cindersailor
Member
Looking to move my boat to the Clyde. Ardrossan seems to be much cheaper than the others further up the coast, any good reason for this apart from it being further from Glasgow? What are management & facilities like?
Ardrossan Marina
- Thread starter cindersailor
- Start date
jimi
Well-known member
Suggest you visit Ardrossan;-)
cindersailor
Member
I know that Ardrossan is not exactly the Monaco of the north, but hey I'm not planning to live there and if the marina is OK the Clyde is the Clyde!
Superstrath
New member
Ardrossan the town is, to be frank, a dump. The marina, however, is great - as you say, much cheaper than Largs or Kip. It is small and friendly, the bogs and showers are good, there is chandler, part of the DDZ operation at Largs. There are mechanical and other facilities, liftout and winter hard-standing. (lift-out, jetwash and put back cost us £100 last year - two hulls) Security is good.
Lamlash is 12 miles to the south west, Tarbert Loch Fyne is 23 miles north west.
Depending where you are coming from, it might well be nearer than Largs by car. There is a train station on the dock that provides services to Glasgow. There is never a queue at the fuel dock, and pontoons are well spaced.
The only thing I dislike, and it's no-one's fault, is that there is nearly always a nasty steep chop at the harbour entrance, and a mile or so off. Not a big problem, but in stiff westerlies it can stop you sailing from tme to time. This would never happen at Largs, you can get out and in in almost any weather.
There is no racing out of Ardrossan, if that's your thang.
The building of new apartments around the marina has made the place look nice, and the next phase is a big retail mall between the marina and the town, There is also to be a new restaurant and bar, which will be good, in the old custom house buildings. The existing bars can be entertaining but are not for the faint-hearted!
The by-pass has just been completed and has reduced my travelling time from 50 to 40 minutes- that saving would apply to anyone coming over from the East via the A77.
Alistair
Lamlash is 12 miles to the south west, Tarbert Loch Fyne is 23 miles north west.
Depending where you are coming from, it might well be nearer than Largs by car. There is a train station on the dock that provides services to Glasgow. There is never a queue at the fuel dock, and pontoons are well spaced.
The only thing I dislike, and it's no-one's fault, is that there is nearly always a nasty steep chop at the harbour entrance, and a mile or so off. Not a big problem, but in stiff westerlies it can stop you sailing from tme to time. This would never happen at Largs, you can get out and in in almost any weather.
There is no racing out of Ardrossan, if that's your thang.
The building of new apartments around the marina has made the place look nice, and the next phase is a big retail mall between the marina and the town, There is also to be a new restaurant and bar, which will be good, in the old custom house buildings. The existing bars can be entertaining but are not for the faint-hearted!
The by-pass has just been completed and has reduced my travelling time from 50 to 40 minutes- that saving would apply to anyone coming over from the East via the A77.
Alistair
1114C
Member
Not really too much I can add other than it is one of the friendliest marinas I have been too in terms of the staff but the chop off the coast there is bad and has stopped us once (we kept our boat there over winter once and were trying to get her back to Kip). There is though no denying the fact that the town is a dump!
cindersailor
Member
Thanks Alistair, just the sort of info I was looking for. After a couple of seasons, cruising in the Forth is getting a bit repetitive!
rrees
New member
Superstrath
You seem to be a natural author
Could we possibly copy your information onto our site as an entry for Ardrossan Marina please
Thanks
You seem to be a natural author
Could we possibly copy your information onto our site as an entry for Ardrossan Marina please
Thanks
Sgeir
Well-known member
Please ignore Jimi - the town was very rundown for a while, but starting to pick up now.
We've only used the berths for short periods there, although our boat is currently on the hard at Ardrossan. The staff seem fine and have been very helpful on all occasions.
On the plus side. it is cheaper than the going rate in Ayrshire/Renfrewshire. Has full lift facilities and fuel berth. Also situated adjacent to the Harbour railway terminal if you want to leave the car at home - good rail services.
