Oban/mid -argyll

[puffer]

Hi,
Off to oban on August 10th for a week with my honwave 3.2 and old yam 15hp. Anyone wants company inshore, safe cruising nearby, or has any advice,warnings or tips, please get in touch. Ive read all the posts i can see about the area, but any further info gratefully received!

Cheers

Neil

[puffer]

So...nobody there?

[jambo]

Originally Posted by puffer

So...nobody there?

Hi I up just now but back Aug 10th. You are coming right as the Scottish schools start back that week so anybody with family will be going back that weekend. Very few local guys but you may wish to give A1an pm as he is local. Hope you have a good week.

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[puffer]

Thanks jambo, I did pm you last month and you gave me three names to try. I did pm them over a week ago but no response, so I guess they're on holiday. Anyway, looking forward to my trip for almost a year, just hoping the weather is good, or at least good enough!

[Maximus]

Oban Caravan and Camping sight is Good and with The Puffin Dive centre just next door. You can moor there cheaply if you wish...and they are a wealth of local info.A must visit is the Sea-Food Bar at the End of Oban Pier...the End of the Pier!
With loads of Great Cruising on your Doorstep you cant go wrong,have a good one!

[alystra]

Originally Posted by puffer

Thanks jambo, I did pm you last month and you gave me three names to try. I did pm them over a week ago but no response, so I guess they're on holiday. Anyway, looking forward to my trip for almost a year, just hoping the weather is good, or at least good enough!

Hi Puffer, Yes, I got your PM, not forgotten but have been busy, then away on the boat for a week. Just recovering. Off again tomorrow, then a break when I'll put my mind to your queries.

In Moon Raker, I rarely go north of Fladda Light. In unsettled and breezy conditions that area is not for the faint hearted in a small boat.

[miccheck1516]

Just be careful, both yesterday, and today, 999 calls were made when somone ashore spotted people in diffs. Had it not been for the fact that there were vessels nearby, it would have been a good hour before a lifeboat was anywhere near onscene.

Obviously at Oban you have their lifeboat, but in these two examples they didn't even have the means to call for a lifeboat, and were relying soley on someone ashore seeing them...

Look out for the ferries too if your in oban itself.

[The Gurnard]

Hi Puffer..although I have just joined the forum (my first post) ..Im an old hand at boating in the Argyle area in small boats.

I hope you enjoy your visit and you are in a great area to enjoy your Honwave.

I dont know your experience of the sea but would strongly recommed exploring Loch Etive..its one of the best sea lochs in the area. Launch your boat from the beach at Taynuilt beside Kelly's Pier..plenty free parking on the shore..then head through the Bonawe narrows and go to the top eastern end of the loch. The scenery is superb and if you like fishing..its great for all kinds of fish..but bring a long line as it is 400ft deep in places. The loch is quite sheltered but there can be strong squalls of wind coming off the hills causing rough water very quickly.

Warning..keep well clear of Connal Bridge and the Falls of Laura..unless you like very strong tidal flows with white water

Loch Etive was flat calm two saturdays ago when I took this photo



If Im heading for the open sea, I often launch at Ganavan Sands..just to the north of Oban. There is a free slipway there and a huge car park which costs £2 to park for the day.

If the wind is fair..you can easily circumnavigate the Island of Kerrera which is a good adventure. No problems with strong tides there although it can get a bit choppy rounding the south western corner if wind is against tide. Plenty mackerel getting caught off there too.

If you have a VHF you will hear the CalMac ferries leaving Oban pier on channel 16. They warn boats that they intend leaving so you can scarper out their way. They can leave a big wash.

To give you and idea of what is possible in your inflatable..if the wind is calm ...

Last Saturday I launched at Ganavan beach ..went round Kerrera island.. into Loch Feochan.. down to Easdale and round the island .. round Inch Island.. back up to Ganavan bay via the west of Kerrera..then because it was such a nice night.. I then went round the Island of Lismore...all in my 4.3 meter inflatable with 25hp engine. Think it was around a 50 mile trip. Boat was full of mackerel for dinner too.


Im usually out on the water somewhere on weekends ..but its very much weather dependant as I dont like cold wet water

If you want more info from me ..then just ask

[kerny]

Originally Posted by The Gurnard

Hi Puffer..although I have just joined the forum (my first post) ..Im an old hand at boating in the Argyle area in small boats.

I hope you enjoy your visit and you are in a great area to enjoy your Honwave.

I dont know your experience of the sea but would strongly recommed exploring Loch Etive..its one of the best sea lochs in the area. Launch your boat from the beach at Taynuilt beside Kelly's Pier..plenty free parking on the shore..then head through the Bonawe narrows and go to the top eastern end of the loch. The scenery is superb and if you like fishing..its great for all kinds of fish..but bring a long line as it is 400ft deep in places. The loch is quite sheltered but there can be strong squalls of wind coming off the hills causing rough water very quickly.

