Dunstaffnage users

machurley22

machurley22

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I know of half a dozen Staffniks (and many more occasionals) who use this forum and thought it might be handy to have our own group, if only for "Anyone about for a pint on Friday" or "Anyone lend me a LH grip-thribley" messages.

Join here if so moved.
 
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Thinking of bringing my boat over to Dunstaffnage or Kerrera for a haul out in the next month.
Going to copper the hull change standing rigging etc.
Also thinking about staying for the winter, we are full time liveaboards and at the moment in Inverness (time for a change).
Cant make up my mind which would be the best one for us, boat is about 18ton so both can do the lift out......
Sorry if this is of thread a bit but you are the first person I have met from there that might be able to offer any advice.....
Be happy to meet up for a pint with local forumites when we get there
 
You only had to ask.

Not sure about Kerrera but there are a few liveaboards at Dunstaffnage albeit less now it's summer. They seem to spend a lot of time moaning about the management but I suspect this is par for the course so perhaps too much shouldn't be read into that. K's star is on the rise though.

Depending whether or not you have alternative transport, D has the Dunbeg village store a short walk away while Tesco and Oban is a bus ride. On K you need the wee ferry for everything but once ashore can walk everywhere.

From a boat-fixing perspective it's D every time for having Dave and the Alba Chandlery a short walk up the pontoon away. In Oban of course, you have Nancy Black's but this is the kind of chandlery where they just sell stuff and The Boat Store, a sort of permanent boat jumble but seemingly expensive now. Caley Fisheries too, down by the pier, for fisherman's co-op type stuff.

Enough. Others will be along shortly I'm sure, if they can get logged in ;-)
 
Thanks for the reply, when I get off the job im doing at the moment my wife and I will drive over and have a wee look around. My wife Trish went last year for look and really liked 'K' she thought the guy at reception was very rude at 'D' but he might have just been having a bad day, we all have them now and again.
We are needing to copper the hull and replace the standing rigging plus a few other wee jobs.
And then we need to find somewhere for the winter, we were thinking of Cork because we are heading for the Azores next year, but I like the idea of staying on the west coast for a wee while.....
Thanks once again for your response, try and meet up with you when we get over...
Cheers for now

Dougie MacDonald

PS i tried to repy to your pm but it said that you are unable to receive it!!
 
Dunstaffnage

I went their last week, phoned them attempting to get a berth - 3 times! I found the people by a long way the most unfriendly and unprofessional people I have ever come across at a marina. The only way I managed to get a berth was to turn up, tie up and then request a berth. Everywhere on the West Coast is great and the people are friendly and helpful, but not at Dunstaffnage. They have a problem. Shame as it's a lovely marina. They are also significantly more expensive than Croabh, Oban, Ardfern etc..... at £32.90 for the night for our 43 footer. When I went to pay them I was met with a big sigh from the bloke behind the desk, as if I have interupted him from whatever he was doing - which didn't look like much. It makes you wonder why someone would get involved in the marine leisure industry when it is farly obvious that everything is a bother to them.

A standard glass of red wine (175ml) in the "Wide Mouthed Frog" was £4.75 which I think is a rip off! The price of a pint was a bit pricey but okay and within reason. The food is a bit expensive for what is really average pub grub e.g. burger on a roll etc.... although the soup is brilliant! The view is also stunning. The waiting staff (all foreign from what I could tell) were really nice and friendly too.

Dunstaffnage would be a last resort for a berth given my experience. Fortunately we only experienced nice friendly and helpfull people everywhere else in out 17 night cruise, in this area, so it wasn't the end of the world.
 
As a berth holder, I would tend to agree with you on the management side of things. Thankfully as a "resident" rather than a visitor, I don't have much to do with the "office mob" at the marina and any dealings I have are with the the yard staff, who are very pleasant and will always go out of their way to assist you. In my opinion, without those guys, the management would have sunk the place years ago.

Wide Mouthed Frog: After a day on the water or working on the boat, I usually like to head up for a pint and a burger or such like. I can't remember the last time I came off the boat craving a bit of Fois Gras and a cheeky wee Corton-Charlemagne.
I have no doubt, there are those that do but judging by the numbers of diners (at the height of the season!), I guess many more would appreciate well prepaired fare at a fair price. As i see it, "the Frog" has the premises to cater for both preferences - bar/ lounge area and a restaurant.

Location : Perfect.

Fellow Berth Holders: The ones I have met - spot on.

So, I have a couple of gripes but overall, I love the place (mind you, I come from Aberdeen and there's no way I am keeping my boat there).
 
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