Where to keep a boat in the Oban area

[Amulet]

Retirement is approaching, and I'll be looking for a sailing base in the Oban area over the next year.

I probably want a marina berth, but would consider a swinging mooring with access to a serviced pontoon when necessary.

I have an old wooden boat, and may want professional help in some of its upkeep, so a place where there is a yard/shipwright with a sympathy for wooden boats is a requirement.

I would also want to work on her myself.

And... I'm not going to be wealthy.

(While you're at it - you can tell me where you'd buy a house in the same area. Must have, or have scope for a large workshop.)

 

[webcraft]

Retirement is approaching, and I'll be looking for a sailing base in the Oban area over the next year.

I probably want a marina berth, but would consider a swinging mooring with access to a serviced pontoon when necessary.

I have an old wooden boat, and may want professional help in some of its upkeep, so a place where there is a yard/shipwright with a sympathy for wooden boats is a requirement.

I would also want to work on her myself.

And... I'm not going to be wealthy.

(While you're at it - you can tell me where you'd buy a house in the same area. Must have, or have scope for a large workshop.)

All the marinas up here are now expensive (IMO anyway - esp. if you have a small boat). Kilmelfort Yacht Haven has moorings, a serviced pontoon and a sympathy for old wooden boats, so is the nearest that would fit your requirements.

Plenty of houses on the market up here just now - nothing much is selling. Problem is, Argyll needs more retired people like it needs a hole in the head. (Nothing personal).

- W

 

[armchairsailor]

Argyll needs more retired people like it needs a hole in the head. (Nothing personal).

- W

Aye - more incomers... (Only joking, I'm one too ) As long as you're happy to join in with the pagan rituals, you'll be fine.

If I return to these shores if it all goes awry in Canada, that's where I'll be settling. Not that it will go awry.

 

[Amulet]

The west coast of Scotland is my home. I grew up there and did most of my sailing there. Amulet was built there and spent most of her life there. For years I've been a foreigner in Germany and foreigner in England. Guess I'm now a foreigner in Scotland too!

 

[armchairsailor]

I take it all back! But you should speak to my wife - she feels like that, and we live 30 miles from her birthplace.

 

[webcraft]

The west coast of Scotland is my home. I grew up there and did most of my sailing there. Amulet was built there and spent most of her life there. For years I've been a foreigner in Germany and foreigner in England. Guess I'm now a foreigner in Scotland too!

Not at all - I am sure you will be made welcome - the place is mostly full of incomers anyway. All I meant was that Argyll's economy is in a pretty poor shape due to the huge numbers of second homes and retirees coupled with the fact that such a high percentage of jobs are minimum wage or seasonal. The fact that you have felt obliged to spend your workling life abroad is all part of the same picture.

Sorry if I depressed you - I have that effect on some people

- W

 

[LittleShip]

Retirement is approaching, and I'll be looking for a sailing base in the Oban area over the next year.

I probably want a marina berth, but would consider a swinging mooring with access to a serviced pontoon when necessary.

I have an old wooden boat, and may want professional help in some of its upkeep, so a place where there is a yard/shipwright with a sympathy for wooden boats is a requirement.

I would also want to work on her myself.

And... I'm not going to be wealthy.

(While you're at it - you can tell me where you'd buy a house in the same area. Must have, or have scope for a large workshop.)

I spent most of this summer in Scotland and I have thought about your quest. My answer would be ............ I couldnt make up my mind where to leave the boat.

What I will say is that
Oban marina were very friendly and helpful
Crohbe Haven were very friendly and helpful
I think you get the jist

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the area.

Tom

 

[webcraft]

.
Beautiful looking boat

Just been checking Kilmelfort prices - £103/m for six months afloat, £120.40/m (or less if sq.m rate is cheaper) for Winter storage ashore.


- W

 

[flobbets]

I can recommend Linnhe Marine, north of Oban. Not a marina, but swinging moorings, a service pontoon and the inimitable Paul. http://www.linnhemarina.co.uk/

 

[Fascadale]

Marine Resource Centre, Loch Creran should have everything you need.

Dunstaffnage, full service with very nice showers but mixed reports.

Linnhie Marine, always well spoken of.

Then there is the marina on Kerrra across Oban Bay: rumour has it there is to be another marina development between Dunstaffnage and Loch Etive: there are also moorings and shore facilities next door to the MRC in Loch Creran, Creran Marine in fact, and then there is a site in Loch Feochan.............................

 

[agurney]

There are plenty of lovely houses in sheltered bays with a boathouse and mooring at the bottom of the garden. I don't know any that are for sale though.

Crinan boatyard used to be good for wooden boats, though I don't what the current reputation is (I suspect their current speciality is antique iron judging by the amount of work that's being done on VIC32 et. al).

 

[agurney]

..

I have an old wooden boat, and may want professional help in some of its upkeep, so a place where there is a yard/shipwright with a sympathy for wooden boats is a requirement.
..

I'm sure someone at Crinan Classics could give you some advice about shipwrights in the area.

