Clyde Marinas
- Thread starter Jodel
- Start date
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
I was based in the Gareloch (mooring at Clynder) for a couple of years and had a similar experience. Shorter trips to Ardentinny, Carrick Castle and Lochgoilhead; longer ones always had that three hour bash to and from Toward. Not that the upper Clyde isn't nice, but it's more limited and I am not personally enamoured of the omnipresent carriers of genocide.
scottie
Well-known member
Rare occurrence I would say picked a bad day ?
mrangry
Active member
I looked at this choice last year noting the following points:
Rhu - Too far away from sailing grounds and not particularly cheap
James Watt - Easy access by road and reasonable amenities nearby but a slog to sail anywhere from Greenock. Cheapest in Clyde alongside Ardrossan.
Kip - Sheltered, good road access. Shocking marina management and overpriced
Largs - By far the best position for sailing grounds being sheltered with reasonable road access. Good amenities but the berthing costs were eye watering compared to the others
Ardrossan - Good road access, excellent staff onsite, not the best amenities nearby but Asda and railway station. Can be rough in certain conditions entering or leaving
Troon - Good marina with good access and amenities nearby. Too far south really for sailing anywhere
I also considered others like Portavadie, Port Bannatyne and Holy Loch but their prices didnt really reflect the extra travel distance from the central belt. I ended up for now at Ardrossan being the least expensive alongside James Watt. Whilst I liked Largs I just couldn't stomach paying £2500 over what James Watt or Ardrossan for an annual berth. After launching I may consider a swing mooring but I have been spoiled on a marina berth so will have to check out the rates before deciding
Rhu - Too far away from sailing grounds and not particularly cheap
James Watt - Easy access by road and reasonable amenities nearby but a slog to sail anywhere from Greenock. Cheapest in Clyde alongside Ardrossan.
Kip - Sheltered, good road access. Shocking marina management and overpriced
Largs - By far the best position for sailing grounds being sheltered with reasonable road access. Good amenities but the berthing costs were eye watering compared to the others
Ardrossan - Good road access, excellent staff onsite, not the best amenities nearby but Asda and railway station. Can be rough in certain conditions entering or leaving
Troon - Good marina with good access and amenities nearby. Too far south really for sailing anywhere
I also considered others like Portavadie, Port Bannatyne and Holy Loch but their prices didnt really reflect the extra travel distance from the central belt. I ended up for now at Ardrossan being the least expensive alongside James Watt. Whilst I liked Largs I just couldn't stomach paying £2500 over what James Watt or Ardrossan for an annual berth. After launching I may consider a swing mooring but I have been spoiled on a marina berth so will have to check out the rates before deciding
scottie
Well-known member
Did you get your propeller sorted out?
mrangry
Active member
Hi Scottie no not yet. Shes out the water and cant see anything obviously wrong with the folder. I am trying to find out what fixed 3 blade size and pitch she came with originally before I decide on a new Darglow feathering unit or a grubby old 3 blade fixed
roblpm
Well-known member
At the risk of thread drift.... How do you find it? All this talk of marinas is making me feel a bit poor....
JumbleDuck
Well-known member
mrangry
Active member
Ah yes seems there is a typo.....£1500
Spyro
Well-known member
Largs is a good choice as long as you don’t mind it being more than £1000 a year more expensive than Ardrossan for a boat around 32ft
wully1
Well-known member
Ah...the ambience of nuclear reactors and coal jetties.... not quite a Solent oil terminal though
awol
Well-known member
Just follow the signs to Western Ferries
I have known the place all my life and much prefer the swinging mooring to parking in a boat lot but then a longish keel isn't very marina friendly. Anchorage is maybe a bit open, Cardwell Bay is more sheltered but the services of Phil, the boatman, and the launch make boarding very simple and convenient + he is remarkable in his observation of problems. Club is friendly and has a long history of racing though could do with rekindling. Cost ~£450 p.a. membership plus a mooring, say £1000 to buy, and ~£200 service per year. There is a strong connection with JWD.
scottie
Well-known member
Subject to tides and wash from passing traffic not the place you would linger any more than neededJust follow the signs to Western Ferries
I have known the place all my life and much prefer the swinging mooring to parking in a boat lot but then a longish keel isn't very marina friendly. Anchorage is maybe a bit open, Cardwell Bay is more sheltered but the services of Phil, the boatman, and the launch make boarding very simple and convenient + he is remarkable in his observation of problems. Club is friendly and has a long history of racing though could do with rekindling. Cost ~£450 p.a. membership plus a mooring, say £1000 to buy, and ~£200 service per year. There is a strong connection with JWD.
awol
Well-known member
Absolutely! It's a place to keep your boat and from which to go sailing. If you want to climb the mast, do what I do and pop round to Kip or JWD. If you want a night on board, pop over to Holy Loch, Ardentinny, Lunderston Bay, etc. depending on the wind and drop the hook - all give a much better view in the morning than a marina.
dunedin
Well-known member
Ah...the ambience of nuclear reactors and coal jetties.... not quite a Solent oil terminal though
It’s nice looking west from the Largs side - agree not so nice in the other direction.
