Alternative Boat Hire

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Alternative Boat Hire

Join a trip on a traditional wooden boat - sailing, beach picnics, adventure outings, fishing. Based

09/07/2025

Not every trip is wall to wall sunshine and blue seas, but often the brave are rewarded. Today's group weren't put off by the mist or drizzle, and the sailing on compass in the mist took a bit more concentration, but the mist cleared from time to time revealing the granite coast of Mull, and the mackerel were biting, so the bucket was soon full of fish for supper.

14/06/2025

Recent trips out to Iona's satellite islands, for bird surveys for NTS. Photo credit Stewart Jardine.

11/05/2025

Under way again. Birthe Marie kicked off this year's season with a multi day trip to Canna and Eigg. the hardy passengers camped ashore each night and on this trip, the weather was pretty good. More in our normal routine now back home with scheduled trips and private hires each week.
This year we are using Bull hole for the boat's overnight berth, due to the ongoing construction work of the Iona breakwater. For this reason evening ferry runs will be impractical due to the additional dinghy transits before and after, ie. four crossings of the sound to achieve one passenger carrying crossing.

08/04/2025

Wall to wall sunshine makes spring overhaul a lot easier. Balvicar Boatyard lifts Birthe Marie's 14 tons out for annual painting and checks.

23/03/2025

Its been varnishing sort of weather. In the Shed our dinghy 'Chance' is nearly ready to swim again. On her winter mooring in the 'Bull Hole' 'Birthe Marie' is getting her Gunwhales refinished, today's sunny afternoon highlighted the rich colour of the larch over the greeny blue of the shallows under the boat.

10/02/2025

Bonnie winter paddle out to Soa with Jon (photo credits), bonus of seals, an eagle and an otter all on one trip. .co.uk

25/01/2025

Dinghy repaint under way. The prep seems endless, the painting feels like a reward...

16/12/2024

Last winter when we were full tilt on building work tea breaks in the workshop were often visited by a wee Robin. Our seasonal visitor was back today ever hopeful! as I scrape our dinghy prior to a repaint.
Happy Christmas from all at Alternative Boat Hire.

16/11/2024

Our hard working dinghy was built on the island thirty odd years ago. She hasn't had a good paint up now for a few years, and it shows. Its time for her to get some well deserved TLC. Her last job before this overhaul was the lifting of Birthe Marie's Iona mooring in its entirety, some some 140m of heavy chain and three meaty anchors, carried out over several days in stages. A dirty and heavy job. The picture shows the dinghy hauled out and all her loose gear stripped for pressure wash. She will next be trolleyed to the workshop for a full paint job once she has dried out and be cleaned and prepared.

02/10/2024

Mark will be off island from 2nd October until 11th, there will be no availability for boat trips during this period and limited or no response from Facebook, email or phone.

05/07/2024

North coast of the Ross of Mull, under sail aboard . photo: Charley Streather.

Address

Lovedale
PA766SJ

Website

http://www.boattripsiona.com/

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