| cheeny |
| (regular) |
| 11/05/2008 23:02 |
loch lomond
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any one got any pros and cons on boating in loch lomond for the summer. will hopefully be keeping the boat near balloch to use the new slipway have only been up a couple of times at balmaha etc looks lovely.
| hlb |
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| 11/05/2008 23:50 |
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Re: loch lomond
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Used to trailer a boat up there, umm 20 years ago, was never impressed. The bonny, bonny banks looked like steap oppressive cliffs to me. Council house type of town at one end. A fawlty house towers hotel with a little harbour half way up, that did cheap weekends for pentioners, the top end with the little wobbly marina and the pub. I remember it well. It's as rough as being on the sea and even more rough than the sea, views or hospitality wise. Oh well it might have changed!!
| cheeny |
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| 12/05/2008 00:17 |
Re: loch lomond
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hi hlb
balloch is still a bit (neddy) so I hear. but theres been big improvements I hear in twenty years. new slipway at balloch wich is manned constantly by park rangers. its actually the most impressive well built I have ever seen. you should have a look . also lots of new by laws, a bi reduction in jet skis over the years (checked park rangers surveys)
also I beleive there are two park ranger ribs on the loch each day in the summerwith police as back up (visual) on alternative days. plus its a lot quieter up there now, espescially since twenty years (hey Im that old too). lots of nice new developments at balloh also the small pub/hotel at balmaha is a real gem. new owners a round ten years ago but totally rebuilt very friendly with rooms and dorms but classis country pub style but not being fake and overloooking sandy marina / bay what more could you ask for
| dbrown |
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| 12/05/2008 07:56 |
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Re: loch lomond
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Quote:
what more could you ask for
for it to stop raining!
even the locals say, there no bad weather, just bad choice of clothes
| honeybee |
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| 12/05/2008 14:10 |
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Re: loch lomond
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I totally love boating on Loch Lomond, My boat is berthed in at Cameron House - near to Balloch. The islands are great to spent a day cruising round them or if you want to head north for a good run you can. I have boated here now for 3 years and love it everytime I go out.
chris
| Clyder |
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| 12/05/2008 17:39 |
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Re: loch lomond
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Hi Cheeny, LL is fine for a while, but you'll soon outgrow it and move to the sea.
Like you I used about my first four boats on LL and started off on the east shore at Balmaha, then moved over to the Duncan Mills Slip @ Balloch.
The Balloch slip is good but it is ALWAYS mobbed. The rangers police it with a rod of iron, and you only get enough time to get the boat off the trailer before they start pestering you to move on!! Oh, aye and the queuing (or the lack of it / the concept of a queue escapes most!!)
The on water rangers re a pain in the proverbial too. We were stopped three times in the one day by them...once for a registration check, once for a safety check and once for towing the ringo apparently within the 150 meter "exclusion zone" near the islands (which we proved we were not!!)
The pub on Inchmurrin is good....good bar meals...steer clear of the restaurant.
Cheers
Clyde.
| silver_boy |
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| 12/05/2008 17:52 |
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Re: loch lomond
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We've also got our boat a Cameron Marina (You'll see it from the slipway) - and love Loch Lomond. Islands will be fairly busy on a good summer day but all the more fun. You should try camping on one of them. Can't beat it! Just make sure you don't lose control of your boat too near the golf course
clicky. Plenty of places to eat dotted around. Inchmurrin, the Cruin, Luss, Rowardennan to name a few. Just be careful with your speed in the limited bits - patrol boats like to hide then jump out on you. Feel free to ask for any more info!Edit - You can also check out the weather here before you go - webcam
| jimmcgee |
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| 13/05/2008 15:19 |
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Re: loch lomond
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will be up there tonight at 7.30 testing my new boat
so if you see someone on a bayliner 2255 with a big grin its meeeeee 
| silver_boy |
| (regular) |
| 13/05/2008 20:50 |
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Re: loch lomond
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I saw you!! I think - we were out playing in our sealine s28 bout that time - sure I saw you buzzing about outside cameron marina. Looked like you were having fun!
| jimmcgee |
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| 13/05/2008 21:51 |
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Re: loch lomond
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it was me had a run up the river and out on the loch and then back in , nice to see they put put markers out the river, lost a prop on a big rock there a couple of years ago, seen you too , the next two weeks are going to drag in , then its all systems go
| cheeny |
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| 14/05/2008 23:38 |
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sex pistols
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thanks all any more info. what about the best islands with somewhere to land ie sandy bays and can I jump and pull the boat up on them and stake it down.
Thanks clyder. Ive done the sea for a couple of season at port edgar under the bridge has put me off a bit. good slipway, cheap berths £1 a day on parking area on trailor. but terrible lookin sea always grey and dirty looking. just fancy somewhere that in good weather the waters fairly clear to swim in. queensferry/fife/north sea doesnt do that for me. quite fancy west coast now that you mention it. lots good big islands for day trips thanks.
Also any what happens on the loch lomond concert time can you take your boat near the shore to hear the music or does everyone do that and no chance of getting launched! just sounds like a good idea to drop anchor and listen to the sex pistols !!! or if anyone wants another passenger I'll bring the tequila !!!
| honeybee |
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| 15/05/2008 09:32 |
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Re: sex pistols
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InchCalloch (SP) Is a good sandy bay. With regards to the concert I will be taking my bayliner over there to anchor for the day. It does get rock in to the shore at the park so just watch your depth as you head in.
