Looking to crew boat from "Clyde" to Crinan Canal

[BigHairyIan]

I am hoping to get up to the Crinan Canal to help a friend bring his boat back through. I have looked at public transport options to get there, and it is tricky!

Is it too cheeky to ask if anyone would give me and my ten year old daughter passage from the Ardrossan/Largs sort of area up to Crinan - obviously, as well as general crewing, we would assist with locking your boat through the canal if required. We have little crewing experience, but are both keen, and I am a good "two burner" cook! My daughter is also a "climber" and can climb rope ladders to assist with any maintenance up the mast. See here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...0853543981300.405390.707776299&type=3&theater

I have no idea if this is a really cheeky ask, if it is please can you post and tell me, and I'll remove it.

We need to get to Crinan by Friday night 21 September.

 

[Quandary]

In late September nearly all the yacht traffic is the other way, so finding a berth coming north is unlikely. However there is a good express bus service from Glasgow, Buchanan Street to Ardrishaig at the Clyde end of the canal. (West Coast Motors). Crinan is about 8 miles but if you get here (Ardrishaig) I will drive you over to Crinan to meet your boat.
PM me closer to the time if you want to take up this offer.

 

[BigHairyIan]

That is a very kind offer. Thank you, once my plans firm up I shall be in touch.

 

[davidpbo]

We did the trip the other way some years ago (2006) I think. We were meeting some friends at Ardrossan and helping them take their boat through the Crinan. About three days before the due trip we decided to trail our own boat up and sail on the Clyde after.

They picked us up in Largs, we left our boat on its trailer on the hard with our car and sailed with them through the canal. It was very enjoyable but hard work.

We got a minibus from Crinan to maybe Ardrishaig, an express bus to Glasgow and I think train to Largs where we launched our boat and sailed for a week or maybe two. Really enjoyed it. Unless any of the buses are seasonal or have ceased running you may be able to do the same. I think there was another route that involved a bit more island hopping and several ferries.

 

[BigHairyIan]

Plans keep changing. The boat owner is a contractor, and so sometimes his plans have to change. We were looking at 20/21 September, but now that has been postponed...