Crinan

[Jules]

Hi all north of Glenarm!
Fancy taking children (and boat) through the canal on way back from West coast this year. Haven't done it since I was a child - any opinions/advice please?
Oh, 31' sloop.
Ta
Jules

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[hlb]

What advice do you want?? It's easy enough. Just bloody hard work. Try to go through the locks with other folk and share the work. Oh and dont go when it's peeing down.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[Vara]

That advice narrows it down to about three days a year,two if snow doesnt count.
Local weather lore, if you can see Mull its going to rain,if you can't see it ,it is raining.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it can't be fixed with a lump hammer dont fit it!

 

[starboard]

Hard work, boat gets very muddy if weather wet...which it will be, chance of some novice doing damage to you, beware the midges and will cost you a few beer vouchers that you could have spent in the pub on Sanda if you chose to go back via the Mull with a lot less hassle....apart from that you will enjoy it!!

Paul.

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[Peppermint]

Re: Also beware of a sort of Crinan culture

Many of the guys who use the canal a lot are sort of hell for leather get out of my way types. They might create a bit of unwelcome excitement for you.

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[claymore]

The Crinan is fine if you can team up with another boat or two.
The staff are all helpful nowadays. Organise your team properly so that you have someone ashore taking and giving back your lines and working the sluices (gently!)
Use the biggest lines you can and double them back to the boat. Tie the bow line off as tight as you need going up then just take in the slack on your stern line round a winch.
Take your time and have pleanty of fenders and its worth borrowing some waterways ones especially if you are alonside another boat in the locks.
If its raining you get wet - but then you would anyway - and if the weather is strong from the South which it will be if you are heading home it can be much better than bashing your way down Jura Sound and through the North Channel

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>regards
Claymore<font color=purple>
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[Aja]

Use the Crinan and enjoy it. You go at your own pace.

It is bl**dy hard work - manual labour - but if you have kids they will enjoy it.

Its not cheap. But you get round the Mull the easy way.

Regards

Donald

ps - Fenders. Fenders. Fenders.....

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[cliff]

Done the Crinan a few times and it really soaks up too many beer tokens. No real time saving compared with going round the Mull. Worth doing if you haven't done it before but, weather permitting, I would consider the "round the Mull" route and save on the beer tokens and gelcoat damage.

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[A1Sailor]

Hi,
Why not take a look at the Skippers' Guides at http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk



<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by A1Sailor on 05/07/2004 08:12 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Aja]

Agree that the Crinan is a 'dirty ditch' - but when weather is adverse or you have a boatful of kids - Crinan is the way to go.

I've sat in Campbelton once for three days waiting.... and waiting....

Donald

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[Superstrath]

"I've sat in Campbelton once for three days waiting.... and waiting...."
Been there, done that. My kids love the Canal. If the weather is good, it is a beautiful run, and I've never found it to be hard work. The wife's usually knackered at the end of it though! Use it - expensive but the family will thank you for it.
My advice - get into the canal early afternoon, spend the night at Cairnbaan, then get out again late morning. At quiet times of the year we have spent the night in one of the sea locks, ready for an early off, and get out the other end early PM - a couple of years ago we did Ardishaig - Puldhorain (sp!!) in a day in mid-October.
Now, I'm off sailing 'til next Sunday. Anyone else out and about on the Clyde this week?


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[Jules]

Many thanks all. I'll give it a go. It's only mud, dear!

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[PeteMcK]

Re: Also beware of a sort of Crinan culture

Moi...?

(4hrs 15 mins sea-lock to sea-lock.)

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[Aja]

Brave man if you take a cat through though......

Donald

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