Forth and clyde or caledonian canal

Bilgediver said:
I think you will find that you are quoting (1.8M) is the initial design figure. This is not achieved in practice and in fact even folkboats have had to be lifted out at Bw's expense and trucked across.
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Thanks. I take it that's the re-opening design figure - according to my 1928 CCC sailing directions there was nine feet all the way.

What a shame they couldn't reinstate the new way out at Carron, but Google Earth suggests it's now largely build over.
 
Ubergeekian said:
Thanks. I take it that's the re-opening design figure - according to my 1928 CCC sailing directions there was nine feet all the way.

What a shame they couldn't reinstate the new way out at Carron, but Google Earth suggests it's now largely build over.
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There is a funded plan to make a new sea lock on the Carron closer to the Forth with much better tidal access.


http://www.thehelix.co.uk/a-vibrant-place/canal-link/
 
Ubergeekian said:
Thanks, but I'm getting confused now. Is the current link into the Carron the original one or one put in at reopening to avoid the motorway? Would the Helix link go to the docks at Grangemouth?
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The current sea lock was built specially for the Millenium re-opening and is very swish and is above both the M9 and the Kerse bridges, the Kerse being the one which gives the biggest problems. BWB did just not have enough cash to get the canal any further at the Millenium Link period, and despite the present problems really did very well in getting both the Forth and Clyde and the Union canals re-instated in any form.

The plan as I understand it will be to build a new section of canal alongside the Carron with a lifting section in the Kerse bridge to take you out much further down the Carron thus avooiding much of the tidal restrictions created by the present sea lock.
 
maxi77 said:
The plan as I understand it will be to build a new section of canal alongside the Carron with a lifting section in the Kerse bridge to take you out much further down the Carron thus avooiding much of the tidal restrictions created by the present sea lock.
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Thanks. That's basically what happened with the original canal. Am I right in assuming that the current exit is between the two originals?
 
Ubergeekian said:
Thanks. That's basically what happened with the original canal. Am I right in assuming that the current exit is between the two originals?
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I think originally the canal ran into Grangemouth docks. There is a plan now to build a canal section on the east side of the Carron with a controlled water level so that there is always ample draft and airdraft under the bridges. This secction will then lock into the Carron down towards the Grangemouth yacht club...Mind you this could have changed >)

Someone referred to a figure of 9ft in this thread... The 9ft figure is the airdraft! This is governed by the new hydraulic lift bridges at Bonnybridge and Clydebank.

The total clearance above the river bed in the Carron is around 16 ft for those that want to push the limit so a boat with 9 ft airdraft and 6 ft water draft can just sneek under with a total of about a foot to spare... One or two big continental motor boats have been seen in the canal which must have been on the limit.
 
Bilgediver said:
I think originally the canal ran into Grangemouth docks. There is a plan now to build a canal section on the east side of the Carron with a controlled water level so that there is always ample draft and airdraft under the bridges. This secction will then lock into the Carron down towards the Grangemouth yacht club...Mind you this could have changed >)
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As I understand it, the canal originally opened into the Carron. Just as today, that was a pain, so they built an extension down beside the Carron, on the east, with a new sea lock more-or-less at the mouth of the Carron.

Someone referred to a figure of 9ft in this thread... The 9ft figure is the airdraft!
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That was me, I think - in 1928 the CCC advised 9' water depth throughout.
 
B.W. decided over ten years ago that it was better to spend their limited resources in the populous areas of Central Scotland. Fortunately they had already completed the major upgrade of the Caledonian Canal, but for many years now the Crinan Canal has been starved of cash. Here they are fighting a rearguard action against reducing depth, collapsing banks, leaking locks, jamming gates etc. in an attempt to arrest the decline. If as reported above there is still more expenditure programmed for the Forth and Clyde the decline is bound to continue or accelerate. The Dunardry locks are leaking so badly that they are dangerous but BW only records written complaints, not those given to or coming from staff, so they say they are not aware of a serious problem in Glasgow.Their HQ focus these days is on recreation rather than boating; walking, cycling, bird watching, things like that. It is obvious that there has been a big run down in navigability over the last five or so years and the winter (and some summer) closures get longer and more frequent. As the canal deteriorates more opt to go round the Mull and this is not such a big problem for todays bigger cruisers so the need for the canal reduces, without normal maintenance there are more leaks and failures, consequently bigger repair bills for which there is no budget.
It will be a shame though it eventually becomes just a walking or cycling route because there are still a lot of yachts and a few fishing boats that really value it because of rather than despite its remoteness.
So while you may be encouraged by big investment on the East Coast remember that it is being paid for here.
 
Ubergeekian said:
As I understand it, the canal originally opened into the Carron. Just as today, that was a pain, so they built an extension down beside the Carron, on the east, with a new sea lock more-or-less at the mouth of the Carron.



