Thanks Carolne, It's true that the weather really does make the difference, but I always reckon that even a very bad day on the boat is still a way better than a good one in work 😆 Keep safe. H&M
Great to see your choice of favourite places, so hard to chose from the thousands of great spots on the system. As a lockdown entertainment you may wish to look at the 30 videos I posted on my channel "Nicks Adventures" on my trip down the Shannon in 2017. Episode 23 has a great discussion about Castle Island on Lough Key.
Ah yes Nick, as you're well aware there are limitless wonderful places on the network. Oh for sure I enjoyed many of your videos, and hope that you will make more in the future. We nearly crossed paths once, several years ago, in Leitrim village, you were pulling out heading toward the Shannon and I didn't realise who you were until you were gone. Hope one day we get to enjoy a pint together 👍 H&M
Harry and Marion, that was delightful. I do feel for you both having to allow spring to pass by without being able to cruise the beautiful waterways but I'm sure your patience will be rewarded. I hope you can get down to Lake Kilglass a little later on in the year. Best wishes from Jeremy.
Thanks for that Jeremy, I'm with you in hoping to get to Kilglass before this summer is out. Really miss the boat but there's others that are sacrificing a way more so I won't grumble! Keep safe H&M
Hi guys realy enjoy watching your vidios I grew up on lough Ernes shore up near crom. I live in New zealand now but always get out on the water when I'm back home. As My brother has a barge in Enniskillen. Keep up the good work.👍
Hi lads, thanks for the highlights, great to see them again, & thanks for keeping in touch. Looking forward to seeing you back on "Driftwood" again, it,s been a while now, unfortunately! Take care, stay safe! Ben on the Costa Blanca.
Oh and we're looking forward to seeing Driftwood again too! Might be able to get to her in a few weeks but cant move her till Jul 20th. Stay safe in Casta Blanca. H&M
Hi Guys - Some lovely stops! thanks for showing, Can't wait to get out, had arranged to stay near Enniskillen with family, boat as well, this month (may) but obviously it all had to be called off due to Coronavirus, was really looking forward to it but there you go, sods law!! Yeah, hopefully waterways will be going again shortly and you guys will get sailing, looking forward to you next video - Take care, Stay Safe
Yes we're keeping well thank, ye and September can be a lovely time on the water. Often the weather is better than in the mid summer. Fingers crossed that you will have a great holiday. H&M
Another great video.keep up the good work. really looking forward to getting out again on the water. we will have a cuppa if our paths cross this year .
This video was seriously informative, thank you for making it. There the exact sort of spots I would like to visit. I've just bought a boat and am in the process of fixing it up to get ready for the summer, hopefully the restrictions ease sooner rather tan later.
Ah that's great to hear. The second boat we ever bought was sunk when we bought it, so it took a bit of fixing up! If with you bro! It will be worth it all when you get out on the water. Best decision you will ever make. H&M
Hi Harry and Marion, I'm enjoying your vlogs (or blogs) immensely. They're very informative. We hired a boat in September for my 60th from Lough Ree cruisers, just above Glasson (Shane was very helpful) and we had a brilliant time, except nothing was open because of Covid. Anyway, the boat, although old was excellent, very comfortable and very steady in the water. Aileen and I went down to Portumna and back up to Lecarrow and then across the lake, passing Wineport and on to the golf hotel. We loved it so much that Aileen, who wouldn't be a huge fan and a bit nervous of water, asked when we were coming back. We looked at hiring a Wexford class boat from Carrick Craft and heading Northwards. I'm wondering if you've heard good or bad reports about the Wexford class. Very best wishes for the new year, and if we do meet somewhere along the river we'll have to have a pint.
Hi Johnny, Congratulations for converting Aileen, many a good man has failed to convert their partners so they will certainly envy you! From what I know the Wexford class are a great all rounder. The northern Shannon is really nice and if you spot on the water do make yourself known and we'll enjoy that pint! H&M
@@DriftwoodBoatBlog I should have stopped that time i seen you moored up in shannonbridge and gatecrashed your filming in Killeens, especially now that its up for sale.
I like your bolgs Now planning starting from Killadeas Manor Marine in october 2020. How far is erasonable to cruise and return in 12 days ? Happy cruisings Harry and Marion
Hi Kalevi, Great to hear you coming back over this year. You're starting from a beautiful location as well. Theoretically you could cover a huge distance in 12 days, but... Here's the thing. Remember that you have to get back to your starting point and the weather might not be as kind when you're making you're return journey. Also when boating, the less distance you cover the more relaxed you become and the more you will see. Take time to head off in the dingy to explore a narrow channel or an island that you cant get to in the cruiser. I would do a circumnavigation of upper and lower Lough Erne and try to see ans many places as you can along the way. Enjoy and stay safe. H&M
How does it work for going between North and South now brexit has happened? Do you need your passport? Also are there any wide beam canal boats on the system? Love your vlogs, thank you for putting them up.
