible and only open the sluice on the opposite side, that way there is least movement and you'll be in a relatively smooth eddy. In many boats you can get away with only opening one of the lock gates.

The advantage of having no other boats around is that you don't have anyone harrying you, so you can take your time. If you have transport, scout ahead and see if there's anyone coming the other direction and ask them to leave the locks open for you.

Alisdair

 

[JayBee]

You could always employ the services of a canal "pilot", who will do nearly all the hard work. They are freelance but can usually be contacted through the canal staff at Crinan or Ardrishaig, given a bit of notice.

Good value for money in our experience.

 

[Quandary]

I've done it single-handed in February, which was fun, though slow with lots of ladder climbing.
In strong (head or tail) winds, fastening the windward rope first saves a lot of grief. On the way uphill, keep as far forward in the lock as possible and only open the sluice on the opposite side, that way there is least movement and you'll be in a relatively smooth eddy. In many boats you can get away with only opening one of the lock gates.

The advantage of having no other boats around is that you don't have anyone harrying you, so you can take your time. If you have transport, scout ahead and see if there's anyone coming the other direction and ask them to leave the locks open for you.

Alisdair

I am afraid you have got this wrong, you may have mis remembered,
If you open the paddle progressively on the side you tie the boat on the flow is directed across the lock away from the boat (the gates are angled) it then comes back to the boat from astern with little force, once the lock is abouit half full you can open both.
It has become much harder work now because leakage is greater at many gates. We ('Canal pilots'?) have been complaining about this for several years. Some of the gates now only open in particular sequence which demands local knowledge or a lot of wasted sweat. Others if fully opened back to the wall will not close again.(top gate lock 5) The down flight at Dunardry is now a particular problem as so much water accumulates in the bottom lagoons. If the lowest one looks full or water coming over the gate it is worth running water through before emptying, many boats have to sit in the bottom of the lock while water is run off which is unpleasant and potentially dangerous.
Having said that my wife and I take our own boat through regularly, I regard it as a good work out ashore though she needs persuading to stay on the boat and do the lines.
If solo going up we rig a long line from a snatch block at the bow back to a winch. Tie up well back in the lock with the stern line vertical, as the boat rises wind her up on the bow line, the short stern line can be left alone. Tie off the end of the dead end of the lines so that the shore crew can pull on them safely if necessary. We stop our engine to avoid light running because we are in the canal so much, but it can help to trickle ahead, (this is the way the fishing boats do it, often with just a stern line) The shore crew pulls the bow line back through and drops the both lines back in to the cockpit when leaving. A boat hook saves having to heave lines. Going down is easy with no pressure on the lines.
We enjoy sharing with other boats, it is sociable, much faster, saves work and water. Though nowadays BW have more water so no longer insist on sharing so much.
If you are offered free help or advice by a local take it, it might be me, but be wary of involving children. Take time to write a letter of complaint for BW they say few yachties are complaining and until they do repairs can not be justified.

 

[Quandary]

Crinan canal pilots

If you need a 'pilot' ask at the sea lock and they will get Hugh (aka. Captain Kirk) if he is already busy you might get his daughter or Jim or if none available, me, though some lock keepers do it on their day off too. Hugh is the regular and sets the charge rate, last year it was £50, though many give £60 if satisfied with speed and ease of transit. If you are in a hurry and can spare one crew ashore, to close up the gates and sluices after you leave, your transit can take less than four hours, and perhaps you might get a discount. Pilot will normally use an extending boat hook to lift your lines. To save time a pilot can be booked ahead at the sea lock by mobile or vhf. You may have to go through with another boat, if they do not have a pilot, they will be strongly encouraged to do their share, we usually make them responsible for casting off lines and closing up afterwards as we prepare the next lock. Cars are normally used but sometimes the pilot may have a bike. Pilots can just about manage a boat each way in a day if well timed but it requires strength and stamina.

 

[agurney]

I am afraid you have got this wrong, you may have mis remembered ..

Quite possibly. Essentially, what I was getting at is that by only opening the one sluice you can avoid a lot of hard work.

BTW, if the canal's quiet, ensure the lock keepers know you are moving. Several times in the past I've been held up at the bridge between Bellanoch and Crinan and had to walk to Crinan to request it be opened.

Alisdair

 

[Quandary]

Crinan Canal

Some more hints for new users, presumably East to West
Approaching Ardrishaig below half tide keep well north (30m.) of the pier which dries all the way out to the rusty light house at springs, deeper by the timber quay but shelves rapidly at the transit pontoon. The third (inside) mooring is in very shallow water. If using the transit jetty there is less than 5' on the north side at lws. Again at lws the sea lock can be a bit exciting with great fountains from the exposed sluices so stay back if possible. If you have to wait for the bridge you can send some spare crew forward so that you can go straight in to lock 2. If you want to learn how to grumble/swear in local dialect don't move smartly when the bridge opens.
Once up in lock 2 go forward and prepare lock 3 which is hidden just around the corner.
The bridge keeper will probably help you with lock 4 but this time you will be learning the Doric dialect. He may open the gates but will not swing the bridge until you get there, if the sea lock bridge is open he will have to wait or Kintyre could become an island.
If short handed go starboard side to, as the ladders are then easy to reach at the back of the locks
All aboard at lock four for 45 mins. to Cairnbaaan.
Places to stop
Ardrishaig - Shops, pubs, cash point; laundrette has just closed, no longer any diesel but versatile and resourceful boatyard by the timber quay, (Jack Kay) can fix anything.
Oakfield Bridge - pontoons and filling station with good shop about 1/4 mile past, about 1/2 mile in to Lochgilphead for Banks etc.
Note there are no shops after this.
Cairnbaan- pontoons, hotel with fairly good pub grub shower and loo beside bridge.
Dunardry - pleasant overnight berth in lagoon before bridge with loo and shower.
Bellanoch is mainly permanent berths but has showers etc.
Bellanoch bridge- another nice stop, shower beside bridge.
Canal gets much narrower after Bellanoch so be ready to give way,
Single berth about 1/2 mile, quiet, isolated, bird watching, popular with French boats.
Approaching Crinan in a following wind, the strength increases, so be ready to slow down rapidly, don't try to turn unless there is clear space, better to tie temporarily along side a boat to stbd. while a berth is found or the lock prepared by the lock keepers.
Crinan basin water can sometimes be very dirty in the corners and the scum can be hard to scrub off. Crinan Boats has chandlery, great for loose s.s. bolts, screws and bits, good yard, busy, Volvo Penta .
If you need diesel call at Crinan yachts (low) floating pontoon round the corner after leaving the sea lock.
Crinan hotel can be a bit pretentious/expensive but there is a public bar and coffee shop (excellent bacon rolls to go) and bar meals can be had.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Lochgilphead for Banks etc.
Note there are no shops after this.

Oh no! When did the shop at Cairnbaan close?