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Oban & Kerrera Island

Your Comments: 15 Read or add your comments

Courtesy Flag

Flag, Red Ensign

Waypoint

56° 25.8N 005° 30.0W

Charts

AC 1790 Oban and Approaches; 2387 Firth of Lorne Northern Part; 2388 Loch Etive and Approaches; 2389 Loch Linnhe Southern Part; 2171 Sound of Mull and Approaches; Imray 65 Crinan to Mallaig & Barra (with Oban chartlet) SC5611.28A West Coast of Scotland Pack: Oban

Rules & Regulations

Listen out on VHF16 for warnings of large ships entering or leaving Oban Bay via the North Channel. Give way to such vessels. Keep to the starboard side as much as possible when entering or leaving by the North Channel.
Speed limit in the Bay 5kts (largely ignored by working boats)

Hazards

Entering from the north leave Maiden Island to Port unless you are VERY familiar with the other side of Maiden Island. Kerrera Sound itself is well charted and the few hazards well marked – the buoyage is flooding North.

Tidal Data Times & Range

Oban is a Standard Port MHWS 4.0m MHWN 2.9m MLWN 1.8m MLWS 0.7m   (links)

This site is designed for slower, roaming broadband connections, like you would get at sea, so it needs JavaScript enabled to expand the text.

General Description

Contacts
Piermaster North Pier 01631 562892 Vicky Mackenzie;
Kerrera Marina 01631 565333  VHF 80
Sailing Club Moorings 07810 880315 (No Bookings)
... read more

Approach

The approach from either the South or the North (and the Sound of Mull) is uncomplicated and well buoyed. ... read more

Berthing, Mooring & Anchoring

You are spoilt for choice here and it depends on what you need. ... read more

Your Ratings & Comments

15 comments
Update July 2022
Written by Don Thomson 3 | 6th Sep 2022
I reviewed these notes in July 2022. The Kererra Marina struggles on to make ends meet since the Council put the pontoons in at the North Pier - which went from one night, to two nights and then three nights. They changed the financial dynamic for everyone else . We'll wait and see what happens when the Council finds that their boat park needs maintenance
Kerrera Marina is the new Oban marina
Written by heawilliams | 12th Jun 2022
Very encouraged by the actions of the new owners as the marina is in excellent shape, selling diesel again (up to 100 litres). Water available, showers and toilet block good, and the restaurant is functioning at time of writing with limited menu which includes their wonderful Island boil of seafood. Ferry and marina booked on line, but it’s probably best to find a berth first then book on line.
North Pier Transit Pontoons
Written by Northern Way | 24th Jul 2018
At least that is what they are called to avoid the council actually stating that they operate a marina.
However to you and me marina it is and a great facility with a max stay of 3 nights but saves a lot of humphing of those Tesco bags.
One major failing is the layout of service bollards and the excess of 32amp sockets for which the normal yacht would not have a matching plug so some have to go without.
So for 2018 if you want to be gaurenteed shore power bring a 32amp adaptor
4 of 4 people found this helpful
Oban Marina - Kerrera
Written by Eclipse II | 8th Jun 2017
Spent some time there in May 2017. Great change to the place, the new owners and managers are really making a go if it. The Waypoint is re-open as is the bar. Additional water tanks and fuel is now available. The new team are mainly ex- Clipper race skipper & crew who know the needs of yachting people and they live on the island. They couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. Facilities are all new 1 pound coin only. They have ambitious plans for improving and modernising and I believe they will succeed.
Definitely back on my port of call list.
1 of 1 people found this helpful
update May 2017
Written by Don Thomson | 31st May 2017
The new council pontoons are now under construction and the whole complex will be operating by the end of July this year. See our navigation gallery for a plan of their layout
UPDATE APRIL 2017
Written by Don Thomson | 12th Apr 2017
I have reviewed these notes and made alterations to cover the new ownership of the marina and the installation of transit pontoons by the pier. I have talked extensively with the new owner who is throwing everything he has into this to make it successful. He has just about cracked the diesel supply and has managed to overcome the difficulties of resupply of that. He's charging £2.50 pmpn plus extra for shore power(cards)
1 of 1 people found this helpful
UP DATE MARCH 2017
Written by Don Thomson | 3rd Mar 2017
I have learnt that the Marina has finally been sold. Have a look at the link in our introduction for their news page.
Good news indeed
Still a handy stop off
Written by Nick Kelly | 16th Jul 2016
Some recent negative reviews have seemed a bit harsh.

Yes the ferry service is curtailed, I understand because of staff shortages, and you do have to book each trip. However the pontoons are good, the location handy, the wifi excellent to the pontoons, the laundry facilities good and there is a nice little bar still open in the evening.

Just stayed here for a four night stay and enjoyed it. It is undoubtedly a bit rough and ready at the moment, and could do with some investment.

Depends on what you are after, I guess.

Nice walks on Kerrera.
1 of 1 people found this helpful
Marina Only as a last resort! Expensive No Fuel water not drinkable.
Written by rodrinn | 11th Jul 2016
On round Britain trip starting from South Coast. This was first marina entered in Scotland. I hope they are not all like this. Marinas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, I entered, were all well run and efficient.
Fuel no longer available.
£19 a night for a mooring, ensure you do not pick 50 ton mooring as they will then charge you £50 per night.
The mooring gets you a mooring and somewhere for rubbish, expect to pay for all else including showers.
The mooring field now means there is very little room to anchor.
Notices in showers say be careful not to swallow any water or use it for washing food or making ice.
The water taxi runs 4 times a day 9, 11, 13 and 17:00. There is not much of anything unless you take the water taxi.
First task for any new owner will be customer service training for staff. It felt like they were doing me a favour, and was an unpleasant experience.
Marina must be haemorrhaging goodwill at the moment.
1 of 1 people found this helpful
Oban facilities
Written by Summer Lightning | 3rd Jul 2016
Oban marina does not have fuel for sale (since 2014) despite the pilot books telling you differently. We were also surprised to find that the only place to eat had shut down. The staff are trying hard to run a place that is clearly not receiving any investment.
1 of 1 people found this helpful

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