Afforable mooring around Ayr?

DangerousPirate

DangerousPirate

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I just bought a boat in the area and I intend to sail it down, just for now I would like a place to store the boat to plan the trip. It's a 30ft fin keel, and currently in a marina called Troom. But it is too expensive and I want to temporarily move it somewhere cheaper. Maybe on a mooring buoy. Any locals with knowledge of the area?

So I was looking at Bangor Marina in N-Ireland. Which is near Belfast. Very cool location, I think. Invites for exploration. Can I just go there or will there be troubles? (sorry couldn't resist)
Because of registration and general bureaucracy scotland and ireland, uk etc etc?
 
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I don't think you should go looking for problems where there are none - nor, as a visitor, make crass remarks. Troon (with an N not an M) is an excellent marina, as is Bangor; I've left my boat in both places for a few weeks in various summers. Staff very helpful and friendly in both places.

Comparing published prices:
Troon is 385 /m/year
Bangor is 320 /m/year

A slight difference, but not that big (and Troon do a 3-months deal. Probably Bangor do as well but it's not in their published price list). I think travel cost may be as important to you: driving, flights or ferries to Belfast vs Glasgow. Troon is right next to Prestwick, which was very convenient when Ryan Air used to fly there, but they've moved to Glasgow now which is quite a bit more expensive by taxi - in fact about the same as Edinburgh airport). Last summer we had no issues with bureaucracy in either the Republic of Ireland or N Ireland. Cruising choices a bit more varied around Troon imho.
 
jdc said:
I don't think you should go looking for problems where there are none - nor, as a visitor, make crass remarks. Troon (with an N not an M) is an excellent marina, as is Bangor; I've left my boat in both places for a few weeks in various summers. Staff very helpful and friendly in both places.

Comparing published prices:
Troon is 385 /m/year
Bangor is 320 /m/year

A slight difference, but not that big (and Troon do a 3-months deal. Probably Bangor do as well but it's not in their published price list). I think travel cost may be as important to you: driving, flights or ferries to Belfast vs Glasgow. Troon is right next to Prestwick, which was very convenient when Ryan Air used to fly there, but they've moved to Glasgow now which is quite a bit more expensive by taxi - in fact about the same as Edinburgh airport). Last summer we had no issues with bureaucracy in either the Republic of Ireland or N Ireland. Cruising choices a bit more varied around Troon imho.
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So according to the websites I would pay 60/m for Troon, and 28/m in Bangor? That's half the price for a monthly.
 
Just give them both a ring to find out, making sure they know your exact dates and needs. I would be a bit surprised if they're that different - I don't recollect noticing much difference when staying at either - but of course these were never in the same year as we only call in to either if the weather turns during our annual migration N or S between our winter berth at Falmouth and summer in Plockton. Spot rates / different definitions of high season might apply, but as I said you'd be best to ask rather than trawl websites.

I'm sure both will be good places to be, but keep in mind that even if the delta is £20 / m / month x 10m x 3 months, that's £600. In the 3 months you will want to go sailing 6 times? That's 12 flights from Stansted or Heathrow (maybe Gatwick). Parking and flights, taxis etc will add up to rather more than this! So driving to Troon would be less costly. The ferry to Belfast from Liverpool will take longer and cost as well, more than £50 each way I suspect.
 
The £28per M/Month is only until 31st March. It's £44 during the summer in Bangor. Troon is £60pm in the summer or £170 fro three months.
 
Clyde Marina at Ardrossan which is just N. of Troon has been slightly cheaper than Troon in the past but I haven't looked at current rates. Staff are very helpful.
 
If a mooring would do, then try Fairlie Quay, a bit North of Troon, but good cruising in the Clyde.
The moorings are off the old NATO pier, a bit exposed, but boats seem to survive there over the summer.
 
Ian_Edwards said:
If a mooring would do, then try Fairlie Quay, a bit North of Troon, but good cruising in the Clyde.
The moorings are off the old NATO pier, a bit exposed, but boats seem to survive there over the summer.
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That is more what I was thinking of tbh. Just something cheap, doesn't need to be a marina necessarily. It's just a temporary home for the boat until I arranged myself.

Swing mooring, yacht club whatever is there in the area that doesn't cost me a fortune.
 
awol said:
There are plenty empty at the moment but they will be wanted when boats go in the water. No-one wants a squatter so give more resolution to your plans.
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Well, I am trying to make a plan at the moment with the options available. I plan to move the boat to a mooring buoy within the next week or two, and then leave it there for a maximum of 2 months. That should give me ample time to deal with my current boat and gather some friends and plan a sailing trip.
 
DangerousPirate said:
Well, I am trying to make a plan at the moment with the options available. I plan to move the boat to a mooring buoy within the next week or two, and then leave it there for a maximum of 2 months. That should give me ample time to deal with my current boat and gather some friends and plan a sailing trip.
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Sorry, mine will be free for about 4 weeks but definitely needed then. You may get lucky.
 
awol said:
Sorry, mine will be free for about 4 weeks but definitely needed then. You may get lucky.
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It is very kind of you, but I don't want to promise anything and then can't hold up. I don't know how long I'll need to organise everything. Might be less than a month, might be more. You know how those things are.

awol said:
There are plenty empty at the moment but they will be wanted when boats go in the water. No-one wants a squatter so give more resolution to your plans.
Click to expand...

I am sure that Clyde is lovely. Looks like a nice place tbh. It's just I need cheap and I won't be around much anyway until I sorted things, and then I will be sailing down the coast.

I might have found this one: Prices - Fairlie Quay Marina A mooring buoy is like under 200 quid a month. Perfect.
 
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