History | ||
First established as a working boatyard with an engineering workshop and a few swinging moorings in the 1970’s, Ardfern Yacht Centre has been developed slowly over the years around an old pier. Originally used by puffers such as the ‘Brenda’ (see photo) for taking cattle and freight to and from the local Isles and isolated coastal villages on the West Coast, the Yacht Centre still uses that same pier today as a key link to the modern pontoon network.  --> See more pictures in heritage gallery In 1979 the yard, along with the small island of Eilean Inshaig (which lies opposite the yacht centre and is a haven for seabirds including Arctic terns and oystercatchers), was purchased from local laird Colin Lindsay-MacDougall of Lunga, by Yorkshire farmer and keen sailor Robin Baker. The same family still own the business today. The early 1980’s saw investment made in the large boat shed, a slip and a 12-tonne boat hoist, while the marina office and chandlery together with Walcon pontoons were all in place by the mid 1980’s, under the direction of managing director David Wilkie, who managed the yard for 25 years. Since that time the workshop, hoist, winter storage area, offices, chandlery and pontoons have all been constantly updated and extended to provide the facilities available at the yard today. |