Crinan Canal warning

[Quandary]

I can see from the AIS that most of you are heading round the Mull but this is just a warning for anyone heading this way.
The Canal is open from tomorrow but henceforth (in contradiction of what it says on Scottish Canals website) they will be operating a five day week, after some debate I understand that it has been decided that the 'weekend' will be Tuesday and Wednesday. This means that if you lock in on a Monday night you will not be able to start moving through until Thurday morning, adding two days to your passage. If you turn up late you wait outside. The change is likely to cause more problems at Crinan where the shelter can be poor and the weather tends to be stronger. It means that mid week you may need to return round the Mull or lose quite a lot of time. Operating hours are intended to be 08-30 to 17-00 but with last locking at the manned locks at least half an hour before. It is possible to wait in Crinan sealock if you tend your lines and the fishing boats have not berthed there but one of Crinan Boats moorings might be preferable. Of course you could wait at Ardfern or Cullipool. The hydraulics on the sealock at Ardrishaig have not been repaired yet but it can be operated manually, they expect all the bridges to be operational but intermittently manned. The new waiting pontoon at Ardrishaig was fenced off with 'do not use' notices on the ramp but the local kids who use it as a bathing platform have removed all obstructions.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Thanks! Heading off to Craobh from Kip on Tuesday, RTM, but always a possibility to gp through the canal. Hence, that would could have been an issue.

 

[Quandary]

Just received another bit of info.
Canal will also be closed Sat15 Aug -Sun 16th Aug. also Sat19th and Sun 20 th September
Toilets and showers will now have new and differing codes, I could list all these but I am sure you will be briefed at lock in.

 

[LittleSister]

they will be operating a five day week, after some debate I understand that it has been decided that the 'weekend' will be Tuesday and Wednesday. . .

Canal will also be closed Sat15 Aug -Sun 16th Aug. also Sat19th and Sun 20 th September

It would be a pity if they couldn't time their 'weekend' to coincide with the, er, weekend closures. (Not that it will affect me, sadly.)

 

[JumbleDuck]

Thanks, Q. I have decided to give the wild west a miss this year and instead mooch around the Clyde where there are plenty of bits I have never done: Loch Fyne north of Loch Gilp, Loch Long north of Loch Goil, Arran except Lochranza ... maybe even a wee trip up to Glasgow. Not quite the same but for me the risks of the wild are unacceptable this year.

 

[scottie]

Thanks, Q. I have decided to give the wild west a miss this year and instead mooch around the Clyde where there are plenty of bits I have never done: Loch Fyne north of Loch Gilp, Loch Long north of Loch Goil, Arran except Lochranza ... maybe even a wee trip up to Glasgow. Not quite the same but for me the risks of the wild are unacceptable this year.

Very easy to spend a couple of weeks on the Clyde but Arrochar Inveraray and Glasgow ?
Perhaps you have not done them because they are essentially there and return over the same water without any other options especially Glasgow which is under engine most of the way

 

[Quandary]

Be interested to hear how you get on going up into Glasgow, It seems to be a lot less popular than Belfast's Abercorn basin?
There are a couple of relatively recent visitors moorings at Inveraray but I would be dubious about the three at the Oyster Bar at the head of the loch but worth going if you like beer. The Oyster Catcher behind Oitir Spit has moorings ans a nice pontoon that would take your boat at the outer end but of course you will be anchoring, plenty of room for that on clean sand. Bring a paravane and some mackerel feathers.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Very easy to spend a couple of weeks on the Clyde but Arrochar Inveraray and Glasgow ?
Perhaps you have not done them because they are essentially there and return over the same water without any other options especially Glasgow which is under engine most of the way

Yes, that's more or less the case. I started off keeping my first boat on the Gareloch but soon got a taste for the hairy bits and Clyde sailing reduced to dashes to and from Ardrishaig or the occasional weekend. As a result there are lots of places I have never been, so I am sure we can fill the time, as you say. I fancy having a go at Ailsa Craig and we might head round to the Solway.

Be interested to hear how you get on going up into Glasgow, It seems to be a lot less popular than Belfast's Abercorn basin?

As Scotties says, it's motoring all the way so I think it may be a drizzly day diversion. I haven't even checked if the pontoons at the Science Centre or the Tall Ship are available.

There are a couple of relatively recent visitors moorings at Inveraray but I would be dubious about the three at the Oyster Bar at the head of the loch but worth going if you like beer. The Oyster Catcher behind Oitir Spit has moorings ans a nice pontoon that would take your boat at the outer end but of course you will be anchoring, plenty of room for that on clean sand. Bring a paravane and some mackerel feathers.

Thanks!

 

[Quandary]

Took a couple of boats through today; despite a break of 8 months absolutely nothing has improved, in fact most things are worse, only compensation was the swallows flying in and out of their nests in the lock gates. Started at Ardrishaig basin at 08-15 with only one boat in front, did not clear lock 13 until 14-30, used to do it in a little over 4 hours.

 

[awol]

Took a couple of boats through today; despite a break of 8 months absolutely nothing has improved, in fact most things are worse, only compensation was the swallows flying in and out of their nests in the lock gates. Started at Ardrishaig basin at 08-15 with only one boat in front, did not clear lock 13 until 14-30, used to do it in a little over 4 hours.

Was that 'cos of the boat in front, the lost bridge keepers or are you just getting old? ?