Stirling Cruise - June 2012 - Page 5

awr · 09 May 2012, 18:58

Likewise,we to are concerned about recovering rib at pe.We have in the past ran out of concrete and found the big step a problem.Without teaching my grannie how to suck eggs,should we not be going up the river on the rising tide and reaching Stirling just after high water leaving a good window for a safe stopover in Stirling and a safe return past Alloa and back into deep water.Alan

SPR · 09 May 2012, 19:28

ok - let me know your plans - I don't know port Edgar ! If most are coming back in one day let me know...I will let Stirling rowing club know.

S.

macattack101 · 09 May 2012, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by awr

Likewise,we to are concerned about recovering rib at pe.We have in the past ran out of concrete and found the big step a problem.Without teaching my grannie how to suck eggs,should we not be going up the river on the rising tide and reaching Stirling just after high water leaving a good window for a safe stopover in Stirling and a safe return past Alloa and back into deep water.Alan

Alan you are bang on and as long as there is a decent 2m at PE we will all get out. I Will put the drysuit on and help everyone to recover. I think we should depart stirling by 16.30 at the latest to get depth down the shallows. We can always trim up and its only mud...it will be an adventure
Colin

9D280 · 10 May 2012, 08:41

I plan to use the aux if it looks precariously shallow- the prop shaft is slightly above the height of the keel (so will reduce draught by about 6"), and at least it will be thrusting forwards rather than pushing the stern down...

So is nobody up for a food finding mission to let the tide come in a bit further?

SPR · 10 May 2012, 15:53

what about the lifeboat slip is that public?

9D280 · 11 May 2012, 08:44

That was my first thought - there is a pub/ restaurant right across the road, (the Hawes Inn) and from memory about 3(?) years ago when I went to PE and they were re-concreting the slip they sent me there and told me to keep off the left hand side, 'coz thats the side the lifeboat uses. I checked with the Lifeboat bods in the shop and they said no problem, just keep the ramp clear. I would imagine rafting up on the side or all mooring off & someone shuttle us in one boat that we leave off the side shouldn't cause too much hassle. As my toobs are past their best I don't mind leaving mine alongside - another scuff or two isn't going to matter.

Alternatively if anyone has a dinghy, only one of us needs to row ashore & park the dinghy out the way - if we even need to anchor off?

Anyone know the setup more intimately?

Alternatively is there not a cafe / pub in North Q'ferry where you don't have the lifeboat blocking problem?

kev · 11 May 2012, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9D280

That was my first thought - there is a pub/ restaurant right across the road, (the Hawes Inn) and from memory about 3(?) years ago when I went to PE and they were re-concreting the slip they sent me there and told me to keep off the left hand side, 'coz thats the side the lifeboat uses. I checked with the Lifeboat bods in the shop and they said no problem, just keep the ramp clear. I would imagine rafting up on the side or all mooring off & someone shuttle us in one boat that we leave off the side shouldn't cause too much hassle. As my toobs are past their best I don't mind leaving mine alongside - another scuff or two isn't going to matter.

Alternatively if anyone has a dinghy, only one of us needs to row ashore & park the dinghy out the way - if we even need to anchor off?

Anyone know the setup more intimately?

Alternatively is there not a cafe / pub in North Q'ferry where you don't have the lifeboat blocking problem?

the lifeboat station has been extended ,so they might use the left hand side of the slip (looking towards the water) they were still working on the building last time I was there in march.

Shog69 · 11 May 2012, 10:38

Or we could moor up at Port Ed and it's only a short walk to the first few pubs in the village.

macattack101 · 12 May 2012, 15:12

I think parking the cars and trailers at the lifeboat slip for launching will be hard as every time i go to south Queensferry its mobbed on a Sat with bikes and tourists. I would be happy to go for food after we get out at port edgar or moor up at south queensferry or PE until tide starts to come up again in the evening. I'm easily pleased...I am even tempted to take an overnight mooring at PE and then I can have another run down river on Sunday.

Shog69 · 12 May 2012, 17:58

I'm moored at PE until July so will parking up there anyway. Do we have a RO time yet?

awr · 17 May 2012, 18:30

Guys,what time do you want to meet up on the sat morning at port edger.Forgot to mention before,the folks that are bringing the motohome your best parking is to the west end end of the trailer park,and there is a heated toilet/shower block on site as well as cafe,looking forward to the trip up river and hope the weather improves.PS the only difference between good and bad weather is the wrong clothes. Alan.

macattack101 · 20 May 2012, 13:06

I vote for a 10am launch. I had a trip out yesterday from PE and saw 3 ribs which was good to see that I was not the only glutton for punishment. It was a hard trip up to Kirkaldy where it was getting F5 with some spine crunching rollers and my 'crew' had had enough of the waves so we went exploring up river where it was better.
I had to use a 5m strop connected to an old (still ok) 7m winch strap and that just did it. Easy peasy this time. I was very jealous of the other rib driver who just reversed his truck straight in to recover...felt like shouting 'cheat'.

Shog69 · 20 May 2012, 19:17

Ha ha, that was me!

macattack101 · 20 May 2012, 19:31

Well I was very impressed with your recovery as there was no shouting or waving of the arms. The tide was as usual trying to pull the boat across the trailer but that PE for you. As you can imagine I try to keep my beemer out the wet stuff after the first day I ever launched at PE the tide nearly got me as my exhaust was blowing bubbles!

kev · 21 May 2012, 16:26

10 am would be good for me ,plenty of time to get up to stirling .was up at stirling today looking at the river, I would perefer to be up there at higher tide.

9D280 · 21 May 2012, 16:51

I went for a trip on the F&C "pub taxi" and had a long chat with one of their members who took (and wil lbe taking) their "model puffer" (Maryhill) up. I took copious notes which I will need to translate into "rib compatible" notes, as their boat only does about 6 knots flat out, and draws a bit more than your average RIB, so the "leave here by X o'clock to ensure enough water at Random Mudbank whilst steaming at 6 knots into a 5 knot water flow" notes will need modified!

There is a seriously rocky & shallow bit round the corner form the Rowing Club (I saw photos) that is only passable at high-ish water, and there is the ford at Cambus that causes all sorts of tidal weirdness upstream, although wit ha rib's power - weight ratio it shouldn't cause any problems.

I'll post back once I have figured it all out, but those times seem to be reasonable.

SPR, you got mail!

kev · 21 May 2012, 16:58

Here are a few photos of rowing club and bridges at low tide today

kev · 21 May 2012, 17:03

some more the last one is looking towards the new campus at the raplock

kev · 21 May 2012, 17:07

The bit at rowing club is on the left hand side before the rowing club ok at high water but watch at low water very rocky and built up with rocks

Shog69 · 21 May 2012, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by macattack101

Well I was very impressed with your recovery as there was no shouting or waving of the arms. The tide was as usual trying to pull the boat across the trailer but that PE for you. As you can imagine I try to keep my beemer out the wet stuff after the first day I ever launched at PE the tide nearly got me as my exhaust was blowing bubbles!

Trick is to get the wife doing the hard work while I hold the rib lined up with the trailer. It's going back in on Thursday for another 2 months before it needs cleaned again