Oban Marina

H

Humblebee

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10 Nov 2001
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Home-Granton, boat James Watt Dock, the Clyde.
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Oban Marina has now been sold and it's new owners, Gary and Kathy, seem keen to do the right thing and bring it back to life. It has suffered from, I think, lack of investment and commitment in recent years and had begun to feel rather run down. Thankfully the new owners are both highly experienced sailors and bring many business skills to the place Living on the island, in the marina, demonstrates their commitment. They also have some hardworking, committed staff who remain and do what they can to provide a quality service.
The one mile gap between Oban and the Isle of Kerrera, where the marina is situated, is both it's biggest strength and weakness. Strength, because the ten minute ferry crossing and the fact of being on an island, give the place a remote, secluded feel which I find appealing. Weakness because it separates the marina from the facilities available in Oban, including chandlery, supermarkets, train and bus stations and the like.
New ferry drivers have been trained so the frequency of ferries should increase and I gather there are plans to re-open the bar and grill at the marina.
This isn't an advert, just some news from a long term berth holder. I wish the new owners success and if you are up this way, give Oban Marina a try.
 
I hope the new owners do well. I expect the main headache will be fresh water supply and the investment needed.
 
Good to hear that, the boss likes the marina but agrees it needs major investment, hopefully the new owners can get the funding.
 
I wish the new owners well with the new venture. It's a lovely place when properly sorted out.

But will be extra challenging re-establishing their customer base having lost so many of the permanent bertholders, and the new visitor pontoons opening (at least in theory) later this year
 
I've been a few times, and the "passenger ferry" they operate is part of the "fun". The trip to the supermarket, taxi to the pierhead then boat trip to the marina would be greatly improved if the council had a pontoon you could park your boat at for up to an hour, free of charge - but that is an entirely separate issue.
Hope the new owners enjoy success.
 
A1Sailor said:
I've been a few times, and the "passenger ferry" they operate is part of the "fun". The trip to the supermarket, taxi to the pierhead then boat trip to the marina would be greatly improved if the council had a pontoon you could park your boat at for up to an hour, free of charge - but that is an entirely separate issue.
Hope the new owners enjoy success.
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Well the council do supply berthage but not quite free - https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/copy_of_piers_harbours_charges_leaflet_16-17.pdf
 
Railbob said:
Wow £18.50 just to pick some beer from Tesco ouch!!:ambivalence:
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Tobermory Harbour Authority takes the grown up attitude that a boat that is either berthed at the pontoons or on a mooring for a few hours during the day, is there for a purpose, and make no charge. They assume that you are there, for fuel, stores etc, and are thereby benefitting the community. Mallaig, in comparison, charges £12 for up to four hours. No prizes for guessing where I get my gas etc.

If Oban had the same enlightened attitude as Tobermory, it could be, and could have been a perfect stop off for stores, crew changes etc. But sadly, Oban is Oban. :disgust:
 
We would echo Humblebee's comments. We are also berth holders and are looking forward with a bit of positivity for the future. We have met Kathy and Gary and they certainly seem committed to the project. We also wish them all the best!
 
Perhaps I should mention that the price list I posted covers the Oban North Pier as well as other Argyll cooncil piers. There is also the South Pier with its CMAL dragon lady who will try and extract £4.80+VAT for up to 4 hours, that is if you can find a space among the fishing boats.
 
The difference between Tobermory and the other places like C,town. Mallaig, Ullapool and Oban is that it does not regard itself as a commercial harbour; when you have one of those with a self important harbour master in a white shirt, a blue tie and trousers, you have an organization that regards yachties at best as a supplementary source of revenue and more usually as a pain in the bum. A few years ago In Ullapool I asked a fishing boat that had a shore hose discharging over the side if I could come alongside and top up my tank, he was happy but the guy with a starched white shirt and tie rushed up the quay to tell me to feck off, I said I only wanted to stop for 40 litres of water and was told I should anchor and ferry it out from a tap at the sailing club.
In Mallaig I berthed to get some diesel, I was charged £12 and then he told me there was no diesel on Saturdays. I like both villages but have no time for the jobsworths that run their harbours.
I have some sympathy with Oban harbour which has to deal with very diverse craft wanting to use limited alongside berths and has a visitors yacht pontoon with water as well as a marina close by.
But things are changing, these communities now know they want our money and have folk who envy Tob's success.
 
awol said:
Well the council do supply berthage but not quite free - https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/copy_of_piers_harbours_charges_leaflet_16-17.pdf
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Thanks. It's a few years since I've been, and we went to Tesco then taxied back to the steps below the pier and got the marina boat back. My point was that it might have been easier to bring my own boat across to meet the "provisioners", if there was a pontoon. If there now is one that is great.

Edit:
Tesco could do home deliveries!

Dunroamin
D8
Oban Bay Marina
Kerrera
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:encouragement:
 
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One problem with Oban is that there is no overall shared 'vision' for how it might develop. Each of the 'stakeholders' (Calmac, Council, Hoteliers, Northern Lighthouse, marina owners, etc) all have disparate ideas of what should, and should not be done.

For example, from a yachties view point, it seems obvious that Oban should be a major hub for sailing and cruising, but to CalMac more yachties simply means more moving obstructions and delays.
 
It's a shame that Kerrera has gone through a series of inept owners over the years to destroy what was a very nice, homely and reasonably priced facility. Who remembers the old 'club room' with couches, TV, books and magazines, possibly a pool table though I may be mistaken over that one. The narrow, wobbly, bridge to the pontoons and the pile on ferry?

Hopefully the new owners will bring back the island atmosphere and reasonable charges.
 
Quandary said:
The difference between Tobermory and the other places like C,town. Mallaig, Ullapool and Oban is that it does not regard itself as a commercial harbour; when you have one of those with a self important harbour master in a white shirt, a blue tie and trousers, you have an organization that regards yachties at best as a supplementary source of revenue and more usually as a pain in the bum.
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I don't know when you were last in Campbeltown but Calum is certainly nothing like you describe above. Stop over one day, you might be pleasantly surprised...
 
dslittle said:
I don't know when you were last in Campbeltown but Calum is certainly nothing like you describe above. Stop over one day, you might be pleasantly surprised...
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I think the difference might be that the Campbeltown pontoons are not council run, Calum is a pleasure to deal with.
 
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