Garmin Inland Waterways Charts

[AndieMac]

Cant say as I've seen many do it, but I came here 5 years ago, and have no intentions of going back.
I find sea passages boring compared to the scenery available inland, yet on a small river or canal, after time, the same boredom can creep in. I spent a few years on the Fossdyke in Lincoln, and unless you have more than a weekend, you are very limited on where you can go.
Now I am on Lough Derg I can choose many locations that are all available for a day trip and many more locations for longer holidays.
There are no speed limits, so while I normally cruise at around 7.5 knts I can open her up when I get the urge or want to give the engines a clean out.
All the public harbours are free (max 5 day stay) and there are many places to anchor out in peace as well.
With such a large expanse of water you get a lot of different conditions to keep you on your toes.
I'm in heaven

Not having been there Brian, but from what you blokes have shown and discussed on the forum over the last couple of years, I imagine it would be quite a desirable location to have the boat.
Besides the scenery and waterways, the boaters appear to co-exist in a friendly manner.

 

[BGW]

Not having been there Brian, but from what you blokes have shown and discussed on the forum over the last couple of years, I imagine it would be quite a desirable location to have the boat.
Besides the scenery and waterways, the boaters appear to co-exist in a friendly manner.

There is occasional friction between different types of boaters - Barge owners complaining of Wake issues is the most common one, but on the whole, due to low population there is plenty of room for all types of use and everyone does get on well.

Regarding the trip from Dublin, yes it is possible in a barge or smaller cruisers, but larger twin screw cruisers would probably have issues.
Yachts would have to be de-masted and have a shallow draft.
My friend has a twin screw profile 33 and he has managed to get to Dublin from Lough Derg but you would struggle with anything much larger I would guess.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Looking at Tremlett's second chart/map, I thought a UK boat could come in through Dublin and along the Grand Canal to Lough Ree, if they didn't want the extended sea passage around the SW?

That's a great aerial shot you have linked OF, very enticing.

The usual route into the inland Shannon for typical motor boats and keel yachts is around the coast, up the Shannon estuary, through Limerick city, and through the awesome 102ft lock at the Ardnacrusha hydro electric dam. Only non towable low airdraft river/canal boats and barges use the Grand Canal to access the Shannon from the east coast (ie typical twin mobos won't fit under canal bridges). Migrating motor cruisers often truck over by road on the ferry if they don't want the trip around the SW coast, but they are missing out on the adventure and scenery of a life time.

 

[AndieMac]

The usual route into the inland Shannon for typical motor boats and keel yachts is around the coast, up the Shannon estuary, through Limerick city, and through the awesome 102ft lock at the Ardnacrusha hydro electric dam. Only non towable low airdraft river/canal boats and barges use the Grand Canal to access the Shannon from the east coast (ie typical twin mobos won't fit under canal bridges). Migrating motor cruisers often truck over by road on the ferry if they don't want the trip around the SW coast, but they are missing out on the adventure and scenery of a life time.

I remember seeing past pics. of the massive lock, and a good point about the south coast scenery.

 

[Tremlett 15]

Just a few words above the pics will do, to help those of us who can't be there to get into the zone.

sorry for the delay in posting the pics

put some titles on the pics but was having great probs with photobucket....

16 days on the water including a few rest days

approx 85 hours cruising

from home marina in Bellanaleck ( Co Fermanagh NI ) to Leitrim, Carrick-on-Shannon, Clondra ( Richmond Harbour ) to Athlone ( Southern Ireland )

see within link for route, Bellanaleck is a few miles below Enniskillen

http://www.iwai.ie/maps/shannon-erne/index.html

cruising on Upper Lough Erne, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon,

only paper charts & a line path on handheld GPS used........

enjoy

http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk248/jamesagunning/Summer Holidays 2011/?albumview=slideshow


hope it works ok.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Looking at Tremlett's second chart/map, I thought a UK boat could come in through Dublin and along the Grand Canal to Lough Ree, if they didn't want the extended sea passage around the SW?

Hi Andie. Yes very suitable for "canal" guage boats in terms of draft and airdraft, but due to the airdraft restrictions many typical coastal mobo's would not be able make the trip down the Grand canal to the Shannon Loughs. Suitable for single engined vessels with a keel and skeg. The Royal canal also connects to the Shannon and was reopened last year after decades of campaigning. Both the Grand and Royal canal are wide guage. A third route inland is the River Barrow via the Waterford Estuary up into the midlands to connect with the Grand canal. Direct access to the Shannon and it's vast Loughs is via the Shannon Estuary and Limerick City.

That's a great aerial shot you have linked OF, very enticing.

Yes that's quigleys marina in one of the smaller inner lakes off Lough Ree. A very well run establishment and also the base for Waveline cruisers.