On the downside, the harbour entrance is much more exposed to bigger seas than Largs or Kip. The ferry service and sea state can lead to access being temporarily curtailed (traffic light system). Also, apart from Arran (about 12 miles away), it is further from the lochs, kyles, islands, and anchorages that make Clyde cruising so enjoyable.
The chandlery is on the limited side, but that might be no bad thing. There are much bigger chandlers not far from there.
Just a thought, but have you tried the Holy Loch site yet? It's nothing like as posh as Largs/Kip, but cheaper as I recall, and also in a sheltered position. Downside is the ferry access from Gourock.
We've only used the berths for short periods there, although our boat is currently on the hard at Ardrossan. The staff seem fine and have been very helpful on all occasions.
On the plus side. it is cheaper than the going rate in Ayrshire/Renfrewshire. Has full lift facilities and fuel berth. Also situated adjacent to the Harbour railway terminal if you want to leave the car at home - good rail services.
On the downside, the harbour entrance is much more exposed to bigger seas than Largs or Kip. The ferry service and sea state can lead to access being temporarily curtailed (traffic light system). Also, apart from Arran (about 12 miles away), it is further from the lochs, kyles, islands, and anchorages that make Clyde cruising so enjoyable.
The chandlery is on the limited side, but that might be no bad thing. There are much bigger chandlers not far from there.
Just a thought, but have you tried the Holy Loch site yet? It's nothing like as posh as Largs/Kip, but cheaper as I recall, and also in a sheltered position. Downside is the ferry access from Gourock.
cameronke
Active member
I was just about to suggest Holy Loch Sgeir
Very sheltered and growing nicely.
Ferry access is not a problem. Forget about Calmac though who appear to be severely inconvenienced by customers.
Have a look at Western Ferries. They usuall run every half hour but this will change to every 20 or 15 minutes at peak periods. Last ferry from Gourock is midnight on Thurs/Fri/Sat/ Sun and also midnight on Christmas an New years day!
Some superb sailing about and a very active and competative club in the Holy Loch.
Regards
Cameron
Very sheltered and growing nicely.
Ferry access is not a problem. Forget about Calmac though who appear to be severely inconvenienced by customers.
Have a look at Western Ferries. They usuall run every half hour but this will change to every 20 or 15 minutes at peak periods. Last ferry from Gourock is midnight on Thurs/Fri/Sat/ Sun and also midnight on Christmas an New years day!
Some superb sailing about and a very active and competative club in the Holy Loch.
Regards
Cameron
jimi
Well-known member
Why ignore me? As a Kilmarnock Laddie I am well acquainted with Ardrossan and in fact spent 3 days in August stormbound there 4 years ago. All I said was visit and make up your own mind. FWIW I think Ardrossan as a cruising base is crap, much better further up the coast.
Sgeir
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
cruising in the Forth is getting a bit repetitive!
[/ QUOTE ]
That wasn't you doing about 10 knots past our house in a wheelie bin last week?
cruising in the Forth is getting a bit repetitive!
[/ QUOTE ]
That wasn't you doing about 10 knots past our house in a wheelie bin last week?
jimi
Well-known member
Aha Stirling Town Quay if I'm not mistaken!
Superstrath
New member
[ QUOTE ]
After a couple of seasons, cruising in the Forth is getting a bit repetitive!
[/ QUOTE ]
After a couple of weeks, I should think!
Alistair
After a couple of seasons, cruising in the Forth is getting a bit repetitive!
[/ QUOTE ]
After a couple of weeks, I should think!
Alistair
Sgeir
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
Why ignore me?
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree that we can't. Even if we wanted to.
Perhaps I misunderstood your original reference as suggesting that the town is crap. I was just making the point that pair auld Ardrossan is gradually pulling itself up by the bootstraps. I lived in it briefly in the late 60s (Glasgow Street) and so possibly contributed to its decline.
Killie?
Late night bus (around 2030) out of Killie. A wee ned has his feet up on a seat so the clippie says "Comfy?"
