Leaving my boat in Orkney

[Samoddie]

Hoping forum members might have ideas? As part of my Caledonian circumnavigation this summer I need to leave the boat for a 12 week period. The charges in the marinas in Orkney make this look uneconomic (most of £1k). Anyone got any ideas about a more realistic way to leave the boat?

 

[dunedin]

A bit more details on boat size might help, as well as why Orkney in particular. £1k for 12 weeks seems a bargain in summer rates.

But also don't forget to factor in travel costs to get from the boat to where you need to get to (eg home). Air fares from Orkney can be very expensive. And although you can get to Edinburgh by ferry / taxi / train x 2 this takes nearly a full day (done it a few times). And then time and cost for onward travel.
Could look at prices for Wick - though again onward travel times are long (train actually goes north to Thurso before heading slowly south).
Stornoway is perhaps slightly quicker to get from, though again flights are not cheap.

 

[NormanS]

I haven't done it in Orkney, but have done that in Shetland, and many times in the Outer Hebrides. I simply selected a suitably sheltered anchorage, with at least the possibility of road access and somewhere to leave a dinghy. I anchored with two anchors in a "Bahamian Moor", making sure that all was secure.
Your insurance company may not be too happy about doing that though.

 

[ylop]

From the op’s other posts it looks like he has an Anderson 22 which he usually trailer sails - which may explain why he was hoping for a bargain!

 

[jamie N]

Gosh! Surely any marina would pay handsomely to have their waters graced by an Anderson 22!?

 

[Sea Change]

You might find Highland Council harbours are good value. Choice of Kyleakin (Skye), Lochinver, or Kinlichbervie. My pick of those three would be Lochinver but I'm not sure what travel from there is like.

 

[yotter]

Kyleakin is a bit cluttered up with small creel boats and other boats, many rafted up so may not be great if left unattended

 

[ProDave]

You might find Highland Council harbours are good value. Choice of Kyleakin (Skye), Lochinver, or Kinlichbervie. My pick of those three would be Lochinver but I'm not sure what travel from there is like.

There is a daily bus service from Kinlochbervie to Inverness each morning then returning in the afternoon. Not aware any to Lochinver.

 

[dunedin]

There is a daily bus service from Kinlochbervie to Inverness each morning then returning in the afternoon. Not aware any to Lochinver.

Lochinver is a small bus to Ullapool (not on Sundays, ask me how I know!), good bus link to Inverness, then train or bus on from there.

 

[Sea Change]

There is a daily bus service from Kinlochbervie to Inverness each morning then returning in the afternoon. Not aware any to Lochinver.

I'd rather walk to Lochinver than get a bus to KLB

 

[dunedin]

From the op’s other posts it looks like he has an Anderson 22 which he usually trailer sails - which may explain why he was hoping for a bargain!

Does an A22 dry out upright? If so there could be options for tying up near the neap HW mark in one of the smaller harbours or inlets?

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Although the Orkney archipelago has several marinas, they are really there to encourage visitor and a few locals.
There's not much in the way for long term boat storage, or boat yards.
You could try the sailing club in Kirkwall, you may be able to rent a mooring for 12 weeks. or alternative it might be possible to haul the boat out for 12 weeks.
There's a wide slipway next to the sailing club, I've used the slip to launch and recover a Wayfarer, in the days when we use to cruise the Wayfarer around Orkney, and the club has a locked compound. The problem would be finding a suitable trailer, or perhaps an artic with a Hiab. If the boat is an Anderson 22, then with a displacement of 1.2 ton or so that should be practical.
I'd try contacting someone at the club, or perhaps the Harbour Master, in the 40 years or more I've been visiting Orkney, I've always found the people in Orkney very friendly and helpful.

 

[SaltIre]

You might find Highland Council harbours are good value. Choice of Kyleakin (Skye), Lochinver, or Kinlichbervie. My pick of those three would be Lochinver but I'm not sure what travel from there is like.

I think the OP moors his boat somewhere near there...

Hi. I have been trying to specify and install a mooring at a our place in west highlands. The only supplier that is vaguely local is XX. It has been suggested to me that they will over specify the tackle. When I approached them, they have come back with two 15kg anchors, and 2 lengths of 22mm chain of 18m each, plus riser chain etc. Now, this doesn’t cost an arm and leg, but it will be way to heavy for me to install from my 22 foot boat. So far as I can tell this would mean each of the two ground chains would weigh around 200kg. (Obviously they would have to be joined in order for me to install the whole thing. Which would be fine if I was clearly able to get someone local to put it in. I am not wild about spending the >>£1k either, for what seems well over the necessary spec. Anyone got any thoughts?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I think the OP moors his boat somewhere near there...

No A22 in Lochinver. Seen one in KLB a few times.

 

[jamie N]

Does an A22 dry out upright? If so there could be options for tying up near the neap HW mark in one of the smaller harbours or inlets?

I think that they have a lifting keel, but, were the owner to decide not to use that, they'd be able to balance themselves upright for a season or two.

 

[yoxyn438]

Hoping forum members might have ideas? As part of my Caledonian circumnavigation this summer I need to leave the boat for a 12 week period. The charges in the marinas in Orkney make this look uneconomic (most of £1k). Anyone got any ideas about a more realistic way to leave the boat?

You might get a better deal looking at smaller harbours or community moorings instead of the main marinas. Some places around Orkney will rent a swinging mooring for a fraction of the marina cost, especially for a longer stay.


Another option is asking local boat owners or clubs. People sometimes sublet their moorings for the season if they know they won’t be using them. It takes a few messages and phone calls, but it can save a big chunk of money.

 

[Samoddie]

A bit more details on boat size might help, as well as why Orkney in particular. £1k for 12 weeks seems a bargain in summer rates.

But also don't forget to factor in travel costs to get from the boat to where you need to get to (eg home). Air fares from Orkney can be very expensive. And although you can get to Edinburgh by ferry / taxi / train x 2 this takes nearly a full day (done it a few times). And then time and cost for onward travel.
Could look at prices for Wick - though again onward travel times are long (train actually goes north to Thurso before heading slowly south).
Stornoway is perhaps slightly quicker to get from, though again flights are not cheap.

It is indeed the A22. Orkney because it’s more or less half way round the prosed circumnavigation. Boat normally lives on mooring in Loch Torridon or on trailer at Kishorn. Thinking that Wick might be best answer.

 

[dunedin]

It is indeed the A22. Orkney because it’s more or less half way round the prosed circumnavigation. Boat normally lives on mooring in Loch Torridon or on trailer at Kishorn. Thinking that Wick might be best answer.

For 12 week stopover, presumably could lift out onto your trailer at Wick (or Scrabster) and take back to Kishorn? Or suspect there is plenty of space ashore at Wick.