Rag & Stick man moving MB!!!!

martyn78

martyn78

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www.sail-malta.com
Hi All, not normally on this side but I have been asked to deliver a Princess 37 (1976 vintage) from Whitehaven to Newcastle, Questions:-

There is a low bridge at Grangemouth with seabed (river) to lowest point of bridge of 5 metres (16' 5"), obviously not expecting anyone to commit to it sliding under - that's my decision, but what is the height from the bottom of the keel to the top of the cabin roof (no flybridge or radar).

Secondly, since I only use about 10 gallons in a bad year (stick & rag remember) what kind of fuel consumption assuming around 8 to 10 knots. The boat has 2 x Mermaids @ 250hp each.

I will, hopefully be taking the Clyde/Forth canal.

Any suggestions warmly welcome.

PS I can't get out of the delivery as it is my mothers boat.

Martyn
 
we did the fourth & clyde canal a few years ago in the opposite direction to you the Grangemouth bridge is hairy but just needs accurate timing but we were escorted in by the lock keeper who met us in a rib with a measuring stick
his local knowledge was excellent so you will get good advice before departing the sea loch
Tbh you will encounter problems before you get that far if you are above the posted maximum dimensions of the canal as there are many low bridges and a drop lock to negotiate
worth a detour to pass through the Falkirk wheel and back down as its included in the transit cost
sounds like an interesting trip
 
Is she a flybridge P37?

... if so, I'd forget the Forth - Clyde canal as maximum clearance is drops down to 2.7M and 3.5M width on the lock .... also with a channel depth dropping to 1.07M which will be pretty much what you'll draw in fresh water... so damaging props is pretty much certain .... Caledonian canal is more realistic...

http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/media/996517/skippers guide a4.pdf
 
KEN_NUNN said:
we did the fourth & clyde canal a few years ago in the opposite direction to you the Grangemouth bridge is hairy but just needs accurate timing but we were escorted in by the lock keeper who met us in a rib with a measuring stick
Click to expand...

There is a short extension and new sealock at the Grangemouth end, as part of the Helix Project. The new (2014) Skippers' Guide isn't online yet, but I think it bypasses that bridge.
 
martyn78 said:
Secondly, since I only use about 10 gallons in a bad year (stick & rag remember) what kind of fuel consumption assuming around 8 to 10 knots. The boat has 2 x Mermaids @ 250hp each.
Martyn
Click to expand...

For fast cruise (which I suspect may be around 20 - 22 knots), you should count on 60 - 70 Litres per hour ... suspect you 'll be drawing out approx. 180 - 210 HP out of each engine (pending fouling etc.). In canal stretches, she'll sip the juice very lightly, but difficult to predict accurate figures.
 
martyn78 said:
I was searching for the 3.5metre width stretch must admit I was a tad confused...... not that is difficult to do.

Martyn
Click to expand...

we were over 3m beam & I don't remember anywhere appearing tight, as in only 250mm per side! im sure if things were that close i'd have remembered

height and draught were the limiting factors as far as i'm aware we were in a 32' sportscruiser & draught & height were very close for us

obviously easy to check width restrictions with Waterways staff

its going to add massively to the journey if you have to use the Caledonian canal

edit;-just looked on the fourth and clyde skippers guide & it quotes 5.02m max beam

maybe people are looking at the union canal which branches off into Edinburgh & is smaller but you don't use that section on a passage west to east or vice versa
 
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Update Time....

Left Whitehaven and had the first proper dadding off Mull of Galloway (3 miles off!!).
Muck in stb. tank really and truly mixed up - Lost engine...bugger.
Into anchorage opposite Stranrar ferry - Windlass chucked it...bugger.
Changed filters - success (For half an hour)...bugger.
Too much of a sea running.. so back into Stranrar Marina...bugger.
Carry on to Arran - second dadding, then blew a hooly, then rained like it can in Scotland, then did both.
On to Largs on one engine, excellent marina with a fantastic meal, more new filters....result.
On to Bowling Harbour, the start of the Clyde/Forth Canal, told you MUST book in advance - it isn't mentioned in the downloads or brochures (It is now - they were published the day we arrived), we have to wait 2 days to transit....bugger.
Set off on thursday morning together with a small motor cruiser and a yacht (mast down).
Now for some reason best known to management the operation goes as this,
Collected by 8, yes 8, really nice Scotland Canal operatives who will take us through to the end of the day to a marina or canal pontoon to spend the night. Now I can see the astute readers asking what happens if you see a nice place you would like to stop off for say a full day (remember the shortest transit pass available is 5 days and the passage should only take 2 days - yeh 3 days spare). The answer is you can't you have to go with the "team".
The operators, I must say are the easiest going and friendly bunch you are likely to meet - but there again the sun was shining.
By mid afternoon we were in a good routine and we went into a lock to go up about 6 feet, easy done loads just like it. As we were ascending and had only about 2 inches to go there was the loudest CRACK I looked to the back of the lock to see a massive fountain of water coming from the bottom of a lock gate, we descended the 6 feet in about 30 seconds - now that loosens the bowels, fortunately like good boys we had no fixed lines!!
There was a definite silence untill an expletive or two may have been uttered by the BIG Jocks.
Apparently there is a wooden cill on the bottom of the lock which seals to the steel lock gate, It was found in the lock bottom....double bugger.
This has effectively closed the Clyde/Forth canal with the latest estimate for repair to be around 2 weeks.
All 3 boats were on the wrong side of the broken lock to carry on, so it was back we went...bugger.
We spent the night tied up in the middle of Clydebank shopping centre!!! Actually a nice place to stock up.
At this point my crew decided it was due to my bad planning we were heading in the wrong direction so a suggestion on the lines of "Pack your bags and p### off" may have been muttered.
Next day went back to Bowling Basin, organised a lowloader from Kip Marina and left on the tide.
Passed the Waverly paddle steamer on the Clyde and it nearly made up for the bad trip.
Another dadding in the Clyde - some mean stretch of water when it wants...bugger.
Into Kip, drove back to Newcastle and chalk it down to experience.
Lowloader delivering the boat to Royal Quays hopefully thursday - not my problem.

P.S.
A Princes 37 circa 1976 rolls like a bitch in any kind of side swell.
Think I'll stick to my sailing yacht......

Martyn
 
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