Clyde - James Watt dock

dslittle said:
How often do you intend coming up over the winter? I ask because we have kept our boat at Campbeltown for the last couple of winter very successfully BUT it is a long drive past the mainland marinas - 3 hours on from Glasgow. The 926 will bring you out if you have half a day to spare but will not take dogs (caused a slight problem last November trying to leave but resolved thanks to very helpful locals!!!). Ferry runs from Ardrossan during the summer which makes access easy then.

Boat stays in the water so available for use during the not infrequent weather windows with great access to all points North, South and West. Superb range of whisky on non sailing days. Relatively small set up with great personal service and very safe and secure - only real 'problem' is anything with East in it which is unusual. Good facilities ashore but no lift out or storage ashore and very limited options for chandlery (although you can get anything sent - if couriers will venture this far into the wilderness...). Ardshiel Hotel will happily put you up if weather really bad (and have nearly 2000 Malts to sample so stays are not arduous). Tesco's and Co-Op in town so you will not go hungry or normal restaurants and carry-outs.

You won't believe the prices if I tell you so look them up for yourself. Suffice to say it compensates for my petrol and time!!!

All I need to do is another couple of reviews and I will get my Argyll and Bute Tourism Board Badge!!!
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Went there as a visitor recently. Despite paying, there was no wifi, electricity nor female showers. Maybe a one-off but....
 
claymore said:
Rather like Blackpool International Airport. You land within sight of the Tower but its a fair trog into town. This isn't that useful a comparison as Blackpool is shut - do the Military still use Machrihanish?
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No, they're long gone. It's owned by a local community company now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Machrihanish is a bit confused (Wikipedia? Surely not?) about whether it could still be re-opened as an RAF base, but I think it just hasn't been updated proper;y since the buyout. Of course there is no reason why military aircraft couldn't use it from time to time, just like any other airport.
 
I've been in both James Watt dock and Kip Marina. We moved from Kip to JWDM because of the better access from the motorway system; when driving nearly 400 miles from the Cambridge region, the extra 20 minutes from the M8 to Kip was a bit of a pain. As far as facilities go, it's swings and roundabouts. The pontoons and security at JWDM are MUCH better than Kip; the security especially - but as others have hinted, without good security it wouldn't be a viable proposition! Also, cars are parked within the security perimeter at JWDM; they are outside it at Kip. The pontoons are excellent - higher out of the water than many, and surfaced with an excellent non-slip grating (made of recycled GRP, I was told). Shoreside, there is the possibility of substantial under-cover storage at JWDM in the old sugar sheds as well as normal yard storage, which must be on a cradle (no oil-drums and pit-props!). Kip has better shore-side facilities; the ones at JWDM are portakabin based (or were when I left at the beginning of 2016). Kip, of course, has purpose built shower and washing facilities, and a reasonable restaurant on-site (JWDM has no on-site dining facilities). Kip has a boat hoist; this is not an option at JWDM because the dock is a heritage structure, and can't be modified to accommodate a hoist. It matters because JWDM has to use a mobile crane to lift boats, which is fine but can't operate in winds exceeding (I think) 20 knots. Their crane is also a bit temperamental and I have had a launch delayed by a combination of the crane being out of action and the weather not cooperating.

Capricious was actually the first boat to move to JWDM, and I was sorry to leave the place when the realities of too long a journey began to bite; Capricious is now at Titchmarsh Marina, a mere 90 miles from home!

As far as sailing goes, it depends what you want to do. The Gare Loch, Loch Long, Loch Goil and Holy Loch are easy day sails there and back and are very scenic but the wind can vary rapidly in both strength and direction! But if you're going further to the Kyles of Bute and points South, you're probably looking at an overnight stop somewhere (we used the pontoon at the National Water Sports Centre on Great Cumbrae quite often).

Cost-wise, Kip is dearer than JWDM, but I think the gap is closing as Kip react to the new economic realities and as JWDM gets past the initial period when it was trying to attract boats! JWDM is MUCH closer to Cartsdyke station than Kip is to InverKip station, and it is also a flatter walk!
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Cost-wise, Kip is dearer than JWDM, but I think the gap is closing as Kip react to the new economic realities and as JWDM gets past the initial period when it was trying to attract boats! JWDM is MUCH closer to Cartsdyke station than Kip is to InverKip station, and it is also a flatter walk!
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I meant to add before that in good weather the walk from Largs Marina to Largs is an easy and pleasant one along a level seaside path. It's twenty minutes, but not the worst twenty minutes you'll ever spend. I tend to provision at Largs by walking to Morrisons and getting a taxi back ... the local taxi drivers are very used to this.
 
JWD, Kip, Ardrossan and Largs all have very convenient train stations. The blethering on this thread about distances, muggings and hills are irrelevant if a train station is an important factor in your choice, all rank equal in my opinion on this regard.

As for motorway JWD is inconvenient for regular cruising compared to Kip and Largs which more than offsets the 20 minutes from the end of the M8 to Kip or Largs, in my opinion.
 