Hi Tina, and thanks for your nice comment. Well at the moment at least there is no difference going across the border. If fact you would not be aware that there was any border there at all. Hopefully it will stay that way. Yes there are plenty wide beams on the system here. Off hand I think the narrowest canals are on the Grand Canal (Dublin to Shannon) at just over 12' wide. H&M
Hi Fergus, unfortunately Driftwood has too deep a draft for all three. We did spent a season on the Barrow on an old wooden boat (Trindle) that we once owned. We did the Grand many times into Dublin. Never did the Royal canal though. We'd love to vlog them cos they are great waterways but haven't worked out how just yet.
Driftwood Boat Blog at Quivvy we’re been at that boat yard since David opened it in 2003 we watched people come and go over the years we’re the longest there watched that boat yard expand and watched the slip way got built in 2004
Ah, you'd have no problem 👍. There are plenty of flat bottomed barges on the Irish waterways. Just check the forecast before heading out on the large lakes, but we all have to do that anyway 👌
Are you able to travel to all of these distances by boat, or do you need to put the boat on a trailer and use boat ramp to get to all of these locations? I assume they are all river connected?
Hi Kevin, yes they are all on the navigation and are all reachable without putting the boat on a trailer. The connected inland waterways link Dublin to Waterford, Limerick, Athlone, Enniskillen and hundreds of smaller towns along the way 👍 Hope that's of some help 😃👍
Hi Geof, I cant say how long the service block is there but I can say that when we were there it was one of the cleanest service blocks I'd ever seen on the system.
Thanks Guys, great video. I have been looking into recently about getting into boating. Can you just buy a boat and and go onto these rivers/lakes? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Shane, the short answer is, Yes! No license, no insurance (although it is advised). If your boat has an engine of 10Hp or more it needs to be registered with Waterways Ireland and they will give you a window sticker. There is no charge for registering with Waterways Ireland (at least at the moment) Get out and enjoy the wonderful waterways, you'll never regret it. H&M
@@DriftwoodBoatBlog Cracking video here Harry and Marion, thoroughly enjoyed your tour of the Irish waterways. Excellent work on the helm if I do say so myself. I’m considering a move to Ireland and would love to get on the water to enjoy the full beauty of the country! Quick question for you guys, I see you mentioned here that vessels on the waterways don’t need registration or insurance, but what about ocean cruising around Ireland? If I’m not mistaken, I believe that is treated differently to cruising on the fresh waterways? All the best from Australia, keep on cruising! Cheers, Matt
Oh well done you Kalevi that's a nice drone. At the moment they're saying Juky 20th to reopen the waterways fully. But everything can change in these strange times. H&M
Lovely vlog showing some beautiful moorings, - especially when the weather’s good!
Thanks Carolne, It's true that the weather really does make the difference, but I always reckon that even a very bad day on the boat is still a way better than a good one in work 😆 Keep safe.
H&M
You're right! Hopefully it's not long until you are able to go boating again.
Fantastic video, fantastic narrative. Unbelievable scenery.
Thanks Jeeves 👌
Absolutely fantastic video, so informative and helpful.
Thank you Ger that's great to hear, hope you'll watch more of our videos 👍
Hi Harry & Marion, another wonderful video! Looking forward to getting out and about on the water. In the meantime take care. Thank you both. Tom
Thanks Tom. We'll look after the river till you get here 😁 We're keeping it in fine fettle 👍
Your a brave man bringing that big boat down some of those seeming tiny channels, good on ya. Great Vlog
Thanks for watching Theoriain1, glad you enjoy the channel 👍
Great to see your choice of favourite places, so hard to chose from the thousands of great spots on the system. As a lockdown entertainment you may wish to look at the 30 videos I posted on my channel "Nicks Adventures" on my trip down the Shannon in 2017. Episode 23 has a great discussion about Castle Island on Lough Key.
Ah yes Nick, as you're well aware there are limitless wonderful places on the network. Oh for sure I enjoyed many of your videos, and hope that you will make more in the future. We nearly crossed paths once, several years ago, in Leitrim village, you were pulling out heading toward the Shannon and I didn't realise who you were until you were gone. Hope one day we get to enjoy a pint together 👍
H&M
Very interesting and informative i have wanted to cruise the Shannon for a very long time perhaps I may yet do so
Thanks for your comment Timothy, I hope you will get to cruise the river soon. 👍 H&M
Great video and thanks for sharing. Good to hear from you two again. Keep safe.
