George wrote: Which charts do you mean ? the WI ones that come in the clear plastic folder ? Or are others available. I have a copy of the aforementioned that I use in conjunction with a OS map, however there are quite a few new marks not on my copy (vintage 2006).

The current charts issued by WI are dated 2010. There's also the OSNI "Leisure Activities" maps (which I find very useful on the Erne). I think they are dated 2008.

Colin
GMY Chang Sha

I refer to OSNI Activity Map title Lough Erne, published 2008, scale 1:25000. It's the definitive map; it supersedes an earlier similar map of some thirty years ago which had separate sheets for the two loughs and I think were called Outdoor Pursuits Maps. It in turn superseded the Admiralty Chart, 5083, published in 1836 although mine is a reprint (but not an update, other than to add railways which by the time of the reprint were all closed again!) from 1965.

It still retains some usefulness to a nerd like me.

Any other chart, published by any other body, commercial, government, quasi government or as a part of a hire company map, well, they have their uses but not for anything serious.

Hope that helps, Alun

Just as an aside, of late I've been drinking a gallon or so of Liffey Water (with brewers yeast added) every week which I've then been recyling into the local ecosystem. I'm going to have to up the intake because so far it hasn't had any noticeable effect..

[quote Alun Goodall]Udo, thanks for your query, good to hear from you again.
The drop gates at Portora are fully closed, the Lower Lough is at a level of 45.42
The Upper Lough is at 45.88[/quote]
That means the downstream level gauge reads 3.0 and the upstream level gauge 0.5 !!
Hope I've learned my lessons ??
[quote Alun Goodall] I'm retired now, feet up, smoking the pipe, walking the dog, et al, so can only give you a view as an outsider.[/quote]
You must be very lucky - me not - I've to work another 1744 days !!
[quote Alun Goodall Hope to see you soon back on the Erne? Regards, Alun .[/quote]


Definitely -in 9 days !!!! Hope to meet you !

Well folks, The levels have recovered slightly but significantly over the weekend, and there was no rainfall, so some hidden hand has been active!!. I have no doubt whatsoever, that the level could be managed much better if the will to do so was there. The level needs to rise another 6 inches minimum, and then be maintained there for the duration of the boating season. (IF ONLY !).

On the topic of maps/charts, I relate a most amusing tale that I shall never forget. The "Hire cruiser maps" are fairly basic, designed really for amateur map readers lets say. There is only one contour used and there are two colours of shading on the water depicted on the chart, light blue (Shallow/unsafe) and dark blue (deep/safe). One fine evening I was called out to a grounded hire cruiser which was crewed by a very charming Indian family. Although natives of India, they were resident in Dublin and were dentists by profession. I was barely back at base having recovered them from the grounding, when the hire company rang back to say they were aground again approx 1 mile from where they grounded the first time. The hire company asked me to give them a fresh briefing on the navigation rules once I had recovered them for the second time. Having then completed the second recovery, I proceeded to instruct the Indian gentleman on the map reading and navigation as we proceeded toward the nearest mooring. I had the map in my hand and I said now if you look to your right you will see that that bay is shown in "light blue" so you must not take the cruiser in there, and if you look to your left on the map, you can see that that channel is also shaded "light blue" on the chart so therefor the only safe passage is straight ahead. You will not believe me when I tell you what happened next, but it is the honest truth. The Indian gentleman put his hand up and making a sunpeak with his hand, he surveyed the surrounding waters and exclaimed in a wonderful indian accent, "But Sir, the water is all the same colour, I can't see dark blue and light blue!!. Water is all the same colour!!". Yes, it appears that when the boatyard instructor told the gentleman to avoid the "light blue" water on the map, the gentleman took it literally.

Robert that "Indian tale" made me spill my tea, very funny

I heard Derg levels are extremely low also, yet Ardnacrusha has apparentky been running two turbines for the past few days.

OceanFroggie

Thank you gentleman, I have a copy of the Leisure OSNI map and I will get an up to date WI chart the next time I'm in Enniskillen, which I hope to be soon.
Regards
George

No Guys, Derg is above normal summer level today by about 6 inches. It did fall last week for a few days, but is well up today..

Les 41M

I'm in error again; I hadn't seen it but I see there is a WI marine notice on the Lower Lough, it's 23 of 2012 dated 14 March



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 27/03/2012 10:13 by Alun Goodall.

Hi Robbie/Alun,
look ye can apply all the science and conspiracy theories ye like to the topic, but really its much more simple than that.......
It seems that any year that I dare come to the Erne someone pulls out the bung and drains all the water.Last time when I was up in 2010 water levels were also very low. This year even thought I'm early season, the "Gods of the bung" have specially lowered levels for me as early as March......
Mind you when I was up in 2010 I was looking for 4ft of water, this time I'll settle for <2ft when on the plane.....
Who says I'm paranoid.........



