Very few boats come up the Forth to Stirling, but it looks great when they do, and they always get a friendly welcome. A few months ago, a small bilge keeler motored up the river. It's mast was down, probably to get under the new bypass bridge at Taylorton farm, to the east of the town.
It was locally thought that the owner was hoping to do some work her without having to pay for yard or mooring fees at Grangemouth, or wherever. Which is all fair enough.
The outboard engine cover was removed (for repairs?), and subsequently the engine seems to have gone. I think the owner was living on her for time, but we haven't seen anyone there for a while (there are also the remains of an abandoned tent on the river bank).
The lower washboard is missing although the top one appeared to be padlocked on the outside, so I doubt if there is any reason to worry about anyone being on board over this time. However the missing washboard and the open locker will attract the unwanted attentions of wildlife.
The recent strong flows (when the snows melted rapidly) and the spring tides have given it a bit of a battering.
We've seen her afloat, but judging by the marks on her, she looks as though she's either been holed or has been on her side at low tide (there are boulders here, and she could have tipped). She looked reasonably respectable when she arrived, but now appears to be deteriorating fast. I don't whether her owner has been taken ill, or run out of money, or what, but if anyone recognises her, I'd have thought that a word with her owner might be in order. Otherwise she'll soon be past any hope of recovery.
