Passage time Gare Loch to Inverness via Crinan & Calley?

[ProDave]

Very rough thought , should we buy the boat we are thinking about for sale on Gare Loch, how long would it take to sail it back to Inverness via Crinan, West Coast and Calley canal. Ignoring waiting out bad weather. Sailing in daylight on day hops?

 

[cpedw]

My ill- informed guess goes
Gare Loch to Ardrishaig, 30M, 1 day.
Crinan canal 1 day if very lucky.
Crinan to Corpach 60M, 2 days but there are some tidal gates to get right.
Caly canal, 2 days if everything falls into place.
So minimum 6 days if you need to sleep ...

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I came the other way 15 years ago when I delivered my Nicholson 26; Dochgarroch to Rhu.
Overnighted at Fort Augustus, Corpach, Oban Marina (Kererra), Cairnbann (Crinan canal), East Loch Tarbert and on to Rhu.
6 days sailing, 5 stopovers. This was at the end of October with limited daylight and bloody awful weather.

 

[ProDave]

Thanks, quicker than I expected. Not sure we are going to do this, but if we buy this boat it's sail it home or pay for road transport. If we do it I will be seeking more details of the tidal gates on the way. I believe the boat is up to the passage.

 

[Minchsailor]

About a week, I would say. But,if you can, take longer and admire the scenery.

 

[ProDave]

Looking at the canal pricing, it is marginally cheaper to buy a 2 week licence than a single Crinan and Calley transit licence. So the trip up the west coast need not be hurried.

 

[ylop]

My ill- informed guess goes
Gare Loch to Ardrishaig, 30M, 1 day.
Crinan canal 1 day if very lucky.
Crinan to Corpach 60M, 2 days but there are some tidal gates to get right.
Caly canal, 2 days if everything falls into place.
So minimum 6 days if you need to sleep ...

I don’t think doing it without sleep will really be much different - the canals only operate limited hours, and the tidal gates will limit your options anyway so you might be able to master a “non stop” plan that squeezes it into 5 days but only if you can pick the right dates when tides, canal, etc all play ball.

Personally I’d add a day to each your legs to make it less stressful, give time for learning and sorting issues with the new boat, and of course better flexibility for the weather. So 10 days total. A delivery on that route should be great fun rather than a rush.