Coast to coast with 1.4m depth.... Possible?

[kris88]

i thought post 45 was quite constructive rachel but then what do i know?

may i suggest if your tired you go for a lie down

[Naughty Cal]

i thought post 45 was quite constructive rachel but then what do i know?

may i suggest if your tired you go for a lie down

No post 45 was a dig at someone else.

 

If you have nothing in the way of useful advise or knowledge to offer people why are you actually here?

[kris88]

I've been waiting for you in the argument thread

But if you want to continue clogging up this thread with this rubbish

I think your right ill just go and end it all now!

No hang on its Friday fish and chips for tea,maybe ill end it tmw

[Naughty Cal]

Yes that is more your style rather than making any useful contribution to the forum.

 

You go an argue with yourself in the VP and leave the rest of the topics to people who want to offer valuable contributions rather than digs at other people.

[Dave_P]

I've been waiting for you in the argument thread

But if you want to continue clogging up this thread with this rubbish

I think your right ill just go and end it all now!

No hang on its Friday fish and chips for tea,maybe ill end it tmw

I'm reminded of Ginsberg's Theorem (restating the three laws of thermodynamics):

 

1. You can't win.

2. You can't break even.

3. You can't get out of the game.

 

:-)

[magictime]

the shallowest point on the Rochdale canal is 4'5

 

I can't begin to square that with our experience last summer. We found more than one pound almost empty - a foot of water or less - and had to let water down from above (while being careful to keep enough water in that pound to float our boat, which only draws about 2'6"). I'm sure it's different at different times of year, depending on the amount of rain etc., but it'd have to be very different. And that's without factoring in all the junk on the bottom - we encountered shopping trolleys, a wheelie bin, a gas cyclinder, a ride-in toy car and a plastic barricade. I think with your boat it'd be like something out of Fitzcarraldo.

[Jim Riley]

What,,page 3,, & No Spelling or Grammar corrections yet !.

 

 

Nothing to be corrected on pages 1 and 2, page 3, however, starts with a surfeit of unnecessary capitals!

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

Nothing to be corrected on pages 1 and 2, page 3, however, starts with a surfeit of unnecessary capitals!

Really !.well I'm no expert, but I thought there was room for some corrections on Posts 14,,18 & 19 on page 1 alone !,and was amazed they slipped by the Spelling & Grammar Police. But if it's correct,that explains it.

 

I think that have given up on correcting my posts,,as they needed more man power to cope with the demand.

Edited March 15, 2014 by Paul's Nulife4-2

[Jim Riley]

Really !.well I'm no expert, but I thought there was room for some corrections on Posts 14,,18 & 19 on page 1 alone !,and was amazed they slipped by the spelling & Grammar police. But if it's correct,that explains it.

I hadn't checked, I just believed what you wrote. Pedants would say you were correct, none had been picked up on, you didn't say there were none, which I now realise I was wrong to assume.

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

Woo Hoo !.. That's a first,,,,

I'm Right,,,, (sort of).

I'm off for a Cider and a Donut !.

Is there a smug smiley ?.

Edited March 15, 2014 by Paul's Nulife4-2

[PhilR]

To the OP:

 

I wish you a safe an enjoyable passage. With the (relatively) deep draft of your boat I would think the Caledonian Canal would be your best option.The trans-pennine waterways are, to be realistic, too shallow for the depth of your keel.

 

If you haven't been put off from posting on here, please send in a report of your journey. I am sure most people would be really interested to hear about your experiences.

 

Good luck and wishing you favourable winds..........

[Iain_S]

The Forth & Clyde would also be OK.

Not as good scenery, though, and tied to Scottish Canals' locking times, but saves a fair bit (and the most challenging bit) of the North Sea passage.

 

 

Iain

 

P.S. Also, fewer midges

[Tzusjourneyhome]

To the OP:

 

I wish you a safe an enjoyable passage. With the (relatively) deep draft of your boat I would think the Caledonian Canal would be your best option.The trans-pennine waterways are, to be realistic, too shallow for the depth of your keel.

