Where to keep a boat on the West coast of Scotland?

[AngusMcDoon]

All very interesting options. But what I am not seeing is a "packaged" solution like we have over this side, a nice cosy harbour, or a sailing club that offers a cheap summer berth, crane in and out, and winter storage, all in one place and very affordable.

Lochinver, if they have the space, although the harbour is primarily industrial level fishing (with pontoons, boat hoist, hard standing & cradles), not cosy. Safe enough though.

 

[JumbleDuck]

All very interesting options. But what I am not seeing is a "packaged" solution like we have over this side, a nice cosy harbour, or a sailing club that offers a cheap summer berth, crane in and out, and winter storage, all in one place and very affordable.

How about Linnhe Marine?

 

[ProDave]

How about Linnhe Marine?

Roughly twice the price we are paying here.

 

[Quandary]

Roughly twice the price we are paying here.

Your problem is that everyone wants to be on the West Coast, many of the boats are owned by folk from down south who are long accustomed to being screwed so prices keep going up. Probably the cheapest is the Crinan Canal with the advantage that in fresh water a lift every two years is often enough, but there are serious downsides; you are very restricted by short opening times which take no account of tides, if it does not rain the restrictions are worse, the whole system is in terminal decline with no maintenance now for about five years, if you want a lift at Cairnbaan, it is all organised for you, but on only one date in October and you are out until April. I can lift out in Ardrishaig into a serviced yard for a few quid, but like many clubs with very low prices, membership is restricted to those with a residence within 10 miles
My old boat but one stays at Linnhe Marine but is taken to Ardrossan for its winter lift out, the owner seems happy with that.
Expecting a total package, that is cheap, completely attuned to your particular preferences and exactly where you want it is expecting a lot from a sparsely populated coastal fringe?

Incidentally, in Oban the other day I noticed that the outer two trots of the visitors moorings near the boat club appear to be fully occupied long term now mainly by quite large yachts, I suppose they lost their visitor customers to the North Pier pontoons.

 

[ProDave]

Probably the cheapest is the Crinan Canal with the advantage that in fresh water a lift every two years is often enough,

But don't you also have to pay for a full year canal licence as well? Or is the Crinnan licence substantially cheaper than a licence for the Calley?

 

[Quandary]

Prices for the Cally and the Crinan are much the same, my 31' yacht costs around £1k for six months, a year would be about another £200, i think there is probably a waiting list just now.
When I used to winter it ashore in the canals yard at Cairnbaan I paid a full year and was not charged for winter storage but I think that deal is no longer available to new customers.
We have yachts from the Cally come down here and stay a large part of the summer, though when I do the reverse they tell me I am limited to two weeks in there, however I do not notice any effort to monitor or enforce that. The problem may be that you do not have a designated berth and are restricted to transit pontoons where a long term stayer can be a bloody nuisance.

This raises a question, who controls laying of moorings in the lochs like Dochfour and Laggan and Oich in the parts not canalised(sic) ?

 

[ProDave]

Loch Dochfour moorings are owned by one of the estates, I presume they own the loch bed to the middle? Not particularly expensive, we used to use one, but there is a waiting list.

If you are on Loch Dochfour and sail on Loch Ness and never enter the canal, you don't need a licence.

 

[JVL]

Plus one Linnhe, it’s a no contest for your location, well priced, easy access from Inverness! Plenty of great sailing and destinations ! Good people in charge and an excellent pub within walking distance

Regards

John

 

[GTom]

How about Linnhe Marine?

It gets quite choppy in NE'lies.

