Loch Lomond Advice (first timer)

[Lostinayr]

Hi Everyone

I'm about to enter the world of boat ownership.

We live in Ayr and hope to keep the boat at Loch Lomond from July, August & Sept and use it every couple of weeks, maybe more if possible.

After September we will winterise it until April / may as it's primarily for wakeboarding and a combination of work and weather means we won't use it after sept.

My questions are

Where is best to keep it?
Where is cheapest to keep it?
Is it better to leave it in water or boat yard?
Come end of summer is it best to keep it in boat yard or is it cheaper to find a lock up somewhere?

Is availability readily available or am I late to the party?

I'm aware of the registration fees etc for LL.

On a separate note any advice on importing from Europe?

There are 2 boats on my radar just now. One in Cumbria and one in Bulgaria. I've been quoted £2690 to ship from Bulgaria does that sound reasonable? (21ft air nautique)

Thanks in advance.

 

[KDee]

Welcome, hope you find a suitable boat -Cumbria seems closer for a viewing and sea trial than Bulgaria?
On LL you have mooring options at Balloch (in River Leven), Balmaha at Macfarlanes (possibly cheapest and you could keep on your trailer and launch as needed, winter there too), Ardlui (a long drive up the loch), Cameron House (expensive- some sports boats for sale there), and some other smaller locations along the western shore. Always cheapest to keep on the drive at home if you have room.

 

[Lostinayr]

Hi.

Thanks. We definitely won't be driving it up and down the road. We don't have room to keep it here.

Ardlui is my preference but it's a tedious drive once you pass Cameron house.

As we are new we'd really like help with launch / retrieval until next season when we at a bit more clued up with this.

As for viewing we would be getting a professional to appraise as we wouldn't have a clue what to look for and there aren't even any tyres to kick to pretend we know!

 

[macd]

Bulgaria is in the EU so you would not in any meaningful sense be importing it (providing you did so pre-Brexit). However, I suspect that vanishingly few people on here would consider buying a boat from there without thoroughly inspecting it, or having a knowledgeable and trusted person do so on your behalf. You should also be very sure that it is tax-paid and RCD-compliant. Don't take the seller's word for any of this.

I'd be surprised if it's worth the trouble and expense.

 

[Lostinayr]

Hi

Yes I know what you mean about importing I just couldn't think of a better word.

They imported it from the us around 3 years ago and paid tax on it and CE approved etc.

It's not so much the value rather than it's the only boat I can find that ticks all my boxes.

Wakeboard boats in the uk seem to range from 25 yr old £3-5k and then rocket to £20k - £50k and there is simply nothing in between that has what I need.

 

[KDee]

Ardlui would meet your needs if you don't mind the drive up there
http://www.ardlui.com/marina/about.aspx

 

[kylemccann]

There are also various boat clubs, it all depends on your needs

 

[Lostinayr]

What do they do?

 

[ShinyShoe]

We live in Ayr and hope to keep the boat at Loch Lomond from July, August & Sept and use it every couple of weeks, maybe more if possible.

Mmm. I'm sure there is logic to travelling 90 minutes to use your boat when you live on the sea. I'm not a wake boarding guy. But it strikes me that while Lomond may offer shelter it also adds speed restrictions, tourists and regulations.

Where is best to keep it?
Where is cheapest to keep it?

So those two will be at opposite extremes on the spectrum I expect!

Is it better to leave it in water or boat yard?

Thats a spectrum too. Boats last better ashore. BUT more boats get damaged launching and recovering than afloat.
In the water - generally will be quicker to get going each time you set off. But more stress every time the weather turns nasty. Afloat on a swing mooring *probably* more secure. Swing needs a tender (more hassle). Lack of tides at Lomond does marina is easy but also usually expensive. Ashore - needs launching. That may be "self" launch or on request. On request is effort free but means you have to work to their hours. You may be paying per launch so depends how often you launch. If they launch for you you may be able to phone ahead and have the boat in the water waiting for you... ...but expect to pay for the privilege.

If you can't get there regularly to check on it I wouldn't swing mooring.

Come end of summer is it best to keep it in boat yard or is it cheaper to find a lock up somewhere?

Size? Trailer? If you can find cheap secure storage near you then it means tinkering over winter is easier.

one in Bulgaria. I've been quoted £2690 to ship from Bulgaria does that sound reasonable? (21ft air nautique)

So many tales of paying for a cheap bargain boat that never appears. RUN, RUN FAST!

As for viewing we would be getting a professional to appraise as we wouldn't have a clue what to look for and there aren't even any tyres to kick to pretend we know!

A bulgarian professional? That will be intersting reading.
If you have an issue with the Bulgarian boat when it arrives how do you resolve it.

They imported it from the us around 3 years ago and paid tax on it and CE approved etc.

So you are bringing a boat from Bulgaria thats come from the US. And its your first boat purchase.
There is a reason its "cheap".

It's not so much the value rather than it's the only boat I can find that ticks all my boxes.

Add some boxes:
[ ] Boat definitely exists
[ ] Boat will be easy to resell when I don't need it anymore
[ ] Unlikely to end in you loosing a load of money and having no boat

Wakeboard boats in the uk seem to range from 25 yr old £3-5k and then rocket to £20k - £50k and there is simply nothing in between that has what I need.

There is no logic in that, There must be mid range boats. But perhaps this is not ideal shopping time. Perhaps you are missing a market area (cheap = ebay? expensive = dealer?) If you buy a £20k boat it would rapidly become a £5k boat.

What do they do?

