Scottish boat yard recommendations

[Robert Wilson]

Head of Loch Kishorn (opposite Plockton) too far north for you? Basic boatyard, tidal lift-out, but very cheap, laid back west coast attitude, and Rory, who runs it, is a very helpful and competent engineer if you need anything doing. 01520733261 is their number if you're interested. Don't know what your plans are in detail, but might be a reasonable option for your initial stop, then you could spend the 6 weeks you talk about heading further south to leave her somewhere a bit more accessible and expensive for sale. The Inner Sound is a great cruising ground. You'd get to Kishorn via Inverness, which is 3.5 hours driving from the central belt, plus another 1.5 hours to Kishorn itself.

Arisaig would be another option in that general area, though I haven't used their boatyard facilities, and it might not actually be that much quicker to drive to (via Fort William - actually probably about 3.5 hours from the central belt)! Kimelford probably your best bet in the Oban area, though Barcaldine (Loch Creran "Marine Resource Centre") is cheap and cheerful, and also has cheap undercover storage if you need to do paintwork etc. Either of those would be around 2.5 hours from the central belt.

+1 to the suggestion but beware, West Coast Time/Attitude makes Spanish Manana seem like a rush job!
When I had my house built here, the builder said it would take 16 weeks. I allowed a further four weeks for the "inevitable" - it took 43 weeks.......................

Dylan, don't forget to call me if you're inshore around Loch Broom/Gruinard Bay - clean loos, working shower, a bottle or two of Single Malt awaiting, a motionless horizontal bed and a chance for me to catch up on your adventure.

5° 28' 26"W 57° 51' 21" N Second Coast

Good luck and please let me know when you're round Cape Wrath and coming south - I'll keep on eye out for you.

Robert

P.S. Lochinver is an OK idea, from what I've heard - but a heck of a drive, to anywhere!

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

DRB Marine, Roseneath. Allegedly cheapest on the clyde, but I've not checked. Great yard (if basic) and bus connection to trains to Glasgow (or Highland sleeper south from Garelochead only 20 mins).

We've been there for several years and very happy with it..

DRB is a bit rough and ready but we were there for almost 10 years and only moved on account of advancing years - got fed up going on and off the mooring. Speak to Jean 01436 831233.

 

[claymore]

Don't know if anyone else agrees, but from my observations there seems to be fewer tatty old Centaur type boats on the west coast of Scotland outside of the Clyde than other parts of the UK. The boats seem mostly to be bigger and often posher. There may not be much of a market for that type of boat.

I expect I'll be disproved by lots of replies now.

Totally agree. I am amazed how the Centaur retains its market value. They seem to have been between £10K and £13K for about 30 years. At that time 26ft was considered big - the Yachtmaster exam stipulated 25ft minimum - at 30ft, Claymore is often one of the smaller boats about. At 34 years she is also one of the more elderly, however - there is no large Monkey on the Coachroof.....
Dylan - if you insist on not spending much time on the actual West Coast, but heading down into the Clyde - Ardrossan is also good and the train from Glasgow is possible.
If you are staying out, then Kilmelford as Aquaplane has said or to dare to disagree with KenMc. - we have wintered in Ardfern for a year or two now and do not find them overly expensive. All boatyards will have a similarity I guess, its very easy to run up a big bill.

 

[Pitterpatter]

Don't know if anyone else agrees, but from my observations there seems to be fewer tatty old Centaur type boats on the west coast of Scotland outside of the Clyde than other parts of the UK. The boats seem mostly to be bigger and often posher. There may not be much of a market for that type of boat.

I expect I'll be disproved by lots of replies now.

No, I agree. The market for a bilge keeler is definitely on the east coast. I would consider getting into the clyde and heading back through the Forth/Clyde canal. Plenty of cheap yards through here and a ready market for Centaurs. Many clubs on the Forth really should be called 'Centaur Clubs', not sailing clubs. I know you have already been around here but it is easier to take a boat to the market than bring the market to the boat.

PP

 

[Ian_Edwards]

You could try Linnhe Marine http://www.linnhemarina.co.uk/
or
Marine Resource Center http://www.marineresourcecentre.co.uk/
or
Barcaldine Marine http://www.barcaldinemarine.co.uk/moorings.htm

These yards are up Loch Linnhe and generally have smaller boats, including Centaur's, and they often change hands within the local area.

They are basic yards without pontoon berths, just moorings and loading jetties, they tend to be cheaper than the bigger yards around Oban.

 

[YachtAllegro]

+1 to the suggestion but beware, West Coast Time/Attitude makes Spanish Manana seem like a rush job!

Have you heard the story of the Spaniard washed ashore from the Armada on Lewis. He was taken in by a local family and started to learn Gaelic. One day he asked his hosts,
"In Spanish we have a word, 'manana', which means 'I do it tomorrow'. Do you have such a word in the Gaelic?"
"Weell, noo", answers his host, "I don't really think we doo. I canna bring to mind anything in the Gaelic that really expresses quite that overwhelming sense of urgency".



Cheers
Patrick

 

[Robert Wilson]

Have you heard the story of the Spaniard washed ashore from the Armada on Lewis. He was taken in by a local family and started to learn Gaelic. One day he asked his hosts,
"In Spanish we have a word, 'manana', which means 'I do it tomorrow'. Do you have such a word in the Gaelic?"
"Weell, noo", answers his host, "I don't really think we doo. I canna bring to mind anything in the Gaelic that really expresses quite that overwhelming sense of urgency".



Cheers
Patrick

Verrry good.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I would consider getting into the clyde and heading back through the Forth/Clyde canal.

An interesting trip to make for a video as well.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

at 30ft, Claymore is often one of the smaller boats about.

I feel under-endowed with my 30' on the west coast, so I add all my hulls together. Comes to 80' then. I did see an Anderson 22 in Loch Gairloch yesterday. It was obviously very lost. Anyone know if they're any good?

 

[James W]

I am planning to put her in Boats and outboards at a silly high price (£10,000) which I will then reduce by £100 a week until some-one bites.

A Centaur for sale at a silly high price? That would make a change!

 

[KenMcCulloch]

Have you heard the story of the Spaniard washed ashore from the Armada on Lewis. He was taken in by a local family and started to learn Gaelic. One day he asked his hosts,
"In Spanish we have a word, 'manana', which means 'I do it tomorrow'. Do you have such a word in the Gaelic?"
"Weell, noo", answers his host, "I don't really think we doo. I canna bring to mind anything in the Gaelic that really expresses quite that overwhelming sense of urgency".



Cheers
Patrick

An oldie but goodie.:encouragement:

 

[NormanS]

I thought Dylan's general idea was to look into every corner of the coast. If so, and if starting from the north, it will be years until he needs to think about boat yards away down in the Oban area, far less the Clyde.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I thought Dylan's general idea was to look into every corner of the coast. If so, and if starting from the north, it will be years until he needs to think about boat yards away down in the Oban area, far less the Clyde.

Very true.
And who knows what the price of a Centaur will be by then!

 

[CoVianna]

on the contrary

it is an advantage if people know and the advert will make it quite clear that the price will drop each week

Its a Dutch Auction.

Dutch auction also known as an open descending price auction. In the traditional Dutch auction the auctioneer begins with a high asking price for some quantity of like items; the price is lowered until a participant is willing to accept the auctioneer's price for some quantity of the goods in the lot or until the seller's reserve price is met.