BLUEMOMENT

You may have seen the news items about Scottish Water cutting off the supply to the tap at the pier at Arinagour "because it was being abused by people from yachts." What is all that about?

Now I know that in a marina that I frequent, lots of owners wash their boats down (in defiance of the marina rules) using the fresh water hoses, often leaving them running for long periods and even dropping them into the water. I usually give them a hard stare and sometimes even ask innocently if salt water is bad for boats but as far as I know, you cannot get a yacht anywhere near the pier at Arinagour to waste water in this way. So how are "yachtsmen" abusing the supply any more than the motor home, camping and other people that fill containers from the tap?

No - you've got me there - How?

I think the concern was that water was in short supply rather than any particular form of misuse by anyone. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-g ... 663693%20(Doesn't make such a good story, though.)

As Alan says, a shortage would not make such a good story, but it would raise questions about the responsibility of Scottish Water to maintain a supply. The story was also reported in The Herald, where I read that the tap at the hotel was being used by campers, mobile home people and islanders without a filtered supply. The hotel proprietor was reported as concerned about the effect on his metered water charge.

You cannot really blame the hotel owner if that is the case - I do not think I would be happy if people helped themselves to my metered water !

They charge for it in Ibiza (et al) but that's understandable when they have to keep desalination plants running.
I find it difficult to believe the West coast of Scotland should have a dearth of water - sounds like a resource management problem to me.

Funnily enough, unless things have changed, CalMac officially expect to paid when taking water on at their piers. I've tried to make payment on two occasions at different piers but the guys made themselves scarce on both occasions. Think they are embarrassed about it.

I had trouble enough to pay for berthing at Colonsay once. Too much trouble I suspect?

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I remember the first time I went to Colonsay. The tap was in a fenced off area beside the bogs, fenced off to keep sheep out.

There was a note on the gate which said something to this effect:

"Please do not leave the gate open. If it is left open it will be locked until the culprit has had time to leave the island'

Possibly not the exact words - In think I may have a pic somewhere - but it was pretty strange.

Last time I went there in June this year the tide was too low for two boats to lie alongside the pier and in any case a curmedgeonly old git in a grubby bilge keeler was overlapping both berths. There was a 23-footer alongside him which could have gone ahead of him, but both boats refused to co-operate in any way. I was pleased when we bailed out and anchored in the delightful Caolas Mor instead.

The 'yacht berths' at the pier are neglected and it seems nothing has been done to make yachties any more welcome than when the Chents were there in 2004.

Nick wrote:.
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The 'yacht berths' at the pier are neglected and it seems nothing has been done to make yachties any more welcome than when the Chents were there in 2004.

Quite a few places have had their ferry facilities upgraded for the ro-ro's recently but the ones I have seen have not incorporated any new berths for yachts which could have been done at modest cost. It seems that whoever is responsible do not want yachties anywhere near a ferry.

Someone tried to charge me £5 for water this summer in Plockton. When I told him I'd changed my mind because of the charge, he said he was very disappointed with my attitude!

I presume you told him that the feeling was mutual!