 

[Fascadale]

Arisaig

Train, bus, car and parking: good enough shop, good pub, (hours restricted in winter,) summer moorings, water and fuel, liftout etc, winter storage, nice people, boat kindly, chandlers and other marine services in Mallaig, on the doorstep of the best cruising area in the UK.....................and one of the most fun entrances

About £1K to lift, powerwash, take off mast and store for the winter (34ft boat). No idea what you would pay for a summer mooring but you could google Arisaig Marine

 

[ffiill]

The pontoons at Plockton are for dinghies not yachts as they are too shallow at LW, but useful for drinking water / stores etc. You can keep your dinghy there on the inside: the pontoon used to be known as 'The eternal Flame' as boats there never went out but it's been tided up a bit. But of course, once tidied up, fishermen dump mounds of abandoned gear on it so you have to work around this. I've never paid extra for the dinghy, but I haven't left it there all year round. Email enquiries are best directed to the PHCIC, secretary@plocktonharbour.com

You also asked about lift-out and storage ashore. There's none at Plockton but there used to be at Kishorn. I think it best to contact them direct as they are always fantasising about huge construction projects but only get one every decade or so. Mean-times they have to 'slum it' by taking on yachts. At present they are pinning their hopes on offshore wind, so the attitude to yachts is variable.

However for a small boat such as yours it's more common to haul out with just a tractor and cradle - you don't really need a 30 Tonne crane or fancy boat-hoist - so Port Bàn near Duirnish Station could be just what you need: several yachts spend the winter here hauled ashore just above the HW mark in perfect shelter. Or just store ashore in a corner of a farmer's yard; this is what the locals do. Again, seeking local advice and contacts from the Plockton Harbour secretary would be sensible. PM me if you want his personal email. Sorry I am a bit vague about the winter storage as my boat is rather heavy and comparatively awkward so I inevitably sail back to Falmouth for the winter (plus it's where I live).

But since you're near Inverness, why not take the train and have a look? If you make it Thursday night there's music in the pub, and very convivial it is too.

Whose fantasising at Kishorn?
Last year they completed their latest fish farm landing craft a another is now we'll on its way and is the only commercial boat yard builder and repairer north of the Clyde .
Service all the local pleasure boats.
They have a sail in boat lift which can take most things plus a low loader trailer which can take sizeable commercial craft.
Plockton has a waiting list of several years but at under £200 pa primarily to the crown to put down your own mooring it takes some beating.

 

[jdc]

Whose fantasising at Kishorn?
Last year they completed their latest fish farm landing craft a another is now we'll on its way and is the only commercial boat yard builder and repairer north of the Clyde .
Service all the local pleasure boats.
They have a sail in boat lift which can take most things plus a low loader trailer which can take sizeable commercial craft.
Plockton has a waiting list of several years but at under £200 pa primarily to the crown to put down your own mooring it takes some beating.

Well, I was the first person to recommend Plockton, as it's where my mooring is, so I'm delighted to be put right about Kishorn being fantastic for yachts. I've debated several times lifting out at Kishorn and been round to see them as well but so far haven't elected to go there. My doubts about the future were clearly ill-founded, despite coming from local sources, not to mention this kind of post

They are a very busy yard, manufacturing landing craft for the fishfarm industry. Boat storage is a bit of a sideline, ...

hence I recommended the OP call in himself. and talk to them That suggestion has been met with universal hostility - Ho hum.

I do think however that since the OP has a 21' boat that it might be possible to haul out closer to Plockton, and avoid the drive round Strath Carron (which has had a slightly difficult history of land-slides in winter months). Hopefully the recent road-works will have put it right.

 

[afterpegassus]

Given the OP is Inverness-ish, if his boat was at Kishorn, then landslides on the lochside would not be an issue. If, however, he was to haul out near Plocton, then he would have to face a drive down the Lochcarron bypass and face all its winter issues.

 

[JumbleDuck]

What are the options and costs? ideally looking for somewhere with walk ashore access (pontoon) and crane in / out facilities and winter storage (no trailer for the boat)

Is getting a trailer out of the question? You'd save yard fees, crane fees (at the minor cost of regular new bearings) and the petrol cost of winter work trips. I shall shortly be in the market for a Corribee, and a trailer is on the "essentials" list, even if I have to buy a new one.