Mind you not sure Kip and Ardrossan have much view in either direction ;-)
Stooriefit
Active member
I've been in all of these marinas over the years. Like the OP I'm the same journey time from all of the Clyde based ones and so that ceases to be an issue. One thing you should consider is how much time you want to sail rather than motor. One of the things that annoyed me about Rhu was the time I spent motoring to get anywhere (ie to the Kyles and beyond).
I'm currently at Ardrossan and whilst I agree with the comments about the town and sea at the entrance (in certain wind strengths / directions) you will get a lot of actual sailing. Seldom do I have to motor anywhere and I find it a pleasure to actually set the sails up and sit back and enjoy the ride for several hours. Having been in Troon over the years as well the same applies. The staff at both are excellent.
I don't know if Largs has changed but I always felt a second class citizen - at that time there was a large, I think, Sunsail fleet which seemed to be the most important thing. Also any events being organised by the sailing club caused thecae parking to be full. In my experience the toilets were always a state and I used the sailing club ones instead. But things may have changed......
Kip annoyed me to moving my boat twice during one season without as much as a phone call......
I'm currently at Ardrossan and whilst I agree with the comments about the town and sea at the entrance (in certain wind strengths / directions) you will get a lot of actual sailing. Seldom do I have to motor anywhere and I find it a pleasure to actually set the sails up and sit back and enjoy the ride for several hours. Having been in Troon over the years as well the same applies. The staff at both are excellent.
I don't know if Largs has changed but I always felt a second class citizen - at that time there was a large, I think, Sunsail fleet which seemed to be the most important thing. Also any events being organised by the sailing club caused thecae parking to be full. In my experience the toilets were always a state and I used the sailing club ones instead. But things may have changed......
Kip annoyed me to moving my boat twice during one season without as much as a phone call......
dunedin
Well-known member
Sounds like your Largs experience is a decade or more out of date. Sun sail have been gone from Largs for a very long time. And I have never found the toilets to be “in a state”.
The marina parking is behind a barrier, separate from the Sailing Club and public car parks. The marina car parks have also been extended and much more tarmac area in summer.
Clearly when very big events are on, such as an Optimist National Championship, the marina car parking area is used as well. But everybody I know is proud for a large to be hosting young sailors, and it is “all hands to the pumps“ to help.
(Indeed our boat was committee boat for one major Olympic class World Championships)
SaltIre
Well-known member
Kip's a bit nicer with the FBC gone... The entrance seems a bit more exposed than Largs.
Kikitoo
New member
May I suggest that when you can, you pop down the coast, take s look yourself, talk to the marinas, get quotes, decide what takes your fancy. Everyone has views, everyone has different criteria and depth of pockets. And I speak from 20 plus years around the Clyde, all different but finding is part of the experience. All good fun, just enjoy your new adventure!
iain789
Active member
I was in Troon for 10 tears before I moved to Craobh. Much is made of the swell at the harbour mouth, but I never found it a problem. I try not to sail in SW gales!
The outer harbour is perfect for setting the sails, organising fenders and preparing the boat for sea, the staff are helpful and friendly, Troon has good choice of places to eat and drink, including Scotts at the marina.
It is indeed 12 miles of open sea before you get anywhere of interest, but if you are interested in sailing that should be a positive attribute. If you are planning to go up the West Coast or to Ireland you are 10 miles closer to the Mull of Kintyre than Largs. The marina is completely sheltered with no problem of swell inside the harbour, and only the most violent of storms will prevent use of the pontoons
Have a good look at Troon before you decide!
The outer harbour is perfect for setting the sails, organising fenders and preparing the boat for sea, the staff are helpful and friendly, Troon has good choice of places to eat and drink, including Scotts at the marina.
It is indeed 12 miles of open sea before you get anywhere of interest, but if you are interested in sailing that should be a positive attribute. If you are planning to go up the West Coast or to Ireland you are 10 miles closer to the Mull of Kintyre than Largs. The marina is completely sheltered with no problem of swell inside the harbour, and only the most violent of storms will prevent use of the pontoons
Have a good look at Troon before you decide!