Trailing a small boat to the Lake District?

Kukri

Kukri

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The old Swallows and Amazons thing.

Have car, and three possible boats:

1. Nutshell. Clinker lug rigged stem dinghy, so “right”, but, at 9ft, a bit small.

2. Uffa Fox International Fourteen. Contemporary to the Ransome stories, light and easy to handle on and off the combi trailer, goes like a rocket, tends to capsize...

3. Squib. Best craned in from trailer, but has tent... are there cranes and if so £££?

Which?
 
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You can launch the squib from the trailer at ferry nab on windermere, much deeper draft boats e.g. Platu 25 are launched this way without any drama. Assumes your trailer is set up with posts to guide the boat on/off.
Various places on Ullswater able to launch Flying Fifteens which are similar size a squib using a tractor e.g. Ullswater YC.
Both lakes have tractors available if your car isn't up to it.
 
Thanks. The attraction of the Squib is that she avoids the need to camp ashore. Quite tempted to give the Fourteen an outing using her cheat’s rig (Firefly main and jib!) because she is such a sweetie to launch and recover. And of course the sight of all that varnished mahogany has the same sort of effect as a nubile model in a bikini - guaranteed to attract and admiring audience who are happy to help!
 
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Perhaps you should buy a fourth boat. Personally out of that lot, if I was sailing on my own I would go for the 9 footer. Probably less likely to capsize than the 14, and easier to run ashore on Islands than the Squib. easier to flit from one lake to another too.
 
Romeo said:
Was quite a while ago, but I had a great week long holiday in Glenridding. This place launched hefty day boats by tractor for you. Freshwater so not so bad for the bearings.

http://www.glenriddingsailingcentre.co.uk/
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A chap I know took his Cornish Crabber 17 there for a week and enjoyed it. I have it in mind for a Drascombe expedition.

OP, what do you want to do in the Lakes? I'd say Nutshell for the occasional hour or two of pottering, International Fourteen for the occasional hour or two of hooning around, Squib for longer trips. Or, to put it another way, the Squib would be right for Windermere, the International Fourteen would be right for Derwentwater and the Nutshell would be right for Grasmere.
 
Minn said:
We (my sons and I) want to sail to Peel Island on Coniston. It would be nice to get into the “harbour” there. It would also be nice to visit the other identified “Ransome” sites. We are very familiar with Pin Mill and Secret Water!
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Nutshell, then!
 
Derwentwater is often ignored by trailer sailors as it is smaller than Windermere, Ullswater and Coniston, but it is not only the most beautiful lake but also the most interesting for sailing with youngsters (particularly the very young). Much of the shoreline is National Trust property and therefore accessible. There are many bays, mainly on the west and south of the lake for landing and some fantastic landing places on the various islands.
There are 2 small marinas at the NW corner of the lake for launching and parking and lots of choices as to places to stay (if not camping on the boat). Self catering apartments at one marina, good campsite at top of lake and lots of hotels nearby.
 
When I was a boy we trailed my Caricraft 10 ( think of a lightweight Heron with a Mirror rig ) to Windermere and camped at Low Wray, which is still available but now a National Trust site, I could get more info from Lakesailor if you like.

It was sheer heaven, dinghy pulled up on the shore, I could jump in and sail whenever I liked, and took mum across to Ambleside for her shopping in the morning.

The real Swallows and Amazons Wild Cat Island is on Ullswater as I recall, the lake described is a mix of Conniston and Windermere.

Especially now there's a speed limit on the powerboat knobs, Windermere would be my favourite to go for.

Do not expect good value from any pubs or shops accessible to tourists !
 
Seajet said:
The real Swallows and Amazons Wild Cat Island is on Ullswater as I recall, the lake described is a mix of Conniston and Windermere.
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You're right about the lake, but the island is Peel island on Coniston:

peel-island-on-coniston.jpg


VGau2Is.png
 
Derwent water is lovey and there are some great pubs in Keswick. Quite a small lake though - I swam round three of the islands which is 3.8km in just over the hour. Quite shallow up towards the north of the lake, between the top of the lake and the most northen island - I could touch the bottom whilst swimming.
 
Uricanejack said:
Just curious. Is it possible to get a boat from the sea to windameer by canal. Or any of the other lakes.
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No. The Lancaster canal is accessible from the Ribble. It used to go as far as Kendal but now stops at Tewitfield where it is blocked by the M6. I did read of plans, a few years ago, to reopen the stretch to Kendal with a view to digging a new cut from Kendal through to Windermere. I can’t begin to imagine what that would cost.
 
Mataji said:
No. The Lancaster canal is accessible from the Ribble. It used to go as far as Kendal but now stops at Tewitfield where it is blocked by the M6. I did read of plans, a few years ago, to reopen the stretch to Kendal with a view to digging a new cut from Kendal through to Windermere. I can’t begin to imagine what that would cost.
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There have been mutterings about canalising the River Leven and linking Loch Lomond to the sea. Like the Kendal - Windermere link, I don't see it ever happening. Too small a market.
 
Take the 14 with the Firefly rig. A chap sometimes turns up with a vintage 14 at CVRDA events and sails it singlehanded with a Firefly rig, it goes very well.
 
Minn said:
We (my sons and I) want to sail to Peel Island on Coniston. It would be nice to get into the “harbour” there. It would also be nice to visit the other identified “Ransome” sites. We are very familiar with Pin Mill and Secret Water!
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Been there. with a Mirror. Great fun. Definitely take the old small dinghy then, as will need to be able to be run up the stony beach. Would be sacrilege to scrape a varnished I14 up the stones, and definitely wouldn't be happy taking the squib in.
 
Seajet said:
The real Swallows and Amazons Wild Cat Island is on Ullswater as I recall, the lake described is a mix of Conniston and Windermere.
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The book, and the original S&A film, is based upon a blend of different places.

As Jumbleduck says, the secret harbour is definitely on Conniston. The outline of the island in the film is I think the island on Derwent Water - and has more space for the camp site. Some of the other film shots are on Windermere. Wouldnt be surprised if others have spotted bits of Conniston as well.
Definitely a "best of compilation" from different waters and meres. And good fun visiting as many of the sites as possible like we did when kids were younger.
 
dunedin said:
The book, and the original S&A film, is based upon a blend of different places.

As Jumbleduck says, the secret harbour is definitely on Conniston. The outline of the island in the film is I think the island on Derwent Water - and has more space for the camp site. Some of the other film shots are on Windermere. Wouldnt be surprised if others have spotted bits of Conniston as well.
Definitely a "best of compilation" from different waters and meres. And good fun visiting as many of the sites as possible like we did when kids were younger.
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We never got round to it when they were younger, although they most certainly "did" Secret Water, Pin Mill, the Broads and Lowestoft. So we thought we would do it now we are all older.
 
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