Warning..keep well clear of Connal Bridge and the Falls of Laura..unless you like very strong tidal flows with white water

Loch Etive was flat calm two saturdays ago when I took this photo



If Im heading for the open sea, I often launch at Ganavan Sands..just to the north of Oban. There is a free slipway there and a huge car park which costs £2 to park for the day.

If the wind is fair..you can easily circumnavigate the Island of Kerrera which is a good adventure. No problems with strong tides there although it can get a bit choppy rounding the south western corner if wind is against tide. Plenty mackerel getting caught off there too.

If you have a VHF you will hear the CalMac ferries leaving Oban pier on channel 16. They warn boats that they intend leaving so you can scarper out their way. They can leave a big wash.

To give you and idea of what is possible in your inflatable..if the wind is calm ...

Last Saturday I launched at Ganavan beach ..went round Kerrera island.. into Loch Feochan.. down to Easdale and round the island .. round Inch Island.. back up to Ganavan bay via the west of Kerrera..then because it was such a nice night.. I then went round the Island of Lismore...all in my 4.3 meter inflatable with 25hp engine. Think it was around a 50 mile trip. Boat was full of mackerel for dinner too.


Im usually out on the water somewhere on weekends ..but its very much weather dependant as I dont like cold wet water

If you want more info from me ..then just ask

Welcome to RIBnet Gurnard nice informative first post

[The Gurnard]

Thanks Kerny..I tried to add another photo to my post to Puffer ..but it didnt show..so I will add it here. Its the public slipway at Ganavan bay..just to the north of Oban..its the cheepest option..and because Im a tight Scotsman with money ..I love it.

Its very wide too ..so suitable for me as Im not the best at reversing with a trailer. It was built for the war to allow the seaplanes access to the water.

My photo shows it better than I can describe it

[puffer]

Thanks for the info and advice so far. I've been in the area many times, used to live near by as a youth, but never boated there till I got up to etive last month but was blown off by the funnelling winds in the low twenties. Kerny's right about the gusts and chop.

Thanks for the warning about the recent coastal scares. I've got a vhf and licence, but want to take it very easy till I'm confident about my own capabilities and my kit, especially the motor.

Look forward to any further advice

Chin chin!:thumbs

[puffer]

Some very nice pics from gurnard, thanks. I've been looking at charts for launching in loch melfort, round shuna and into loch cragnish. Looks sheltered but I know there are fast currents, and in an inflatable plastic bag, plenty of rocks. I suppose others have done it, just needs care and a bit confidence...

[The Gurnard]

Thanks for your comments on my photos puffer.

Re your thoughts on Loch Melfort into loch craignish ..my advice would be...no no no !

The reason is ... you will go through some of the strongest tidal flows on the west of Scotland on this route. The Dorus Mor flows past Craignish point ..and can take the unexpected sailor straight across the sound of Jura and into the Corryvrechan ..third biggest whirlpool in the world

Of course it is possible in a 3 meter inflatable..but make sure you know the tide flows..times and directions of flow .. your main engine is very reliable.. and you have an auxilliary engine too.

I would advise you to keep clear of anything shown on charts as Sound of Jura ..until you have a lot of experience. However that is only my opinion.

But dont let that put you off boating in Loch Craignish or Loch Melford..just keep away from their sea entrances. Loch Craignish is another favourite of mine.

I often launch at a layby near Kirkton chapel..room to park two cars and it has an easy beach launch. However at low tide..its a muddy walk back to the hard shingle shore.

From there I explore round the two large islands..then by keeping close inshore on the east coast of the mainland at Island Macaskin ..I avoid the start of the Dorus Mor ..and go all the way down to Crinan and Duntrune Castle ..I do it in my 2.6m seago with a 3.3 mariner..so no tidal problems in that part of the loch

[The Gurnard]

This is a photo of the Dorus Mor at Craignish point..when it is sleeping ..tide almost full out..no wind at all.
Its a fast flowing river.


Hit it wrong ..something go wrong.. and it will sweep you straight across the Sound of Jura..this is a photo of it on a calm night
The flow heads for the gap on the horizon.. even from this distance I could hear the growl of the Corryvrechan. She swirls in the gap
Stay safe my friend..respect the power of the sea :-D



But that is only my advise ..others may disagree with me ..and I will respect their view..assuming they know these waters well

[jambo]

I'll let Alystra reply and comment in the foregoing as it is his home grounds and he knows them like the back of his hand.

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