 

If you haven't been put off from posting on here, please send in a report of your journey. I am sure most people would be really interested to hear about your experiences.

 

Good luck and wishing you favourable winds..........

Thanks for the kind words and as suggested I'm back with news of Tzu's travels as a temporary inland waterways boat. Before i do though, a thank you to those who contributed with something meaningful. I might not have read all the posts as it seemed to get a bit silly somewhere!

 

Anyway, sailed up the NE coast, turned to port up the Fort of Firth and overnight at Port Edgar Marina. A fantastic view of the Forth Bridges at dawn on the Friday morning and up the River Carron. Mast down at the ex BW crane pontoon at Grangemouth, under the Kerse and pipe bridges then left (not 'to port' as we are now a canal boat) into the sea lock. We were held at the new facility at The Helix with a nice view of The Kelpies (google them) till 08:30 the following morning when nice men from Scottish Canals arrive to escort us up the 20 locks to the summit level.

SC staff do all the work at the lock, swing bridges etc. all we have to do is drive the boat and pass a couple of long mooring ropes. Once at the summit level we stopped adjacent to one of the few pubs on the canal. Unlike English canals there are few pubs on the route. I think this is due to the canal closing in the 60's with pubs on the route becoming redundant and closing.

Stayed one night then met another crew at the top of Maryhill flight of locks on the outskirts of Glasgow for the trip down to the coast. En route stopped at the sail through fish and chip shop moored in the canal in the centre of Clydebank shopping centre. You really do stop at the drive thru window, order and pay then motor on to moor. They bring the food you and it was delicious!

At the end of day two (Sunday) we were safely moored next to the Clyde at Bowling Harbour for an overnight stay before putting the mast back up the following morning. The mast crane itself is operated by SC staff but actually handling and fitting the mast done by ourselves.

 

On the downhill side we got to use the Dalmuir drop lock which took us under a main road, computerized and automated and costing millions. Unlike the 100+ year old design stuff on the rest of the canal it didn't work and need a manager to be called to override the computers and put it on manual.

 

Overall a brilliant experience and a nice view of inland waterways. Nice scenery, some history, 3 nights mooring and a saving of at least a week compared to going 'over the top'

 

The 4'6" deep keel touched the ground lightly a couple of times, the mast sticking out the front was something to be mindful of but didn't cause any problems and I could have done with more fenders but a pretty easy trip as well.

 

Oh, and we appear to have been only the second boat to have done the transit this year and saw only one other boat moving.

 

If your interested there are a couple of pictures on my Facebook page "Tzu's Journey Home".. A bit of sailing boat stuff in there as well.

 

NB.. Due to weather and tides Tzu's currently sat in Peel, Isle of Man; I'm hoping to finish the trip this coming bank holiday weekend.

[PhilR]

Many thanks for the trip report. It is always good to get some feedback - especially with a passage like yours.

 

I'm really pleased to hear the trip went so well. I am sure you deserve a few beers to celebrate! ........... maybe you have had a few already?

 

Well done and thanks for posting.

 

Phil

[Grace and Favour]

Delightful trip report Tzu...

 

Many thanks for taking the trouble to post.... an enjoyable trip!

[John P]

"En route stopped at the sail through fish and chip shop moored in the canal in the centre of Clydebank shopping centre. You really do stop at the drive thru window, order and pay then motor on to moor. They bring the food you and it was delicious!"

 

Wow, what a great idea! Any chance that this will catch on!

[NigelMoore]

Years ago there used to be a Fish & Chip shop on the Harrow Road backing on to the Paddington Arm. They mounted a ship's bell alongside their sign on the back wall rising from the canal, and you could come alongside, ring the bell and be served out their back window without moving from the tiller. I used to buy chips every time I passed, just for the novelty of it.

 

I was told a curry house a few doors down used to do the same. Shame that present proprietors can't see any value in continuing the practice.