Shameless plug

 

[Quandary]

You could chat to Adam Way who is a specialist in wooden boats, he has a website, a workshop in Lochgilphead and a small boatyard in Tarbert, he also organizes the winter boatyard at Cairnbaan in the BW yard there. ( He was involved with restoration of 'The Truant' among others). Stacks of houses for sale around Argyll and only the ones with extensive water frontage and a private mooring are the silly prices you might pay elsewhere. You can keep a boat in the Crinan Canal for much the same price as the moorings referred to above but there is a waiting list developing again and access hours are now very restricted.
However all of the above locations are more than half an hours drive from Oban and up here if you have a boat you should expect to be able to see it from your windows.

www.aandrwayboatbuilding.co.uk

 

[Bat21]

Argyll's economy is in a pretty poor shape due to the huge numbers of second homes and retirees coupled with the fact that such a high percentage of jobs are minimum wage or seasonal. Sorry if I depressed you - I have that effect on some people

- W

Utter balderdash, these retirees in the main, have above average disposable income, second home owners would also contribute to the area’s economy if the locals would provide the opportunity for them to spend their hard earned. The largest employers pay salaries well in excess of those available in the South East. The Argyll mentality seems to be, to be unreliable, provide mediocre service, take no pride in doing anything but, to expect above average payment for doing so!

 

[Quandary]

Utter balderdash, these retirees in the main, have above average disposable income, second home owners would also contribute to the area’s economy if the locals would provide the opportunity for them to spend their hard earned. The largest employers pay salaries well in excess of those available in the South East. The Argyll mentality seems to be, to be unreliable, provide mediocre service, take no pride in doing anything but, to expect above average payment for doing so!

Unfortunately there is an element of truth in this tirade, but while some of our neighbours have a relaxed attitude to the passing of time, the experiences we have of mediocre service and over charging seems as prevalent with incomers who have such a strong hold on the economy of the county, particularly the 'hospitality' industry. I am baffled about where these high salaries are, perhaps it is at Faslane.
My view (as an incomer) is that Highlanders are a proud and well educated people with a strong connection with the soil that bred them, their ancestors have had to live as feudal serfs for centuries and they now find it difficult to continue to tug the forelock in the way expected. There is no doubt that in our village there are two different communities, they mix a bit but the distinction between incomers and natives is obvious and is maintained, however the OP as a well travelled native should have full access to both.
I have no doubt that the OP will enjoy living here as I do, the weather and the midges are less welcoming than the people.

 

[Fascadale]

Utter balderdash, these retirees in the main, have above average disposable income, second home owners would also contribute to the area’s economy if the locals would provide the opportunity for them to spend their hard earned. The largest employers pay salaries well in excess of those available in the South East. The Argyll mentality seems to be, to be unreliable, provide mediocre service, take no pride in doing anything but, to expect above average payment for doing so!

Who are the largest employers in Argyll and what is the evidence for your claims?

I'm surprised you choose to remain in Argyll with your insights into the local "mentality."

Can you suggest a part of the UK in which you might feel your consumerist needs better met?

 

[Bat21]

Who are the largest employers in Argyll and what is the evidence for your claims?

For one, A&B Council. Evidence based on knowledge and experience though, I have never been employed in the Public Sector.

I'm surprised you choose to remain in Argyll with your insights into the local "mentality."
Why, I was merely pointing out the holes in webcrafts current rant!
The original reasons for choosing to live in Argyll remain with, their many compensations however, one simply doesn't spend as much as one could or, was envisaged, in the locality because the experience, quality and, service simply do not warrent it.

Can you suggest a part of the UK in which you might feel your consumerist needs better met?

Almost anywhere, were consumerism pivotal to my existance. ;-) thankfully, it is not and, I am free to spend my pennies in other parts of the world!

 

[webcraft]

Utter balderdash, these retirees in the main, have above average disposable income, second home owners would also contribute to the area’s economy if the locals would provide the opportunity for them to spend their hard earned. The largest employers pay salaries well in excess of those available in the South East. The Argyll mentality seems to be, to be unreliable, provide mediocre service, take no pride in doing anything but, to expect above average payment for doing so!

What 'largest employers' are you talking about pray tell? The largest employer is the Council. I would suggest that you have no idea what you are talking about. I am afraid you are an all too typical Argyll retiree who wants to change everything so it is the same as wherever it is you came from. You appear to delight in presenting yourself as a caricature of the sort of person Argyll really doesn't need.

Why don't you go back wherever you came from if you find Argylleachs so contemptible? I hear Bournemouth is very nice.

- W

 

[Bat21]

What 'largest employers' are you talking about pray tell? The largest employer is the Council. I would suggest that you have no idea what you are talking about. I am afraid you are an all too typical Argyll retiree who wants to change everything so it is the same as wherever it is you came from. You appear to delight in presenting yourself as a caricature of the sort of person Argyll really doesn't need.

Why don't you go back wherever you came from if you find Argylleachs so contemptible? I hear Bournemouth is very nice.

- W

Most amusing, I do actualy know what I'm talking about, I live in Argyll because I choose so to do, at this moment in time I intend to remain doing so for the forseable. I do not wish to change anything, I certainly do not wish to replecate other places I have lived, if I did, I would have wasted a great deal of time and money getting here. Simply, you provoke with a sweeping genralisation rediculous in its conception. Who exactly are you to dictate who and what Argyll needs and, what exactly is your experience and qualification to make such a judgment?

 

[Quandary]

What Argyll certainly does not need is incomers who go out of their way to insult the natives.