Clyde Marina

[Clyder]

Clyde Marina

Just popped in from the "dark side" to ask the opinions of anybody based at Clyde Marina, Ardrossan.

I am thinking of moving here at the end of the season from Largs. Any advice, views or opinions about the place before I make the final decision??

Thanks

Clyde.

 

[Alistairr]

Re: Clyde Marina

I'm not based there, but was know the marina. This is just my view!
I think its a great well run and nice marina, the only downside I think, is the location!

I'm no expert, but too me it seems rather exposed, I'd be a lot happier further up the Clyde.

We had our first experience sailing(on a yacht!) out of Ardrossan on Sunday, and getting out of the harbour was interesting!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif But once out things got a bit more comfortable. I think the weather was blowing a F4-F5. Getting back into the marina was more comfortable but you have to be careful of the big black ferry coming and going!

However if i buy a yachts, I may keep it there for a little while and just pick and choose the days that we use it!

Spyro berths there, and will be able to tell you all you need to know.

Cheers

Al.

 

[Spyro]

Re: Clyde Marina

Like you I was previously at Largs. This is my third season at Ardrossan and have not regretted it. Reasons I moved were costs, berthing and lift in/out cheaper, free use of a cradle. At Largs if you don't have a cradle the mast has to come down (more cost) That will not bother a mobo though. All staff are very friendly and helpful. The new toilet/shower block has just opened and very nice it is too. The harbour area has greatly improved over the last couple of years with a new Italian restaurant/bar right at the marina entrance just opened this year.
Another advantage for me is I live 10mins drive away.
Downsides are as Alistair said it can be quite exposed and leaving the marina in a south westerlie can be exciting. If you prefer the cruising grounds nearer largs it is only 12 miles away also Brodick and Lamlash are about the same distance.
The ferry comes and goes every 2 and 3/4 hours and has priority. This is controlled by a light system it means the marina is closed for about 10-15mins while it enters and leaves Once you know the ferry times you can easily plan around it.

Security seems good with cameras and security guard on duty who patrols the pontoons regularly. Winter hard standing is on a fenced off area which is closed at night and accessed by a security gate

Any specific questions just ask.

Ian

 

[knightvision]

Re: Clyde Marina

We're at Ardrossan, now in our 2nd year. So far, so good. Easy access, well run, helpful staff. New shower block is definately an improvement. Close to asda, so provisioning is very easy.

Also it is great public transport access. I get on the sleeper on Friday night from London to Glasgow, get into Ardrossan just after 8am Saturday morning, sail until sunday afternoon and head south again, so I can afford this all.

 

[boozhound]

Re: Clyde Marina

I have been at Clyde now for a year and have enjoyed it. The marina itself is quite sheltered, but it occasionally can be interesting getting in and out under certain conditions. Having said that, as a comparative beginner, it has given me a lot more confidence getting the practice in rougher conditions and thus knowing I can handle the boat in these conditions. It's also good knowing that it once you are out there, the conditions are likely to be better as you go "up north". A short walk to the ferry terminal lets you see exactly what the sea is like. The staff are great and the area is beginning to pick up. There are still some planned improvements to be made in the area which should make it even more attractive. The train station is right next door. Amazingly Ardrossan has three stations!

We had a fantastic trip back from Kip two weekends ago in some pretty poor conditions and enjoyed every minute of it. Last weekend, having no crew, I sat in the marina all nice and sheltered with a glass or two of wine on Saturday, and then popped across to Arran on the ferry on Sunday for lunch. I even washed the boat as well. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gordonmc]

Re: Clyde Marina

Clyde was good for me some years ago and has very much improved since then. When I paid for a hole in the water there the harbourside development was an ambition, road access was through Stevenston and Saltcoats and the nearest decent watering/eating hole, the Lauriston had just started doing business.
The flats around the harbour have brought a facelift, security is improved as a result of more activity and moving the hard standing into an enclosure, the new by-pass cuts a good 20 minutes of the road journey and the old pump-house is getting good reports since Chechinis took over.
The big plus, of course, is the competitive pricing.
If I was considering a spell in a marina Clyde would be near top of the list.