That was me, I think - in 1928 the CCC advised 9' water depth throughout.
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Yes it was.....Didnt realise you were going back to the days of puffers....There was unllimited airdraft too as any bridges were swing brdges.
 
Quandary said:
B.W. decided over ten years ago that it was better to spend their limited resources in the populous areas of Central Scotland. Fortunately they had already completed the major upgrade of the Caledonian Canal, but for many years now the Crinan Canal has been starved of cash. Here they are fighting a rearguard action against reducing depth, collapsing banks, leaking locks, jamming gates etc. in an attempt to arrest the decline. If as reported above there is still more expenditure programmed for the Forth and Clyde the decline is bound to continue or accelerate. The Dunardry locks are leaking so badly that they are dangerous but BW only records written complaints, not those given to or coming from staff, so they say they are not aware of a serious problem in Glasgow.Their HQ focus these days is on recreation rather than boating; walking, cycling, bird watching, things like that. It is obvious that there has been a big run down in navigability over the last five or so years and the winter (and some summer) closures get longer and more frequent. As the canal deteriorates more opt to go round the Mull and this is not such a big problem for todays bigger cruisers so the need for the canal reduces, without normal maintenance there are more leaks and failures, consequently bigger repair bills for which there is no budget.
It will be a shame though it eventually becomes just a walking or cycling route because there are still a lot of yachts and a few fishing boats that really value it because of rather than despite its remoteness.
So while you may be encouraged by big investment on the East Coast remember that it is being paid for here.
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That's a bit worrying from the perspective of my alternative plan which is to go to Kiel via the Crinan and Caledonian Canals! How bad is the problem - my Rival draws about 1.6M in sea water.
 
alisdair4 said:
That's a bit worrying from the perspective of my alternative plan which is to go to Kiel via the Crinan and Caledonian Canals! How bad is the problem - my Rival draws about 1.6M in sea water.
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One of my club members is going through this week so let me see if I can catch him for comments after he reaches his mooring near Oban.
 
The Crinan Canal for me

Oh! The Crinan Canal for me,
I don't like the wild raging sea,
It would be too terrific to cross the Pacific,
Or sail to Japan or Fiji.
A life on the Spanish Main,
I think would drive me insane,
The big foaming breakers would give me the shakers,
The Crinan Canal for me.

Chorus:
Oh! The Crinan Canal for me,
I don't like the wild raging sea,
The big foaming breakers would give me the shakers,
The Crinan Canal for me.

It's the Crinan Canal for me,
From sea terrors there you are free,
There's no shark or whale that would make you turn pale,
Or shiver or shake at the knee.
I would nae like leavin' ma bones,
In a locker beside Davy Jones,
From Ardrishaig to Crinan's the best trip A'hve bin in,
The Crinan Canal for me.

Chorus:

Aye the Crinan Canal for me,
It's neither too big nor too wee,
Oh! It's lovely and calm when you're frying your ham,
Or makin' a nice cup of tea.
You can go for a stroll on its banks,
To loosen your muscle bound shanks,
You can darn your socks while you're still in its locks,
The Crinan Canal for me.

Chorus:
 
Crinan Draught

They can get at least 2.1m. over the high spots by adjusting the paddles. There should be no problems anywhere with 1.8m this year, as the big leak near Bellanoch has just been fixed. However a few years ago the available draught was much greater. Last year with 1.8 draught I was banging the stone pitching at my berth as the level dropped though BW did pay for some expoxy to fair off the dented lead. The water level in some of the short reaches and the basins can drop by up to 1/2 m. when traffic is heavy but this is easy to spot as the grass grows down to the top level.

Note - the 4" increase in draught that BW warn about in fresh water is nonsense, most yachts go down less than 1".
 
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alisdair4 said:
That's a bit worrying from the perspective of my alternative plan which is to go to Kiel via the Crinan and Caledonian Canals! How bad is the problem - my Rival draws about 1.6M in sea water.
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It's probably best to plan to go round the Mull of Kintyre, its not much longer time wise anyway, say if you compare Cumbrae to Sound of Luing. Exactly the sort of sailing the Rival was built for.

If you plan to do this then you eliminate the risk of being stuck in the canal on the day that the banks collapse and all the water runs away, or other such problem.

Having said that the canal is very pleasant and the transit rather relaxing. I have rounded the Mull lots of times and its always surprising how fast the passage is.
 
Sure, We've been round lots of times (twice in Midnight Drifter) and to do so does eliminate a point of failure (or delay). Mind you, coming from Bute to Campbeltown (my normal stop) is a fair way in the wrong direction to start with. Plus, I haven't been through the Crinan canal since 1972! (I was very young...!)
 
Cinan Canal

Alasdair
If you do decide to come this way and I would recommend it, even if the weather is not bad, you can buy a cheaper ticket to cover transit of both canals. Interesting contrast between manual and mechanical operation. If you are shorthanded and I am still about, I can help you through, PM me if you think you need help with the locks.

Sorry about the missing 'r'
 
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