"Drongan" comes the reply.
Why ignore me?
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree that we can't. Even if we wanted to.
Perhaps I misunderstood your original reference as suggesting that the town is crap. I was just making the point that pair auld Ardrossan is gradually pulling itself up by the bootstraps. I lived in it briefly in the late 60s (Glasgow Street) and so possibly contributed to its decline.
Killie?
Late night bus (around 2030) out of Killie. A wee ned has his feet up on a seat so the clippie says "Comfy?"
"Drongan" comes the reply.
Sgeir
Well-known member
Correct - that was fast. That's another pint IOU!
I'm jist nipping off to the bog.
I'm jist nipping off to the bog.
Superstrath
New member
[ QUOTE ]
As a Kilmarnock Laddie I am well acquainted with Ardrossan. Ardrossan as a cruising base is crap.
[/ QUOTE ]
How perverse of you. I think it's a very good base. Perhaps not the best, but certainly not crap. And I was brought up in Gosport.
Alistair
As a Kilmarnock Laddie I am well acquainted with Ardrossan. Ardrossan as a cruising base is crap.
[/ QUOTE ]
How perverse of you. I think it's a very good base. Perhaps not the best, but certainly not crap. And I was brought up in Gosport.
Alistair
jimi
Well-known member
Is it no a wee bit tight getting out of there in a cat?
Point I was making that as a base ther's nowhere terribly close that you can just "nip across" to for short daysails. Largs, Kip etc etc IMHO have more interesting places closer. However if your cruising is going for a long sail anyway, your base becomes almost irrelevant.
Point I was making that as a base ther's nowhere terribly close that you can just "nip across" to for short daysails. Largs, Kip etc etc IMHO have more interesting places closer. However if your cruising is going for a long sail anyway, your base becomes almost irrelevant.
Superstrath
New member
[ QUOTE ]
Is it no a wee bit tight getting out of there in a cat?
Point I was making that as a base ther's nowhere terribly close that you can just "nip across" to for short daysails. Largs, Kip etc etc IMHO have more interesting places closer. However if your cruising is going for a long sail anyway, your base becomes almost irrelevant.
[/ QUOTE ]
Fair enough. I love hearing the CG being told "Departing Largs, Bound Millport, anticipated duration of voyage.... errr.... ten minutes"
Although I have sailed to Lamlash in an hour and a half.
Took four to get back!!!
Yes, it is a bit tight with the Snowgoose, esp. if I'm not driving, although we have never touched the walls. Damn near got stuck in a gate in Crinan though.
Alistair
Alistair
Is it no a wee bit tight getting out of there in a cat?
Point I was making that as a base ther's nowhere terribly close that you can just "nip across" to for short daysails. Largs, Kip etc etc IMHO have more interesting places closer. However if your cruising is going for a long sail anyway, your base becomes almost irrelevant.
[/ QUOTE ]
Fair enough. I love hearing the CG being told "Departing Largs, Bound Millport, anticipated duration of voyage.... errr.... ten minutes"
Although I have sailed to Lamlash in an hour and a half.
Took four to get back!!!
Yes, it is a bit tight with the Snowgoose, esp. if I'm not driving, although we have never touched the walls. Damn near got stuck in a gate in Crinan though.
Alistair
Alistair
cindersailor
Member
Can't/don't want to afford the inflated prices at Kip/Largs. Rhu a little more reasonable, but still more than Ardrossan. Holy Loch looks good, but a pain to get to every time you fancy a quick sail, waiting for the ferry could add an hour to the return trip. So I am left with Ardrossan unless anyone has any other suggestions. How sheltered are the swinging moorings at Rhu?
Sgeir
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
How sheltered are the swinging moorings at Rhu?
[/ QUOTE ]
Open to the SE, but otherwise only heard good reports.
How sheltered are the swinging moorings at Rhu?
[/ QUOTE ]
Open to the SE, but otherwise only heard good reports.