Boat clubs? Varies wildly. Some will own moorings or land. So provide 'cheap' moorings etc. Usually in return for something - help running the club in some way. You aren't paying shareholders profits. Some will offer more - social experience, courses, events.

 

[Lostinayr]

It definitely exists and it's not cheap. The alternative is buying older and cheaper and doing without the open bow and then adding perfect pass and replacing upholstery etc. There are few hulls pre 2000 that are any good for wakeboarding. They are made for water skiing.

There are no mid range. I've looked absolutely everywhere hence why my search took me abroad. A good wake board boat with open bow and not too old but not silly money is so hard to come round and I don't want to miss the 3 months we have to enjoy it.

I originally considered keeping it at the river ayr but tidal conditions vary and salt water causes me concern. Also extras rules seem to apply for sea use. Wake surfing requires around 12mph and pro wajeboarders are 23-25 but we aren't pros.

Plus it feels less like a weekend away when we drive 2 miles and go home again.

I'll look into the clubs.

 

[kylemccann]

It definitely exists and it's not cheap. The alternative is buying older and cheaper and doing without the open bow and then adding perfect pass and replacing upholstery etc. There are few hulls pre 2000 that are any good for wakeboarding. They are made for water skiing.

There are no mid range. I've looked absolutely everywhere hence why my search took me abroad. A good wake board boat with open bow and not too old but not silly money is so hard to come round and I don't want to miss the 3 months we have to enjoy it.

I originally considered keeping it at the river ayr but tidal conditions vary and salt water causes me concern. Also extras rules seem to apply for sea use. Wake surfing requires around 12mph and pro wajeboarders are 23-25 but we aren't pros.

Plus it feels less like a weekend away when we drive 2 miles and go home again.

I'll look into the clubs.

The club I'm in has moorings and pontoons, however there is a long waiting list for the pontoons because of there very reasonable price. You also have to join before the AGM early on in the year - with you being free to join in on event as a prospective member if you miss joining at the AGM. I would imagine the other boat clubs would be similar, perhaps someone one here may be able to advise.

 

[QBhoy]

Hi
Good news is that you live fairly near and plan to visit one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world. Loch Lomond is stunning and I have had the pleasure of being on and around boats here for 38 years.
Bad news....
It's been suggested that you have mooring options in balloch. This is not really the case I'm afraid. There are 4 mooring clubs in balloch on the river. These are all currently full and one of them is for angling boats only.
There are 2 marinas of sorts. These are also full (sweeney's and Loch Lomond) And have a waiting list (as do the clubs)
There is the small chance that you may get a chance mooring in one of the marinas, but you would need to be in the list and have someone pull out of a mooring with a boat of the same size (doesn't happen often).
Cameron house may be an option, but it would probably be around 3.5k for a 21ft boat...if they have space. They also don't offer winter storage and unlikely you can keep your trailer here.
Balmaha is another option perhaps. Last time I heard, they were full though.
Ardlui is a great marina if you have a larger boat as a holiday home, but perhaps not if you have a speedboat, want to go to the hot spots (which are 15-20 miles south) and have a stinking big V8 engine....which you probably will have.
Other boat clubs are in the bandry bay just south of luss, but you can rule these out. My father put his name on the waiting list here in the early 80's and still hasn't heard back !
The slight chance of a mooring may lie at Inch Murrin (need a dinghy to get here or ferry) or perhaps at portnellan farm (quite exposed in certain winds and need a dinghy too.
To conclude, if you are only going to use the bit occasionally, you are best just launching at the slipway. Best be quick thoigh., the way things are going with Loch Lomond park authority, motor boats won't be permitted on the Loch for too much longer.
All the best.

 

[Lostinayr]

Ok. So this is more like what was going on in my head. Waiting lists!

So ardlui does sound my best bet at the moment. It's also where wakeboard Loch Lomond is based so if we ever want lessons etc they are close by.

And yes it's a stinking big v8! ;-)

I've read the thread about people spoiling it for everyone else. It does make me wonder if it's worth buying a boat at all. What a shame.

 

[QBhoy]

I should maybe also add that Ardlui has more rainfall than a Cambodian rain Forrest. Haha. Think it's because of the local geography

 

[Lostinayr]

Good thing we don't plan on staying dry while wakeboarding ;-)

 

[dimdav]

I should maybe also add that Ardlui has more rainfall than a Cambodian rain Forrest. Haha. Think it's because of the local geography

Tell me about it, kept my 1st boat there for 4 years.

The drive is either ok or a total nightmare, generally ok out of season but it only takes 1 crash between tarbet and the marina for the whole thing to become hell as is the drive down on a sunday or bank holiday Monday and don't even think of heading up there on Good Friday!!!!!!! Marina is nice and staff helpful and friendly. I kept mine there partly because it did feel like going on holiday every weekend but then I was a 24ft yacht not a sports boat.

 

[Lostinayr]

We would actively avoid weekends and bank holidays.

The drive along the loch is a major drawback. We do it in winter when going to glencoe and it kills me every time. But it's only a few months. Then next year we would consider trailering the boat about.

The only other alternative I seem to have found is Loch ken. But worry we'd get bored with just 1 mile of sports boat area.

 

[dimdav]

Have you thought about the Forth?

1: Other side of the country so feels like getting away
2: Sheltered
3: Lots of drying harbours so mooring shouldn't be a nightmare
4: Weather better than the west

I noticed that you mentioned there being more regulations for being on the sea but tbh theres more on LL and I'm struggling to think of 1 for the sea.