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 27/03/2012 23:33 by Richard Ellis.

Richard, indeed, I remember advising you it would be OK, and well yes as it turned out it was. You'd be drawing as much as anybody (nearly) and it does seem you found every rock. However, I know at the time you didn't report any damage, have you had her out since to confirm?

This year I suspect it'll be weed will be the main issue; this very bright weather coupled with low water surely must mean the weed is getting going already! I must get a termometer to measure water temperature, have to start sometime although as I say I've nothing to compare against.

It's something of a puzzle to me too were the extra couple of inches of water came from this weekend, I don't think the earthquake in Donegal had anything to do with it, but I was working on the amount of ground storage we had when I retired. Its predominately limestone in Fermanagh area so ground storage is likely quite high. More work needs to be done, I don't think my work was continued, but there is a guy in hydrometrics in the OPW has done a lot of work in that field.

Alun

Hi Alun,
to be honest, apart for a baptism of fire the first weekend the rest of the 4 mths on the Erne were fine although I did stay away from a few parts of ULE.

I think my score of "hits" was as follows
-Leaving the Woodford river and just passing the turn for Follies cut (Sustained gentle bottom rubbing !)
-North of Tirraroe around 30C (A few rumbles !)
-South of Carrybridge close to Bellisle (solid knock but not too bad as I had slowed down as I guessed those isolated markers were there for a reason!)
-South of Killy hotel closer to the Killy shore(that was one hard solid bang as I had been in loads of deep water amd was travelling at about 8kts)
All of the above were on the first day.....!
-After that, the only issue was on the 12th July when we experienced a very gentle coming to a halt on the Kesh river about a couple of hundred yds from the town jettties(Sort of half expected to be doing a bit of bottom feeling anyhow on the Kesh)

Thankfully Alun when we lifted her out at the end of that season there was not a visible mark on her apart from a slight shaving out of the prop which I think happened the previous year around Leitrim. There is a lot to be said for the auld Dutch steel.
I have to say, despite our slightly bumpy start we really enjoyed our season on the Erne and will certainly be back again. Roll on the opening of the Ulster as far as Clones ! ! !

Took my boat out last Sunday-plenty boaters out enjoying weather-was surprised to see water levels were much the same as the previous Sunday if not slightly higher considering there was no significant rain in between days.I couldnt get a proper depth reading as the clip holding my depth finder broke so was motoring blind and as for hitting hidden rocks my Shetland 535 barely goes 1ft into the water so on a typical rainy spring I could nearly sail on our roads without hitting anything.Going out tomorrow 29-3-12 and will let you know what depth like between Carrybridge and Upper Lough if new clip holds.Mick

.....concerning "unseen hands"
followings pics were made at the same day -27.march2010



I still hope that this year also "unseen hands" are on work !!
b.r. Udo

Actually, looking at the title of this thread, could we not change it? Must be putting some ppl off, suggesting that its dangerously low, plenty of scope for the RNLI to come to the rescue in those conditions eh Robbie?

I think a better title would be 'unseasonally low water levels' or maybe 'water levels down by a foot but still 3 feet or more of water in ULE and 60 feet or more in most of LLE following unusually dry weather.'

Al

Alun – Begars can’t be choosers ! Thats a dirty business and not a game. That’s my thought.
Sorry for my English – but your Fermanagh irish is also not Oxford like !!
Where are the smilies ??
b.r. Udo
ps If I find a prepaid web stick , I’ll post the levels and the problems the following 2 weeks !
Whats the dog breed you’re walking with ??
Perhaps I’ll find you - Udo

Unable to make it 29-3-12 as her indoors had unreasonable demands on my time-grass needs cut shower leaking and fench broke-I ask you dont they know their priorities but free Sat so hopefully get to boat and see how lough is.Mick

Mick,

Sorry to hear that your planned trip didn't happen.

Here are some solutions for those repairs:
Grass - Get some sheep & the grass problem is solved
Leaking Shower - use the bath instead
Broken fence - Duct tape and wire

Now good luck with the trip on Saturday. Enjoy.

Regards

Kieran
PS. From this reply, you may have guessed that my DIY skills are quite limited, but do enjoy the weather & the trip.

Sheep are they the small white curly hair ones or the big brown and white ones? Duct tape????? I heard of duct eggs and duct a l'orange but where do you get their tape?Have I to take all the coal out of the bath first or just get in with it? Must have done something right yesterday as she said "Cant wait until Saturday when you get out of my way and up to your boat" so will be out on Upp Lough fishing Sat and hopefully missing all the weed and other hazards with depth finder working and will let you know how deep(or shallow)it is on Lough.Mick