Members of the public had the chance to study plans for a new pontoon development set to bring millions of pounds into Oban town centre yesterday.
A public consultation event was held by Argyll and Bute Council to show the position and construction of the new £1.5million berthing facility at the North Pier.
The pontoons for visiting yachts will be complemented by a maritime visitor centre at the pier with showers and other welcome facilities.
It is part of a £6.9million investment in the town centre and the council believes it will generate a multimillion economic boost to Oban.
Other work completed so far includes the regeneration of Stafford Street and George Street.
Construction of the pontoon development is expected to begin in January with the facility in use by next summer.
Oban Councillor Elaine Robertson said: “I am passionate about this because I see it as an economic driver. Marine tourism of all sorts is a booming area.
“We should have had this a long time ago, but we are now on the cusp.”
There was much positive feedback from those attending the consultation.
Clive Reeves, commodore of Clyde Cruising Club, said: “We come up here to do the Tobermory race every year and we are all waiting with baited breath, hopefully at long last Oban gets some berthing where we can tie up and go for and shower then get some dinner.
“This place could be a magnet for yachties all over the world.”
Duncan Martin, chairman of Oban Bay Community Berthing, which operates 16 moorings and a landing bay at Gallanach, said: “I think the more the merrier. It will take some business away from us temporarily but the result will be more people will come to Oban.”
Iain Macarthur an Oban bus driver, said: “They certainly seem to have taken everything into account. It will be liable to be in the path of a few storms, but they have a breakwater to counteract that.”
David Preston, a solicitor and sailor, said: “Anything to provide facilities in Oban itself has got to be welcomed.
“There are obviously existing facilities at Kerrera and Dunstaffnage but none of them are in the town.
“It is good to see something on the mainland side which hopefully can work in conjunction and collaboration with these other facilities as opposed to being a threat to them.”
