Hi John
Lots have been said about this re-opened canal and there are some problems still around but over 100 boats have passed through it succesfully.
Forth Yacht Clubs Association Web Site at www.fyca.org.uk has a message board and also a handy guide for tranisting the canal. The tricky bits are the River Carron approach which needs careful passage planning and the western end around the Galsgow suburb of Maryhill. Notes on these aspects are on the web.
Take plenty fenders and a spare pump impellor ( which the prudent should have anyway), follow the advice on the web and you should have little difficulty.
The maximum draft to ensure a troble free passage is about 4 foot but yachts drawing 5 foot that have made it ok.
If you are coming from West to East, Port Edgar or Granton offer pontoon berthing for visitors. going the other way the first marina is at Rhu, then round the corner to Kip
Regards
Grahanc