Thanks Lyndsey, hopefully we'll all get out to enjoy the waterways again soon 👍
Wonderful video, love it.
Thanks Scott 👍
Ireland is such a beautiful country. Thank you for the virtual tour! Stay safe and healthy.
Thanks and good to hear from you. Stay safe you too 👍
Harry and Marion, that was delightful. I do feel for you both having to allow spring to pass by without being able to cruise the beautiful waterways but I'm sure your patience will be rewarded. I hope you can get down to Lake Kilglass a little later on in the year. Best wishes from Jeremy.
Thanks for that Jeremy, I'm with you in hoping to get to Kilglass before this summer is out. Really miss the boat but there's others that are sacrificing a way more so I won't grumble! Keep safe
H&M
Hi guys realy enjoy watching your vidios I grew up on lough Ernes shore up near crom. I live in New zealand now but always get out on the water when I'm back home. As My brother has a barge in Enniskillen. Keep up the good work.👍
Thanks Pat, hope we can fill that boating need till you get back out on your brother's barge!
H&M
Hi lads, thanks for the highlights, great to see them again, & thanks for keeping in touch. Looking forward to seeing you back on "Driftwood" again, it,s been a while now, unfortunately! Take care, stay safe!
Ben on the Costa Blanca.
Oh and we're looking forward to seeing Driftwood again too! Might be able to get to her in a few weeks but cant move her till Jul 20th. Stay safe in Casta Blanca.
H&M
Some beautiful places and the information shared was excellent as always. Hope that you get to your boat shortly. ATB.
Thanks for that, Ye really getting boat withdrawal symptoms now!
Hi Guys - Some lovely stops! thanks for showing, Can't wait to get out, had arranged to stay near Enniskillen with family, boat as well, this month (may) but obviously it all had to be called off due to Coronavirus, was really looking forward to it but there you go, sods law!! Yeah, hopefully waterways will be going again shortly and you guys will get sailing, looking forward to you next video - Take care, Stay Safe
Thanks, yes corona has changed everything, hopefully things will get close to normal before the summers out. 👌
Well done, put it up on Need to Know Lough Derg (Facebook page
Thanks Brendan 👌
Hope you are both keeping well and it’s good news that boat hire is expected to reopen on July 20th, hopefully we will be there in september
Yes we're keeping well thank, ye and September can be a lovely time on the water. Often the weather is better than in the mid summer. Fingers crossed that you will have a great holiday.
H&M
Another great video.keep up the good work. really looking forward to getting out again on the water. we will have a cuppa if our paths cross this year .
Thanks Gerry, hopefully we'll all get out on the water soon 👍
This video was seriously informative, thank you for making it. There the exact sort of spots I would like to visit. I've just bought a boat and am in the process of fixing it up to get ready for the summer, hopefully the restrictions ease sooner rather tan later.
Ah that's great to hear. The second boat we ever bought was sunk when we bought it, so it took a bit of fixing up! If with you bro! It will be worth it all when you get out on the water. Best decision you will ever make.
H&M
Hi Harry and Marion, I'm enjoying your vlogs (or blogs) immensely. They're very informative. We hired a boat in September for my 60th from Lough Ree cruisers, just above Glasson (Shane was very helpful) and we had a brilliant time, except nothing was open because of Covid. Anyway, the boat, although old was excellent, very comfortable and very steady in the water. Aileen and I went down to Portumna and back up to Lecarrow and then across the lake, passing Wineport and on to the golf hotel. We loved it so much that Aileen, who wouldn't be a huge fan and a bit nervous of water, asked when we were coming back. We looked at hiring a Wexford class boat from Carrick Craft and heading Northwards. I'm wondering if you've heard good or bad reports about the Wexford class. Very best wishes for the new year, and if we do meet somewhere along the river we'll have to have a pint.
Hi Johnny, Congratulations for converting Aileen, many a good man has failed to convert their partners so they will certainly envy you! From what I know the Wexford class are a great all rounder. The northern Shannon is really nice and if you spot on the water do make yourself known and we'll enjoy that pint! H&M
@@DriftwoodBoatBlog Thanks very much folks. Keep going with the videos. They're great, and I'm looking forward to that pint already.
I bet you both are counting down the days to be back on Driftwood. 😊⛵
Oh ye, but where did all that sunshine go to 😂
@@DriftwoodBoatBlog Hopefully it will be back by end of August for me.
