Hardy Fishing 17 in the Small Isles

[pugwash01]

Thinking about a summer cruise in these parts. Doesn't seem entirely sensible, or, on the other hand completely stupid, but any thoughts on both the viability and precautions/equipment.

 

[scottie]

Should be ok it’s small enough to go on the ferry

 

[pugwash01]

..I was going to take her on her own bottom out of Mallaig or Oban?

 

[dunedin]

Surely this depends hugely on the experience of the skipper, and secondly on the weather at the time.

Very feasible and enjoyable for an experienced skipper in the right weather, especially from Mallaig - Muck & Canna particular highlights for us.
But need to have a Plan B and the guts to abandon Plan A and go with the alternative if the weather forecast is marginal. Lots of alternatives from both Mallaig (up inside Skye) or Oban (inside Mull)

 

[lenten]

shouldn t be a problem with your boat---me and my wife did arasaig to eigg---muck---loch coruisk---soay---elgol (skye) finishing at mallaig in august 4 years ago---camping at eigg- soay-elgol----launching at arasaig easy----retrieving at mallaig very difficult---needed help from a telehandler ------we have- a big fat heavy open rowing boat 14 feet 10 inches---15 hp outboard

 

[pugwash01]

Sounds a great trip. What were the weather and sea conditions like?

 

[lenten]

arasaig to eigg was bit bumpy and half way across we lost sight of eigg in the rain--- saw it again when we were a mile out----eigg has a safe harbour with a pub/cafe/shop/showers --- ---- we camped on the shore----near the boat---muck doesn t really have a proper harbour---our longest leg was eigg to loch scavaig/loch coruisk and onto soay---soay has a good natural harbour on the north side and we camped by the boat at the old shark fishing station--- from soay we set off south but pulled into elgol when the weather deteriated---elgol is just one short pier---next day we set off for either loch nevis or arasaig but as it was raining heavily we decided on arasaig----as we drew level with mallaig we saw a huge black cloud and squall approaching so headed to mallaig---a mile out we lost sight of everything in torrential rain and carried on by compass----mallaig slipway is difficult but we got hauled out ----then the long trek back to surrey----thoroughly reccomend the area for a holiday---very friendly people---as you can see from the post we didn t always get to where we were heading----the weather and the seas weren t ever difficult or dangerous but there is a limit to how long you want to be out in an open boat in lots of spray and very heavy rain---just to give a better balance to the post we circumnavigated eigg on one of the calmest days i have ever had at sea and spent other time makerel fishing in benign conditions