cruising through Forth & Clyde canal

Scottish diver · 08 December 2010, 21:38

Has anyone on here taken a RIB through the Forth & Clyde canal lately? i am looking to go through at the beginning of next season and was wondering if anyone has any advice?

9D280 · 09 December 2010, 08:50

http://www.waterscape.com/media/documents/20717.pdf

http://www.waterscape.com/canals-and...-canal/boating

As a start.

I would suggest some form of toob protection like a sheet of ply to dangle over the side for the locks, as they are mostly original stone built, or a good replica of same for those they had to move out the way of a road.

These guys
http://www.forthandclyde.org.uk/
have a fair few photos to give you an idea of whats out there. Probably be able to give you some advivce as well.

Food wise, There's an Italian by a saith in Falkirk (Forth side of the wheel), and a reportedly good Restaurant at Auchinstarry Marina. There's a Weatherspoons (along with lots of other stuff) in Kirkintilloch & about 20 mins of motoring later the Stables Pub by the A803 bridge. Not so sure about facilities further into Glasgow, but the F&C bods should be able to help.

Scottish diver · 09 December 2010, 15:52

thanks for the info......I did the Caledonian canal this year and found the waterscape info for it excellent.

I was hoping someone had been through the canal as I have heard some horror stories of dodging bricks and stones from the restless natives and hitting submerged shopping trolleys en route. ?It cant be that bad....can it?

Poly · 09 December 2010, 17:13

I think mdt on here might have done it in a yacht. Not seen him post on here for a while - might be worth pm'ing him...

Erin · 10 December 2010, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

I would suggest some form of protection like a sheet of ply to dangle over the side

I thought you were going to say the ply was to fend off the natives. (I lived in Scotland for a while

)

dougcrock · 10 December 2010, 13:56

went thru 3yrs ago on previous rib launched at Edinbuugh stayed overnight at falkirk wheel the along union canal for a few miles it is shallower and we hit a car next night stayed a Applecross Basin getting out at Bowling next morning Tides at both end have to be worked out. No probs from any one but we did it mid week and not during school holidays would have been crap if it had been raining Would suggest teaming up with a yacht or barge Canvas or tarp over side as fenders get very slimey

dougcrock · 10 December 2010, 14:03

pics

Scottish diver · 11 December 2010, 06:06

you hit a car??? was this submerged in the canal???

willk · 11 December 2010, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottish diver

you hit a car??? was this submerged in the canal???

That part of the world, anything is possible

Scottish diver · 11 December 2010, 10:35

or was it just tossed at you as you sailed by..................

jambo · 11 December 2010, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

That part of the world, anything is possible

Steady now man remember you have relations over here!!

B

dougcrock · 11 December 2010, 15:29

In union canal hit something solid and metal
Skeg came up with blue paint along rear
good story rib hits car

dougcrock · 11 December 2010, 15:39

better than other story
Car hits Rib

jambo · 11 December 2010, 16:29

Doug I thought Volvo's were made of better stuff than that, doesn't say much for their impact bumbers! or id there major damage amidships that is being covered?
J

dougcrock · 13 December 2010, 08:57

hit the car first then the tube was punctured but easily fixed

mdt · 01 February 2011, 05:55

I have done the Forth and Clyde a few times in yachts the locals are fine, even in Mary Hill and Clydebank just don’t hang about too long. Yes there is the shopping trolley/car issue but they are more of a worry if you have a 6’ keel under you. I would not stress too much about the walls a fender or 2 will be more than enough if you have a ‘D’ profile rubbing strike on the tubes? There is a fair bit of weed and some junk like plastic bags but this is not much of a hassle to deal with on a outboard.
Oh and we did get stuck in Clydebank once for a few hours dude to a dead body in the lock system at Mary Hill, the lock keeper did not like it when I asked “well can we go though if we promise not to hit it, or poke it with boat hooks”

The one thing to keep in mind is that it is a two day trip would suggest you spend the night by this place http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thestableskirkintilloch/ good grub (standard pub stuff) but the only thing I don’t know if they have rooms? There might be a spot to camp but I can’t quite remember. We have always stopped off there but a yacht is a fair bit more accommodating that a RIB.

I have done the Cally canal in a RIB and it was really very nice and a top way to spend a weekend. Heading East to West there is a nice section just after Falkirk up to about 2 miles past the stables inn.

Which way are you looking to head?

PS: I don’t know what it is like for a RIB as I have not been up the Carron river in on but check what the tides are doing as I know there is not a lot of water at low tide.

Scottish diver · 01 February 2011, 07:31

Thanks MDT...we are heading East to West first week in April...have accomodation on board (and a heater!) so should be ok as far as that goes. Will stay over the west for a few months and then head back through Caledonia canal in May/june...

hopefully we wont come across any bodies on this trip....!

mdt · 01 February 2011, 08:18

Ah ok should have looked and seen 9m Redbay. So in this instance more like a yacht then in some respects than a RIB.

If you are going East to West then and you have a wheel house and a fair bit of (I assume air draft) you will need to look into when you will be able to go up the river carron as the last yacht we took up had a 3 foot draft and a wheel house and from memory we only had about 30 mins when we would fit under the bridge before the sea gates at the start of the canal. And the way back out when the tide was dropping the river has a fair flow going down it. But I am guessing that you might just have a bit more grunt in your RIB than the 34bhp we had in the yacht.

9D280 · 01 February 2011, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

The one thing to keep in mind is that it is a two day trip would suggest you spend the night by this place http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thestableskirkintilloch/ good grub (standard pub stuff) but the only thing I don’t know if they have rooms?

Second that, and am 99% sure there's no rooms. If you do need a bed, the Kirkie Marina is now open, and has easy access to pub food, a hotel & (assuuming it's still there- it's been a while since I last went) a pretty good curry house. - Call it a 5 min walk to the town centre (and also a short walk to a supermarket if you need to restock)