New User

[Emmett]

Hi all,

just a new comer to the forum and seeing what this is like..
Thinking on planning a trip from Ireland to Scotland (Ballycastle to Campbeltown) I have a 7.5m Pulsar rib with a 200hp outboard Mariner Optimax 2 stroke ... has anyone got any advise?
Any advise would be much appreciated...

Thank you..

[willk]

Originally Posted by Emmett

Hi all,

just a new comer to the forum and seeing what this is like..
Thinking on planning a trip from Ireland to Scotland (Ballycastle to Campbeltown) I have a 7.5m Pulsar rib with a 200hp outboard Mariner Optimax 2 stroke ... has anyone got any advise?
Any advise would be much appreciated...

Thank you..

Hi Emmett,

If the RIB is solid and you know how to operate it then the trip you mention is fairly straightforward - fuel supply might be your biggest concern depending on tank size. Ballycastle is very benign, I hear Campbeltown isn't the most welcoming port in the world - might be a rumour. You'll need moderately good weather for that trip and some understanding of how the tides work around the headlands as they can kick up fairly rough conditions at times, but in small areas.

Reely, you should be going from Greencastle to Islay and calling to Rathlin for a pint on the return leg! :-) Linky

[beamishken]

Roughly 45 miles by water easily doable in your boat assuming its sound it can get naughty close inshore in wind over tide but staying well off the mull helps a bit , its fairly exposed so can get rough but presumably you'd be waiting for favorable conditions if its a first time.
Fuel is about half a mile from the harbour pontoons but its there if you need it. We've stopped in cambeltown several times and found the natives reasonably freindly.
Alternatively if you just want to head to Scotland, Stranraer & Portpatrick are both not much further than Cambeltown Portpatrick being the nicest of the 3 imho

[willk]

I forgot to say "Welcome to Ribnet" before.

Nice RIB, BTW

[Emmett]

Thanks folks for the quick reply.... great advise also and as its my first time crossing id prefer to take the safest and easiest option.. I will be monitoring the weather and working out the rides and have a second boat also in attendance... my fuel tank holds 250L so should be well covered ... Greencastle would be a better option as I know the area well if you reckon that's a safer option? I only went for Ballycastle to Campbeltown cause it looked the shorter crossing... no other reason..


Thanks Again...

[Emmett]

Originally Posted by willk

I forgot to say "Welcome to Ribnet" before.

Nice RIB, BTW

Thanks Willk... Thats the very rib I have... Nice solid rib on the water... plenty of power...

[willk]

Originally Posted by Emmett

Thanks Willk... Thats the very rib I have...

I kinda knew that - it's a very small ribbing world ;-)

Don't forget to snag a Fish & Chips in Mortons of Ballycastle - best I've eaten in Ireland.

[Emmett]

Originally Posted by willk

I kinda knew that - it's a very small ribbing world ;-)

Don't forget to snag a Fish & Chips in Mortons of Ballycastle - best I've eaten in Ireland.

😂.... small world indeed.... would you recommend leaving from Greencasrle or Ballycastle? I take it you left from both...

[Amidas]

Usually travel from islay to Ballycastle
Check tides, use Dover when in Ballycastle and remember if coming to islay
Ballycastle ebb is islay flood tide and vice versa

[Emmett]

Originally Posted by Amidas

Usually travel from islay to Ballycastle
Check tides, use Dover when in Ballycastle and remember if coming to islay
Ballycastle ebb is islay flood tide and vice versa

Perfect..... thanks for the heads up Amidas..

[willk]

Originally Posted by Emmett

😂.... small world indeed....

Oh yeah! Still looking good today

[Emmett]

Small world indeed lol...
Were you boating in Portsalon??

[willk]

Originally Posted by Emmett

Small world indeed lol...
Were you boating in Portsalon??

Just passing through. I'm based in the Swilly. I tend to avoid the quayside in Portsalon 'cos the yummy mummies have commandeered it for their aquatic spawn.

[Emmett]

Originally Posted by willk

Just passing through. I'm based in the Swilly. I tend to avoid the quayside in Portsalon 'cos the yummy mummies have commandeered it for their aquatic spawn.

lol..... I stay down here all July and August and travel up and down to work.
Good spot to head out from... head up to Fanad Head, then Rathmullan for the odd pint or two....

Boat definitely good in the water... I'm happy enough..

[willk]

Originally Posted by Emmett

Boat definitely good in the water... I'm happy enough..

No excuses now so. Inishtrahull first and from there you can SEE Islay...

[jwalker]

If you're going to Cambeltown and would like to explore that sheltered side further, there's Arran, or up to Tarbert or further up to Inveraray or across from Arran through the Kyle's of Bute...just a thought...

[Ribtec1]

picture of the boat when it lived in Donegal before