Some great info. Not clear whether the OP is planning to winter afloat or ashore, or how often likely to be on the boat over the winter.
There is likely to be plenty of capacity most places to winter afloat (there certainly is currently - perhaps JWD may become an exception), so it may be worth staying flexible and looking at the alternatives when you get up here.
Indeed you could end up falling in love with Ardfern/Craobh etc.

For what it is worth, I think JWD is a good option to consider - and currently is good value for money for the more accessible locations. Personally I much prefer Largs to Kip - both have great facilities but Largs better ambience and with views of the Cumbrae, Bute and Arran from the marina plus all easily accessible for day or weekend sails (done 3 day sails from Largs already in 2017 :-).
But others have different preferences, which is all good.
 
Thanks all for the extended intelligence, very helpful.

We will be spending the summer aboard, no weekend commute sailing anymore, and if it is safe to stay afloat for the winter we would and then snatch the odd winter week afloat when the weather suited.

we have a Nauticat, an ideal higher latitude boat we think, we can helm from the pilot house if it's cold and wet outside. More importantly we can be inside and have the outside view whilst at anchor. It has to be done!
 
As a local, (with 13 year blow-in status), I think it is time Awol Jumbleduck et al stopped trying to sell off our meagre paucity of facilities to furreners who bring their boats up here and then visit them once a year for a week and a half, spend most of that time explaining what great value our berths are compared to daaan south to all the greedy marina operators along the coast. Like second homes, boats that are not used at least every month should be taxed to oblivion.
I know the OP is going to the Clyde and there is not much harm in that but after a year or two he will realize its limitations and then turn up out here on the West Coast.
 
Which bit of "Stay in the south where it is warm and dry and the natives are friendly. Up here it is cold, wet and the "Wicker Man" is a tourist information film." was an encouragement? I forget how many £M were forecast to be generated by marine tourism in the last in-depth analysis by stake-holders so they have to come from somewhere. I am all in favour of a non-user/resident tax - after May's comedy turn two days ago, the ability to decide and apply such impôts seems a lot closer.
 
Quandary said:
As a local, (with 13 year blow-in status), I think it is time Awol Jumbleduck et al stopped trying to sell off our meagre paucity of facilities to furreners who bring their boats up here and then visit them once a year for a week and a half, spend most of that time explaining what great value our berths are compared to daaan south to all the greedy marina operators along the coast. Like second homes, boats that are not used at least every month should be taxed to oblivion.
I know the OP is going to the Clyde and there is not much harm in that but after a year or two he will realize its limitations and then turn up out here on the West Coast.
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Calm down dear, the weather and midges will see them off. :D Do you want me to start a thread about ticks?
 
If the poop really hits the fan with current political processes, then Scotland may need all the tourist groats it can get it's hands on.
 
awol said:
Which bit of "Stay in the south where it is warm and dry and the natives are friendly. Up here it is cold, wet and the "Wicker Man" is a tourist information film." was an encouragement? I forget how many £M were forecast to be generated by marine tourism in the last in-depth analysis by stake-holders so they have to come from somewhere. I am all in favour of a non-user/resident tax - after May's comedy turn two days ago, the ability to decide and apply such impôts seems a lot closer.
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£130 million.....
 
awol said:
Which bit of "Stay in the south where it is warm and dry and the natives are friendly. Up here it is cold, wet and the "Wicker Man" is a tourist information film." was an encouragement? I forget how many £M were forecast to be generated by marine tourism in the last in-depth analysis by stake-holders so they have to come from somewhere. I am all in favour of a non-user/resident tax - after May's comedy turn two days ago, the ability to decide and apply such impôts seems a lot closer.
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Jeez man, I thought that you of all people would have an irony detector built in.
 
Trop Cher said:
Err, on the West Coast, you need five generations in the local cemetery before you can claim that title! :)
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You are quite right, of course, my apologies, I should have used 'resident' but was trying to exaggerate my importance, are you sure five will be enough?
I did though admit to achieving 'blow in' category which after the mandatory ten years qualification I have proudly enjoyed in full for now for three.
 
Quandary said:
I know the OP is going to the Clyde and there is not much harm in that but after a year or two he will realize its limitations and then turn up out here on the West Coast.
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You'll notice that we are encouraging her/him into marinas. And that nobody has recommended Ardrishaig, although anyone who can survive a five minute walk in Greenock has to have at least a 50-50 chance in Ardrishaig.
 
Don't worry gents, I don't want to colonise Scotland, simply to sail in your waters, enjoy your scenery, shake your hand, contribute to your economy and learn to drink your whiskey (cant stand the stuff). And then after a couple of years I'll clear 'orf to the Baltic. Is that a deal? Am I welcome with my boat?
 
Robih said:
Don't worry gents, I don't want to colonise Scotland, simply to sail in your waters, enjoy your scenery, shake your hand, contribute to your economy and learn to drink your whiskey (cant stand the stuff). And then after a couple of years I'll clear 'orf to the Baltic. Is that a deal? Am I welcome with my boat?
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Of course you're welcome, but you'll have to learn how to spell the cratur.
 
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