Motorcruising - Scotland West Coast

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Tanqueray

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When I last cruised W. Coast of Scotland (in the 70's and 80's!) it was pretty much all sailing vessels with a few motorboats about (mainly of the 'Gentleman's yacht' variety). For change I'm thinking of a MB cruise so I started to peruse of the CCC guides and was surprised at the scarcity of MB's in the photos of anchorages outside of the Clyde.
Do many Motorboats actually cruise the Western Isles (MOK, Oban and beyond) or is it still considered raggie territory? Anybody here cruise the area on a planing boat?
 
John Boyle did an article and cruise report a few years ago for MBY taking his Sealine up to Scotland and back, he also did a round Britain one too, his main complaint was the lack of places to refuel.
Celtic Crusade:

This is the round Britain one, this is the episode where they cross into Scotland.
 
Thanks for that - I thought I had watched all of John's videos but somehow I missed that second one. Thanks again.
 
Alicatt said:
John Boyle did an article and cruise report a few years ago for MBY taking his Sealine up to Scotland and back, he also did a round Britain one too, his main complaint was the lack of places to refuel.
Celtic Crusade:

This is the round Britain one, this is the episode where they cross into Scotland.
Click to expand...
Excellent series, well worth watching.
My experience is all sailing in and around this area. Truly beautiful and well worth visiting. When we were looking at where to moor our (then) new boat purchase, we considered marinas along the coast from Conway around to Troon. Many of the locals advised against the area if inexperienced as motorboaters and the need for twin diesels and a seaworthy vessel.
 
We kept our little motor boat mainly around Loch Lomond and Loch Fyne but we did venture out on her, our furthest voyage was to Lismore from launching at Loch Creran, it took a couple of refills of petrol to get there and back and at 3 knots a fair amount of time, not bad in a 12ft tender. We towed that little boat all over Scotland and putt putted around the coast on her.
My younger brother was the sailor, him and his friends sailed out of Tarbert on Loch Fyne.

On the round Britain one he was in and out of my old home port so quickly you almost miss it! They went from Inverness to Scrabster via Wick (my old home port) so quickly and through the Firth on one of the calmest days I've ever seen it.
 
My boat (10.8 Antares) is berthed at Craobh Marina, and there are a few other motorboats there, although fast planing boats are definitely in the minority apart from the Redbay RIBs used by the fish farms and one commercial operator. My usual stomping ground is in the area from Oban to Mull and down to Port Ellen, Islay.
There are usually one or two motorboats to be seen while out and about, although outnumbered by sailing boats. The occasional fast, open, day-boat can be seen around the Garvellachs in fairly calm sea conditions. I have never found the waters crowded, apart from small areas during West Highland Yachting Week, which are easily avoided as the venue moves from centre to centre (note: "crowded" is by my standards, not what I've seen in images of the Solent, etc.).
As for the photos in the CCC guides, I'm fairly sure many, if not most of them predate the first edition, the only date I can find on a quick flick through is 1991.
 
Might want to have a very long fuel range - or be very economical so can refuel via cans :-)

There are places to refuel alongside (eg Stornoway), but they are limited once past Ardnamurchan. Or may be able to get a road tanker to bring a large volume, or negotiate to use fishing boat sources.
 
dunedin said:
Might want to have a very long fuel range - or be very economical so can refuel via cans :)

There are places to refuel alongside (eg Stornoway), but they are limited once past Ardnamurchan. Or may be able to get a road tanker to bring a large volume, or negotiate to use fishing boat sources.
Click to expand...


We've got about 250NM range - much more at displacement speed.
Alanij said:
My boat (10.8 Antares) is berthed at Craobh Marina, and there are a few other motorboats there, although fast planing boats are definitely in the minority apart from the Redbay RIBs used by the fish farms and one commercial operator. My usual stomping ground is in the area from Oban to Mull and down to Port Ellen, Islay.
There are usually one or two motorboats to be seen while out and about, although outnumbered by sailing boats. The occasional fast, open, day-boat can be seen around the Garvellachs in fairly calm sea conditions. I have never found the waters crowded, apart from small areas during West Highland Yachting Week, which are easily avoided as the venue moves from centre to centre (note: "crowded" is by my standards, not what I've seen in images of the Solent, etc.).
As for the photos in the CCC guides, I'm fairly sure many, if not most of them predate the first edition, the only date I can find on a quick flick through is 1991.
Click to expand...


I guessed old photos so that. would explain a lot (y)
 
Further to Dunedin's posts, there's no bulk fuel available while travelling north past the west side of the Kintyre peninsula until Crinan, then there are a few options, inc Ardfern, Craobh, Kilmelford Yacht Haven, Oban (marina, not the town pontoons), Dunstaffnage, and Tobermory, so there should be no issue in that area.

(edit - that's for diesel, petrol less available)
 
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Presumably of you want 500L+ (minimum delivery down south) it is possible to arrange a quayside delivery even for a pleasure vessel. If cruising then there's time to arrange it.
When we run survey craft on the west coast we get tankers in but, even though they are relatively small vessels, this is for commercial purposes. However the only difference is tax so it should still work in theory. Obviously it depends on how far from a depot you are(Inverness?)....Kinlochbervie might be pricey!
However Lochinver bunkers fuel if you got that far (Handa Island to be Bonxied?) so anything further south is bound to have options.
Value Oils supply from Inverness.
 
I'm interested in this thread because we have been planning a run north for sometime but have also invested in flex tanks.

No de Plume - I hope you manage to get up there. I spent my 18th summer ('86) roaming all up the coast to Orkney, Bay of Skail, Papa Westray. It ruined me for life....there's nowhere else I'd rather be!
 
Jennifer and James on MV Dirona have been cruising along the west coast for the past few months ( Dirona Around the World – Exploring the Planet by Boat (mvdirona.com) ) but they are on their way back across the Atlantic now, they have an excellent log on where they have been and some nice videos of their trips on Youtube too.
Traversing the Crinan Canal, a place of fond memories for me as this is where my father bought our first boat, the 12ft clinker built tender Handy Crinan

 
Alicatt said:
Jennifer and James on MV Dirona have been cruising along the west coast for the past few months ( Dirona Around the World – Exploring the Planet by Boat (mvdirona.com) ) but they are on their way back across the Atlantic now, they have an excellent log on where they have been and some nice videos of their trips on Youtube too.
Traversing the Crinan Canal, a place of fond memories for me as this is where my father bought our first boat, the 12ft clinker built tender Handy Crinan

Click to expand...
An excellent website with loads of very useful information and one of my favourite boats.
 
Thank you for all the links and advice folks - very useful indeed.
We can squeeze just over 1,000 Ltrs onboard if we use that extra tank so should be ok. Getting cabin fever thinking about it now!
 
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