Name : Ricky Chalmers
Email : Image Error:Cannot create file C:\Sites\Single23\rickychalmers\webroot\upload\Temp\Image27.jpg

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Ricky Chalmers

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Ricky Chalmers

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Ricky Chalmers

Well, we don't quite have a PC in the W/C yet...

We do have a wireless lan and four notebook PC's though, so we can all be in different rooms (W/C's included) and can browse the web or play a multiplayer game of cards - sad or what !!

Ricky Chalmers

Hi Tont, thanks for your guestbook entry.

My original comment on Caley Cruisers came in a news letter posting which read as follows :

The biggest danger in the canal would seem to be the Caley Cruisers (www.caleycruisers.com) who are given a few minutes basic training on how to aim the motor launch and then let loose on the lochs and locks amongst yachties. We all felt a bit superior with our abilities in the locks and sat back and enjoyed the spectacle and expletives eminating from the tourists in their bright orrange solid foam life jackets on their caley cruisers bouncing from lock wall to lock wall with no fenders and no control. The best strategy was avoidance, and keeping them in front, although Maggie did have to fend one off our anchor as they hurlted backwards towards us as the man nominally in control left the cruiser in reverse while he tried to throw a rope up the the lock keeper.

Rereading this I guess it does come across as a little arrogant. I have nothing against Caley Cruisers (the company), and certainly would encourage people to cruise the Lochs of Scotland, both the Caledonian and Crinnan were fantastic.

I stand by my description of the incident as described and think the following comments may help.

The warps (mooring ropes) on the cruisers that I helped to tie up and re-secure after they had come loose were inadequate. Basic knowledge about bow, stern lines and springs was lacking.

There were generally too few fenders on the cruisers and the token fender which was hanging over the side was normally far too small. When coming along side another boat, especially in a loch, boats should be adequately fendered to avoid damage.

The Caley Cruisers web site (http://www.caleycruisers.com/info.htm) says that “Boat driving licence not required” and that “No experience necessary - comprehensive boat handling instruction given”. My view of what we saw is that more instruction is needed.

We all need to start somewhere when taking to the water in a boat, and the relatively protected waters of the canals is the perfect place to learn. We helped out wherever we could, giving some basic guidance such as how to ease a warp out around a cleat as the boat dropped with the falling level in the lock and how to secure the boat to the pontoon.