History

Loch Goil Cruisers was established in 1975 and has gone through different stages over the years in keeping with customer demand. It is for sale now because of retirement plans.

It was initially located on the east side of Loch Goil and provided charter holidays from three 25ft Birchwood motorboats, which proved to be popular. Steady growth over the next twenty years brought the number of cruisers to twelve, ranging from 27ft to 37ft. The boat hire station which we now operate from on the west side of the loch was purpose-built approximately 27 years ago.

Over more recent years the nature of the business has changed to cater for differing trends and local holiday complexes, one of which is situated only two miles away. We now no longer operate the charter boat side of the business ( although this may have further future potential ) but have concentrated on meeting the needs of the local holidaymaker and the ever-increasing interest in fishing, where we see fishermen travelling to us from as far away as 100 miles.

Eight years ago we took on the sole Scottish dealership for Ocqueteau boats, which are built in the maritime area of western France. This dealership has seen several successful sales over the years.

FUTURE

We see a bright future for the business with many entrepreneurial opportunities, some of which are suggested below:

- Expansion of motorboat hire business

- Charter boat hire

- Small marina development

- Small chandlery sales to support marina and local boat owners

- Use of slip for work on private boats eg. anti-fouling, repairs etc

- Canoe hire

- Sailing-dinghy hire

- Skippered fishing trips

- Skippered sight-seeing trips ( eg ’seal-spotting’ )

- Water taxi

- Mountain bike hire

- Dive Centre ( good wreck nearby )