 

[asteven221]

Re: Clyde Marina

I bought a boat from Sunbird at Clyde Marina and berthed it there until the end of March. Although the town is a bit run down, the marina itself is very good and now that the new shower block and restaraunt is opened it all looks even better. The new housing development adds to the ambience as well. I would say that the staff are the most friendly, helpful and knowledgable of all the marinas in the Clyde - certainly compared to the Largs and Kip. The downside for me is that it always seems really windy (and cold) but that might be just my bad luck as it was Feb to March after all we were there. The chandlers isn't very well stocked and seemed shut most of the time I needed sonmething. Other than the fact I live north of Glasgow and Kip Marina is closest to me, I would be quite happy to keep our boat at Clyde Marina and would be happy to recommend it.

 

[Sgeir]

Re: Clyde Marina

<ul type="square">1 The guys on the dock who lift your boat in and out are brilliant - really, really professional and helpful;
2 The charges are pretty good compared with other locations;
3 The security is less than impressive;
4 On balance, we're comfortable about going back there;
5 We shall shall take precautions against theft, especially while on the hard. [/list]

 

[Steve_N]

Re: Clyde Marina

The new housing development adds to the ambience as well

Clyde marina has a lot to recommend it (see all above), but I don't think 'ambience' is high up there on the list.

I recall one summer's evening sitting out in the cockpit 'listening' to all the free music blaring out of every other flat's open French windows, and watching the good residents gobbing off their balconies on to the passers by below.

There's a local joke that Ardrossan was going to be twinned with Beirut... but the residents of Beirut were up in arms about it.
/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Sgeir]

Re: Clyde Marina

[ QUOTE ]
I recall one summer's evening sitting out in the cockpit 'listening' to all the free music blaring out of every other flat's open French windows, and watching the good residents gobbing off their balconies on to the passers by below.

[/ QUOTE ]Sorry, but I really find that hard to believe.

We have moored along the pontoon closest to the flats for parts of two, and probably three, maybe four, seasons, and never, repeat, never, heard "music blaring out of every other flat's open French windows".

Yes, there was, in 2005 as I recall, one culprit causing extreme discomfort, through noise pollution, to other apartment residents, and to people on boats.

As for "good residents gobbing off their balconies on to the passers by below"; well, you appear to suggest suggest that anti-social behaviour like that is typical. Well, we never, repeat, never, saw one instance even remotely like that.

In fact, I used to enjoy talking to the passers by while I was on our boat there. A lot of the local people had experience of sailing small boats, fishing (angling and professional), diving, and harbour work. In fact, many of the people who bought those apartments did so precisely because of their interest in the sea and the harbour. A wealth of experience imho.

I should be most interested to learn if any other Ardrossan based sailors have had similar experiences.

You might not like Ardrossan, and that's fair enough; it's a matter of personal opinion. But I believe that your characterisation of the people there is unfair and fundamentally misconstrued.

 

[Clyder]

Re: Clyde Marina

Thanks one and all for your advice and input. The exposure to south easterlies was something I was wary of, and this has confirmed them.

I'm still not sure of the "openess" of the place....I like the idea of having Cumbrae as shelter.!!!

Thanks again,

Clyde

 

[Sgeir]

Re: Clyde Marina

There is no issue with south easterlies imho (although there can be in manoeuvring in strong sixish SEs at Largs, in my experience - we were there for a couple of years). I'm pretty certain that Ardrossan is much more sheltered in a SE.

The prevailing wind is SW and that's where the biggest seas usually come from. Leaving Ardrossan in a SW 5, is no problem at all imho, although I'd guess a few hours of 6 would be uncomfortable until clear of the breakwater and Horse Island.

We've come in a six, but the waves weren't much and it wasn't an issue. Above that, if it had been sustained, I agree that it may be ill advised. The gates to the inner harbour are closed in serious gales or storms.