Oban - new pontoons open yet? - Page 2

jeffstevens763@g · 06 July 2017, 20:17

Sticking my nose in I agree with ploy to a certain extent last post but you would also agree with locals who's local taxes have been spent on the pontoons there should be some benifitt to them as ceejay as said. Local marinas offer much more than a set of pontoons to stick you're boat on 20% more is a pi55 take IMO the fair way would be similar to what we have at the local tip a registry system for locals with a discount charge.

ShinyShoe · 06 July 2017, 21:16

In fear that this will turn into poly-ticks and get us banned... I'm posting anyway.

To get a council to part with "hard earned" taxes is not as simple as us general plebs may assume. You need to make a robust economic case. So if you go and ask for £1m of investment to build a pontoon - you will need to either be doing that as a loan (i.e. I'll give you £1.2m back over 10 years) or arguing that you will bring at least £1m to the local economy. Its likely they want more like £3-5m to the economy. That £3-5m will bring jobs, jobs brings more tax payers, less "spongers off the state" etc. Now the economics of proving you bring £3-5m is much harder. But in effect they want to ask Willk when he eventually gets to park up for the night how much he spends on his Fish & Chips, Beer, Fuel, Berthing etc. If he brings others them too. If they stay in a hotel then that as well. They will calculate an average cost per visitor per night and then multiply that up over 10 years to show the investment brought value.

If your discounted local is taking up space an Willk can't berth - that affects the numbers. if the pontoons are deserted - expect a local discount...

willk · 06 July 2017, 21:23

Met these lads today on our way home. We got home safely BTW. Thanks all for asking... ;-)

Poly · 06 July 2017, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Met these lads today on our way home.

Vic22 is surprisingly quiet for a puffer. She crept up on us one day at the faery isles when my mind was on some seals. She had been anchored 1/2 a mile away and then suddenly was only a couple of boat lengths off my stern.

Quote:

We got home safely BTW. Thanks all for asking... ;-)

Did you lodge a passage plan?

We never doubted the boat would get home.

jambo · 06 July 2017, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Met these lads today on our way home. We got home safely BTW. Thanks all for asking... ;-)

Aw the Vic 32!! Regular visitor to Tayvallich. Nice to know your both home safe.

Poly · 06 July 2017, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Sticking my nose in I agree with ploy to a certain extent last post but you would also agree with locals who's local taxes have been spent on the pontoons there should be some benifitt to them as ceejay as said.

there is - because 1. They can use them too, 2. The investment in the economy keeps the shops in Oban open!
I'm not sure too many Argyllshire boat owners need a subsidy from the council tax payers who don't own a boat!

Quote:

the fair way would be similar to what we have at the local tip a registry system for locals with a discount charge.

Maybe they'll adopt the approach our local tip has - it's free for anyone (except commercial vehicles). But they are so rude and unhelpful to everyone that you only go there if you are local and it's the nearest!

willk · 07 July 2017, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

they want to ask Willk when he eventually gets to park up for the night how much he spends on his Fish & Chips, Beer, Fuel, Berthing etc...

So the answer is £350 - no fuel purchased on this trip. I reckon £100 per man per night is a decent average for boaters going ashore. It's not huge money, but throw in yacht "messages", chandlery, services, and it grows. Fuel doesn't do much for the local economy, I think it just helps attract custom.

Pikey Dave · 07 July 2017, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

So the answer is £350 - no fuel purchased on this trip. I reckon £100 per man per night is a decent average for boaters going ashore. It's not huge money, but throw in yacht "messages", chandlery, services, and it grows. Fuel doesn't do much for the local economy, I think it just helps attract custom.

[emoji106] a diesel & petrol pump on the pontoon would attract some footfall

willk · 07 July 2017, 11:20

Oban Marina (Kerrera) is pumping dockside diesel now. They seem more switched on under new team.

Pikey Dave · 07 July 2017, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Oban Marina (Kerrera) is pumping dockside diesel now. They seem more switched on under new team.

Has the service in the restaurant improved too?

willk · 07 July 2017, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Has the service in the restaurant improved too?

It can't be any worse! I found them almost hostile previously. TBH, I found the office very alert and on the ball this trip - I'm sure that influence has spread to the bar as well.

Pikey Dave · 07 July 2017, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

It can't be any worse! I found them almost hostile previously. TBH, I found the office very alert and on the ball this trip - I'm sure that influence has spread to the bar as well.

They weren't particularly hostile (that might just have been you[emoji6]) but they were woefully slow & disorganised. It took 3 of them 20 mins to get a round of drinks to the table.
And they wanted to charge us for the marina whilst we had lunch, when I said we'd go elsewhere then, the marina woman grudgingly said we could stay for a couple of hours as long as we were eating. Probably didn't go down well when I asked her if they could manage to serve 4 of us in 2 hours[emoji57]

willk · 07 July 2017, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

They weren't particularly hostile (that might just have been you[emoji6]

No, wasn't me this time. Once they established that I was a Paddy the mood shifted and I became "us" to the rest of the room's "them". Initially I wasn't getting a table - even though it was 30 minutes before closing and there were four empty (but booked, sir) tables. These mysteriously became unbooked once my origins became obvious as I wheedled for food. Later, one approached and apologised for "earlier". Maybe you were there earlier that day?

Pikey Dave · 07 July 2017, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

.... Once they established that I was a Paddy.......

Ah! The old sympathy ploy, never fails. Did you have the old lame dog on a string with you too? (& I don't mean DD[emoji23])

ShinyShoe · 07 July 2017, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Fuel doesn't do much for the local economy, I think it just helps attract custom.

I would agree. But if I was writing the grant application I might "forget" that 98+% of the cost goes someplace else... ;-)

breezeblock · 04 August 2017, 20:32

the latest update is that the pontoons Oban are open for use I was at dunstafnage last night and this was the rumour can anybody confirm?

Westcoaster · 04 August 2017, 21:06

I past through Monday afternoon and there was a few boats already using the new pontoons

willk · 04 August 2017, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westcoaster

I past through Monday afternoon and there was a few boats already using the new pontoons

Yes - I can see zem in my mind's eye already. I vill return!*

willk · 04 August 2017, 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

I vill return!*

* I'll be back!

Poly · 05 August 2017, 08:31

I'm not sure they are officially open yet. In true council style efficiency I was told by a Wafi who sails out of dumstaffnage that the work was finished but the council hadn't actually signed it off which meant they weren't able to charge for it during West Highland week!