Clyde marinas

If price is the deciding factor........

Sandpoint is less expensive although lacks many of the facilities that you may want.

http://www.sandpoint-marina.co.uk/

I'm also going to the Clyde next year, we called in last year and had a great time based in Portavadie (that's where we are going back too) I had forgotten how good the cruising is in the Clyde. The down side for us, like you is the traveling but "hey ho" one has to make sacrifices :)

Tom
 
We have just moved to Troon from Whitehaven. Before that we had several years in Kip.
We loved Kip but the cost was getting too much and the traveling form the midlands was a pain, the rush hour traffic through Glasgow was not good. Not sure how the M74 extension has helped now though. Our problem was if we left around lunch time we would hit Glasgow at rush hour, the choice was to go around by largs and up the coast which put another 40mis on the trip.

We moved south to Whitehaven last year and cut the travel time from 4 1/2 to 3 hrs. But we found the sailing restrictive and stressful with the sea lock, tides and exposed coast line. There were limited options for day/short hop sailing. It was cheap but we found that we were not using the boat as much as before.

So we decided to go back to the clyde this year, and have been in Troon for a couple of months now. It seems to be working out for us and cost wise it is half way between Kip and Whitehaven. We dont have to go through Glasgow now and it takes us about 1 1/4 hrs more in the car than whaven. There is plenty of choice for short trips with destinations offering shelter in diffrent wind directions. With no tidal constraints passage planing is a lot easier.

Troon seems like a nice wee town just a short walk away with plenty of small indpendant shops, a good choice of pubs and resturants, that we are working through! There is a Chandlers which we missed having in Whitehaven, and all the marina staff seem helpful and friendly.

Sure it is more exposed than the marinas further north, but the down side of them is extra berthing cost and travel time.
We did consider Ardrossan, but the cost saving is small compared to Troon, and Troon is a much nicer place to be really.
One other thing to consider is that Largs and Troon are in the same group and annual berthholders can vist Largs FOC.

However we have never seen Largs as that attractive, a bit to big and too far away for the town. Considering it is about the same price as Kip I would always choose Kip.
 
There are pros and cons to them all - we have stuck with Clyde Marina at Ardrossan for 5 years because :

One third cheaper than other mainland marinas
Pontoons well spaced and substantial (concrete)
Staff excellent and a very flexible attitude
All trades who work at the Marina we have found brilliant
Storm gate for winter, solid (free of charge) steel cradles on the hard & shed storage
ASDA for supplies plus a couple of half decent restaurants handy

For us its only 40 mins from the south side of Glasgow & connected to the motorway network (one set of traffic lights!) and we have a house on Arran so its "on the way"

The only downside is it can be a bit exposed (albeit this is mainly for the first half mile out past Horse Island) and the nearest place to visit is probably not much less than 6 miles away - Ardrossan town is also a bit downmarket.

SWMBO noticed the water is always more sheltered once you get up to the Cumbraes & there are much more places to do day sails from Largs. Seems good location and a bit of a social thing going on there plus a nice restaurant so on her instructions we popped in a couple of times this year to check it out ... but we found it a bit busy, cramped, take it or leave it and third more expensive - plus the marina itself can be a pretty gusty place to be (im told there are plans to build up the breakwater) not to mention the coal dust which could be a pain.

I guess they are all a compromise - heard good things about Port Bannatyne the downside is you need to drive alomst as far as Kip then get a ferry to Bute plus the facilities are a little bit under developed so far.

Troon town more upmarket than Ardrossan and the marina is fine but similarly exposed - I guess its handy for Prestwick airport driving wise it will be much similar to Ardrossan ... I have always perceived it as further away from everywhere but lots keep boats there.

Kip looks good but expensive we find it awkward to get to from the southside of Glasgow it proabably wouldn't take much longer as long if yopu can avoid the M8 westbound at busy times or during roadworks - not something I have ever achieved !
 
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An advantage of Troon over Ardrossan is the large outer harbour. Ideal shelter for sorting out warps, sails and fenders when arriving or departing.
Except for that, Troon has few advantages IMHO, the 7 or 8 extra miles going N. to the Cumbraes can be tedious.
 
