We are staying on on the shores of Loch Linnhe for a week this June and I wondered what the law says regarding taking my SIB on the Loch.
Do I need a pass or permit, or can I just launch the boat...it's only got a 6hp on it so we won't be ripping up the place. We won't be doing any fishing.
We are staying on on the shores of Loch Linnhe for a week this June and I wondered what the law says regarding taking my SIB on the Loch.
Do I need a pass or permit, or can I just launch the boat...it's only got a 6hp on it so we won't be ripping up the place. We won't be fishing or anything, just exploring.
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch so is just like taking your boat anywhere else on the sea, i.e. you are free to do so with no permits, licences etc. You will only find "restrictions" in place on Inland (Fresh water) Lochs. [Of course like other areas of the sea there may be areas of loch's which have speed limits or restrictions for military bases / commercial activites etc - but they'll be shown on the local chart etc]
The one issue may be where you want to launch the boat. Of course any slipway owner can impose their own conditions for using their slip. In reality you are unlikely to have any significant complications - and if you can find somewhere easy to get the boat down to the water and across a "beach" you should be fine.
Only thing to watch is it can kick up there big style for a SIB if you get the wind in the wrong direction. I've had it where I couldn't keep an 11' dory on the plane and were going through every other wave due to the sea state. I've also had it mirror calm in a 2.3m Sib flying along.
Having said that, if you have a SIB, plenty of other lochs nearby that are nice & sheltered (or at 90 degrees to Linnhe so the waves can't build up!) Don't know where you are staying, but should it get blustery Creran is good in that you can stick to whatever shore is to Windward (Launch Near the A828 bridge for parking & shore) Etive is basially a right angle, so one leg is always wave free - (launch at Taynuilt to be at the corner for the choice) or can chuck it in at either of the old ferry slips by the Ballachuilish Bridge for a trip up Loch Leven. Fort William you get the same "90 Degree" effect on Linnhe. If you are on the West Side of the Loch, Sunart is spectacularly scenic & plenty of "Sib Friendly" bays to visit.
If you got a handheld GPS I have a "Garmin 12" friendly" (i.e short names that vaguely make sense!) set of waypoints if they could be any use.
Imogen
