Automobile ferries virtually all look the identical. There’s a straight platform for automobiles to park on, a spot for the captain to sail it alongside the facet, and ramps at each ends in order that automobiles can drive on and off with out ever having to again up. Easy, proper?
The issue for the Glenachulish ferry that connects Glenelg on Scotland‘s west coast to the isle of Skye was the tide. With waters that rise and fall dramatically, the ferry wants an extended slipway to at all times give automobiles a gradual ramp to drive up and onto the land.
The larger challenge, although, is that the identical tide that makes the waters rise and fall implies that the waters the Glenachulish operates on have a fast present. Lengthy slipways require a ferry to line up straight to let automobiles off however quick waters make that troublesome. With out stability, the automobiles could fall off.
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Cleverly, the ferry anchors itself alongside the slipway, very similar to a passenger ferry, to guard itself from the present. Meaning, although, that the automobiles are by no means lined up correctly to disembark.
The answer, then, is one other moderately easy Victorian expertise, a turntable. Impressed by the railways of the day, the turntable is so properly balanced that it may be turned by a single individual, although it’s usually turned by two, simply to be protected.
Though there’s a bridge close by, the ferry continues to be utilized by locals and vacationers and, apparently, folks with good style in sports activities automobiles. Footage from this video reveals that whereas host Tom Scott was filming there have been two Morgans and an MGA, in addition to a gaggle of motorbike, used the ferry. Certainly, the isle is a well-liked vacation spot for motorcyclists.