I certainly hope so, maybe we'll bump into you again 😉🍻
@@DriftwoodBoatBlog I should have stopped that time i seen you moored up in shannonbridge and gatecrashed your filming in Killeens, especially now that its up for sale.
Great!......Hang on till I git a cup of tea.😀👍
Don't forget the biscuits Paul 😆
I like your bolgs
Now planning starting from Killadeas Manor Marine in october 2020. How far is erasonable to cruise and return in 12 days ? Happy cruisings Harry and Marion
Hi Kalevi, Great to hear you coming back over this year. You're starting from a beautiful location as well. Theoretically you could cover a huge distance in 12 days, but... Here's the thing. Remember that you have to get back to your starting point and the weather might not be as kind when you're making you're return journey. Also when boating, the less distance you cover the more relaxed you become and the more you will see. Take time to head off in the dingy to explore a narrow channel or an island that you cant get to in the cruiser. I would do a circumnavigation of upper and lower Lough Erne and try to see ans many places as you can along the way. Enjoy and stay safe.
H&M
How does it work for going between North and South now brexit has happened? Do you need your passport? Also are there any wide beam canal boats on the system? Love your vlogs, thank you for putting them up.
Hi Tina, and thanks for your nice comment. Well at the moment at least there is no difference going across the border. If fact you would not be aware that there was any border there at all. Hopefully it will stay that way. Yes there are plenty wide beams on the system here. Off hand I think the narrowest canals are on the Grand Canal (Dublin to Shannon) at just over 12' wide.
H&M
question for you have you ever brought the driftwood on the royal or grand canal or done the barrow navigation ?
Hi Fergus, unfortunately Driftwood has too deep a draft for all three. We did spent a season on the Barrow on an old wooden boat (Trindle) that we once owned. We did the Grand many times into Dublin. Never did the Royal canal though. We'd love to vlog them cos they are great waterways but haven't worked out how just yet.
How are u to keeping. We don’t have the Bayliner anymore we sold that last year in June and brought a sealinef34 last year in June
Hi Robert, were keeping great thanks. Those Sealine's are a great boat, where are you keeping it?
Driftwood Boat Blog at Quivvy we’re been at that boat yard since David opened it in 2003 we watched people come and go over the years we’re the longest there watched that boat yard expand and watched the slip way got built in 2004
Where do you keep your boat
At the moment we're on the Shannon Erne Waterway.
Lovely video - How many of these spots are accessible by canal barge? The flat bottom wouldn't help I suppose!
Ah, you'd have no problem 👍. There are plenty of flat bottomed barges on the Irish waterways. Just check the forecast before heading out on the large lakes, but we all have to do that anyway 👌
Are you able to travel to all of these distances by boat, or do you need to put the boat on a trailer and use boat ramp to get to all of these locations? I assume they are all river connected?
Hi Kevin, yes they are all on the navigation and are all reachable without putting the boat on a trailer. The connected inland waterways link Dublin to Waterford, Limerick, Athlone, Enniskillen and hundreds of smaller towns along the way 👍 Hope that's of some help 😃👍
I did not realise Drummann had a service block, shower and toilets I am guessing.
Are they new? I thought you only had water there.....
Hi Geof, I cant say how long the service block is there but I can say that when we were there it was one of the cleanest service blocks I'd ever seen on the system.
Thanks Guys, great video. I have been looking into recently about getting into boating. Can you just buy a boat and and go onto these rivers/lakes? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Shane, the short answer is, Yes! No license, no insurance (although it is advised). If your boat has an engine of 10Hp or more it needs to be registered with Waterways Ireland and they will give you a window sticker. There is no charge for registering with Waterways Ireland (at least at the moment) Get out and enjoy the wonderful waterways, you'll never regret it.
H&M
@@DriftwoodBoatBlog Cracking video here Harry and Marion, thoroughly enjoyed your tour of the Irish waterways. Excellent work on the helm if I do say so myself. I’m considering a move to Ireland and would love to get on the water to enjoy the full beauty of the country! Quick question for you guys, I see you mentioned here that vessels on the waterways don’t need registration or insurance, but what about ocean cruising around Ireland? If I’m not mistaken, I believe that is treated differently to cruising on the fresh waterways?
All the best from Australia, keep on cruising!
Cheers,
Matt
When will waterways open. Now I have new DJI Mavic Air drone
Oh well done you Kalevi that's a nice drone. At the moment they're saying Juky 20th to reopen the waterways fully. But everything can change in these strange times.
H&M
What’s happened to you guys?
Well our equipment got old and much of it died! While we just got old 😜
H&M