Fairlie moorings

I was wondering how sheltered fairlie is for moorings?
I like the idea of being that far up the the firth but my current insurance provider wont cover Fairlie, is that a common exclusion?
 
earlybird said:
An advantage of Troon over Ardrossan is the large outer harbour. Ideal shelter for sorting out warps, sails and fenders when arriving or departing.
.
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I Always manage to do that behind the breakwater at Ardrossan if it's a bit lumpy outside.
 
This really is excellent info that you are all passing on. It is the sort of knowledge you just cant find elsewhere so thanks to everyone.
The plan is to move the boat up in April next year so plenty of time to mull it over, i must admit i am still very much undecided as they all seem to have their good and bad points.
I think it may be worth a trip up to visit the various options before commiting.

Again thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply, i suspect this will be a helpful thread for many other people with the same idea as me.
 
tyce said:
Again thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply, i suspect this will be a helpful thread for many other people with the same idea as me.
Click to expand...

That was what was worrying me! All this good intentioned advice makes the Clyde sound like a good place to be for our southern cousins and might even encourage them to migrate. Perhaps if the marinas applied the same principles as Scottish universities - free to the autochthons and £7k a pop to others - I could applaud their arrival.
But I thought it had been agreed that all such threads were to receive a mandatory diatribe listing the natural perils to be found north of the Mull of Galloway including, but not limited to, man-eating midges, deep-fried Mars bars, mountainous seas populated by unspeakable monsters, unfriendly natives given to burning populated wickermen, pubs where the inadvertent wearing of green or blue could mean scarring for life, weather of unremitting diluvial dampness, etc..

Edit: I am advised the going rate for a decent education is actually £9kp.a.
 
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Scotland

I'm afraid it starts further south, the North Channel is listed in Admiralty sailing directions as one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the UK.:D
Stearman65
 
Ref. AWOL, he is exaggerating, the Clyde is not that bad and you can visit lots of other marinas.
The place to avoid is the West Coast, all the hazards mentioned, plus incessant rain, big hard rocks, deep deep dark water and roaring tides, diddley dee music and millions of midges per cubic metre of air.
You will be OK as far as Tarbert or Campbeltown but venture further and you might never return.
More bad news, by the way, reliably reported that the hair straighteners have gone.
 
Quandary said:
You will be OK as far as Tarbert or Campbeltown but venture further and you might never return.
More bad news, by the way, reliably reported that the hair straighteners have gone.
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I wouldn't recommend wearing the wrong jersey in pubs in either of those towns - and as for Rothesay ........
The hair straighteners were stolen (Babyliss £8.99) presumably by someone with 240v on their boat (and hair). I despair of my fellow man!
 
Quandary said:
Ref. AWOL, he is exaggerating, the Clyde is not that bad and you can visit lots of other marinas.
The place to avoid is the West Coast, all the hazards mentioned, plus incessant rain, big hard rocks, deep deep dark water and roaring tides, diddley dee music and millions of midges per cubic metre of air.
You will be OK as far as Tarbert or Campbeltown but venture further and you might never return.
More bad news, by the way, reliably reported that the hair straighteners have gone.
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Stop bigging the place up - its really far worse than you make out..
 
Can I suggest you try driving up for a weekend without boat, sometime over the winter. This will give you a better feel for the drive.
Places like Tarbert, Portavadie etc are lovely - but the extra drive time twice a weekend could be a real pain with kids. But each to their own preference, so do the trip to see
 
troon

tyce said:
Thankyou everyone lots of helpful info.
Good detective work, the boat is 31 foot and happy to take it up myself under its own power so no nasty delivery costs.
I am guessing Adrossan (clyde) Marina can get a little exposed with limited access is this correct.
I do like the idea of Largs but as stated its eye wateringly expensive but might be worth the extra for one year.
What are others opinions on Troon?
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From personal experience, many on here may recall. I would not give any recommendation to Troon marina. The town & access to Glasgow etc are great though. pm only if you want further info
 
its all relative, the big marinas are all cheap on the clyde compaired to further south. You need to try a few out then decide. Ardrossan is a great winter berth, and the train and bus stop on the marina, theres a super market right outside.
I got a a quote year before last winter berth £900 for my 10 mtr boat.
 
Unfortunately outwith Kip Cruising Club max length at Kip Marina This Club have an agreement with Kip Marina for a limited amount of members at reduced rates. Contact Club Secretary for details.
 
Why not try a swing mooring in Millport bay during the summer and a berth in Largs during the winter works out about £1350 a year for a 27 footer
 
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