See you on the water someday
Chris
| jimmcgee |
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| 15/05/2008 14:39 |
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Re: sex pistols
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inchmoan is the best island on loch lomond for beaches, the one coming up from balloch is the best in the good weather, but get there quick or its always full , and the water is quet shallow for a good bit out, once seen a boat do a full emergency stop when the boy in the water up to his neck, stood up to let them in lol
| jimmcgee |
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| 15/05/2008 14:43 |
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Re: loch lomond
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56° 4'53.15"N
4°36'53.96"W
have a look on google earth
| cheeny |
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| 16/05/2008 12:28 |
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Re: loch lomond
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honeybee do you keep your boat on the water. Im looking for a berth for the summer in about a week or so. (if I get a carpet grrrr), any ideas. I was thinking about keeping it a a friends house near balloch slipway but is this really that busy there that I should avoid it. Also do you know if on the concert days there are large amounts of people waiting to launch.
Thanks jimm. Ive bought a second map of the loch just to write comments on and circle places to go or been, Ill add yours now before I forget. Any others
| cheeny |
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| 16/05/2008 12:35 |
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Re: loch lomond
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jimm. hadnt thought of google earth. good idea thanks for that - looks perfect. How much is it - ha ha
| AlistairR |
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| 16/05/2008 12:46 |
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Re: loch lomond
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Don't forget to look out for the wallabies on Inchconnachan.
Al.
| AlistairR |
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| 16/05/2008 12:53 |
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Re: sex pistols
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Isn't there also a sand bank just below the water surface, just south of those beachs on Inchmoan, something you need to watch out for, ok when levels are normal or high, but not when low.
Al.
| jimmcgee |
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| 16/05/2008 16:02 |
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Re: sex pistols
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the sand bank is marked, just out from the golf course if thats the one you mean.
| honeybee |
| (regular) |
| 21/05/2008 13:56 |
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Re: sex pistols
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Hi cheeny,
i do keep my 20ft boat in Cameron House on a pontoon mooring. Very expensive but you will also get a mooring on the river at Balloch for a qaurter of the price. I think Cameron house do have a few spaces just now so worth giving them a call if you need a mooring. It is the best on the Loch along with Fuel pumps on your door - you also get your fuel cheaper than outsiders by 20p per litre I think it is.
Chris
| cheeny |
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| 24/05/2008 11:52 |
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Re: sex pistols
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hi chris was up at cameron house during the week. very nice place, quite fancy a lodge there, drove round the estate lots of building work but hmmmm i didnt see any marina, i take it its right down past the big lodges, I didnt go all the way down though. went up to duck bay for lunch - not a boat in sight anywhere even on the water, I remember this place being very busy years ago, I do mean years ago. Went further up to luss. only one boat out all day and the water was like glass. lovely day too on a monday is it really so quiet there.
Ive booked a lodge at balloch caravan park which has a place in the park for your boat while you stay. I,ll look more into it after i get her up for a first water trial since refurb. Ive seen dry storage near balloch for around a pound a day - thats the same as port edgar, queensferry where i usually keep her.
I like the sound of it, going to check it out if engine works ok in test run.
| jimmcgee |
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| 24/05/2008 16:02 |
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Re: sex pistols
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was up friday night, paid the rest of the money for the boat and out last night for a wee shot , up this morning, an loaded it up, genny, 10 life jackets 
, theres only 4 of us , step ladders cos the wife nearly went for a swim last night 
, just got to wait till 6 for the wife to stop working and we are off , oh nearly forgot, plenty of them
| honeybee |
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| 26/05/2008 12:09 |
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Re: sex pistols
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Cheeny,
The marina would have been right in front of you behind the building work, The marina office and restaurant is currently being built on the left as you drive along the road. Let us know when your going up and I could meet up with you. Where is Balloch Caravan Park ?
| cheeny |
| (regular) |
| 26/05/2008 23:41 |
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Re: sex pistols
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honey - so thats wots the buildings are - was wondering if I could get a job there hmmmmm!!
here's the link to the park http://www.holiday-parks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=3- it looks very well kept so it wasnt a surprise to find its a ***** 5 star (no i dont work there or own it). Ive booked a new skyline lodge wotever that is '08 version cheap if you go throuth the week. parking for then trailor boats £2 per night and free use of duncan mills slip. sounds too good. booked for 16th - 20th june. speak soon if sea trial goes well at queensferry at the weekend.
| cheeny |
| (regular) |
| 26/05/2008 23:53 |
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Re: sex pistols
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jimm have u just bought a new boat in this uncertain financial climate----------------- jammy get!!
| jimmcgee |
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| 27/05/2008 15:12 |
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Re: sex pistols
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not a new boat, second hand , but a step up for me going from a 16 footer , bigger boat bigger fuel bill 
,anyone know if you can get a 22 footer on plane with a 9.8
will get some pics up from the weekend, weather was murder
could not keep the beers cool enough
| cheeny |
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| 28/05/2008 00:58 |
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Re: sex pistols
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Weather murder! but slightly better i take it than down south ha ha.
was it quiet as usual - I haven't seen the crowds yet.
I did get a good tan in the boat though - Fitting the seats and seat rails back in. in my sisters driveway! (must remember to buy a boat that works in future) thats 2 in a row!
Im jealous