Clyde Marinas

[magicol]

Since having our boat on the Clyde, four years now, we have visited all the marinas and never regretted our permanent choice of Kip. It has a good chandlers and several specialist contractors if needed. Our berth is very sheltered although I take the point that those in line with the entrance can be exposed. I particularly like the long pontoon fingers and the space between boats. Always plenty of room. But above all, we have found that the two young lads who now manage the marina are friendly, helpful and always willing to support. For much of the last year we have not been able to get to the boat but the team at Kip will always check, fix or change things for us, usually sending photographs or videos to keep us reassured. So far, never been let down.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

... friendly, helpful and always willing to support. For much of the last year we have not been able to get to the boat but the team at Kip will always check, fix or change things for us, usually sending photographs or videos to keep us reassured. So far, never been let down.

Fred Drift. Craobh, the same owners as Kip, are exactly the same, very proactive to berth holders during lock down, customer focused, but they all are, Largs were very helpful with me over an issue. It also is worth stating that as both Kip and Craobh Marina are owned by the same company, as is Fairlie Quay, you can get some inter marina benefits. For example, last year, I came from Craobh, my home berth, and stayed at Kip for a good few weeks at no extra charge.

To the OP, worth checking loyalty schemes offered by the marinas and other benefits. Before you know it, 5 years has gone by .....

 

[magicol]

Fred Drift. Craobh, the same owners as Kip, are exactly the same, very proactive to berth holders during lock down, customer focused, but they all are, Largs were very helpful with me over an issue. It also is worth stating that as both Kip and Craobh Marina are owned by the same company, as is Fairlie Quay, you can get some inter marina benefits. For example, last year, I came from Craobh, my home berth, and stayed at Kip for a good few weeks at no extra charge.

To the OP, worth checking loyalty schemes offered by the marinas and other benefits. Before you know it, 5 years has gone by .....

Agreed, definitely worth looking into this aspect. We are planning the reverse this summer, pandemic permitting, with a first trip round to Craobh. Really looking forward to it.

 

[alan_d]

Kip's a bit nicer with the FBC gone... The entrance seems a bit more exposed than Largs.

FBC - that'll be the Frightfully Big Chimney.

 

[ProMariner]

If you're after a quiet place, where you don't have to leave the marina, Kip.
If you want somewhere with lots happening, and plenty of local entertainments and events, Largs.
If you want a safe and secure place to look after your boat without costing an arm, both Ardrossan and James Watt have advantages, think I would choose James Watt if my goal was exploring inside the Mull, of Ardrossan if I was usually headed further afield. Neither are places you want to walk about after dark without a local guide, but both have supermarkets and secure parking, and first rate marinas and boatyards.
Rhu and Gairloch have a lot of untapped potential, various swinging moorings options in the Gareloch would suit the time rich.

 

[Martin&Rene]

+1 for Largs from a sailing viewpoint.
Yes it is not cheap, but it is good that you actually see them do something with your money. Almost every year, since we have been there (10 years), there has been a big winter project. Breakwater raised by 1 m. total marina dredged by over 1m , new pontoons, new piling, large parts of the car park tarmacadamed, wifi continually improved, improved security access system etc. Then there are the little things, freshwater tank for flushing outboards, an outside sink, with hot & cold water for washing brushes etc,and good recycling bins.

Some other marinas struggle to do even essential maintenance.

It would seem a lot of people have not been near the Largs Channel recently. The coal handling plant has gone and that has obviously cut out the occasional dust problem.

 

[FlyingGoose]

I’ve been in ardrossan for four years now and have had nothing but extremely amazing service , and looked after by all staff, , it is one of the cheaper options , although price is not your issue But kip is outrageous in my opinion ,
Ardrossan harbour is nice enough , spent plenty times on the boat with a wee dram , people are friendly , and honest and I do not go t my boat to wander around town, unless I go To ASDA
It is a hour sail to Arran , the Mull is close by and THe upper Clyde is there as well
I have two boats beside me that left Largs to come to ardrossan because of the other boaters. I cannot comment , but have been in RHU and KIP over the years and I prefer my neighbours to be a little more down to earth.
The fetch as said can be alarming going into ardrossan , and from sun suddenly to a full gale waiting for the blooming ferry to move can be fun !!! But over all I like it down to earth , great staff, and nice neighbours , and a thrill ride in ,

 

[Homer Simpson's Lovechild]

It is a hour sail to Arran , the Mull is close by and THe upper Clyde is there as well

An hour sail to Arran if you can sustain 12 kts !
Otherwise +1 for Ardrossan for all the above reasons . Dirty chop at the entrance is biggest drawback for short day sails compared to Largs but the Grand I save in fees makes up for that in my book .

 

[FlyingGoose]

An hour sail to Arran if you can sustain 12 kts !
Otherwise +1 for Ardrossan for all the above reasons . Dirty chop at the entrance is biggest drawback for short day sails compared to Largs but the Grand I save in fees makes up for that in my book .

How do you know im not , perhaps I'm flying or in a large power boat or even a nuclear submarine, anam cara come say hello always s friendly, happy and polite

 

[Kikitoo]

Agreed, definitely worth looking into this aspect. We are planning the reverse this summer, pandemic permitting, with a first trip round to Craobh. Really looking forward to it.

I'd suggest you check if you can get some for like berth swap to Craobh from Kip. It's very popular in the summer, understandably so.

 

[CapPugwash]

We did a delivery to Ardrossan and the marina is ok, and right by the station. The town however.. half the shops were boarded up, and there were drug addicts staggering around the High St.
There's a great pub, run by an ex-Para, probably the safest place in town...

which Pub is that? I was based in Ardrossan for several years but never tried any of the pubs.

I have to say that from my experience they are best marina for looking after you and your boat. We're on a mooring now.

 

[Gary Fox]

which Pub is that? I was based in Ardrossan for several years but never tried any of the pubs.

I have to say that from my experience they are best marina for looking after you and your boat. We're on a mooring now.

I can't remember the name, it's a short walk from the marina though.

 

[penfold]

At the risk of thread drift.... How do you find it? All this talk of marinas is making me feel a bit poor....

Moorings at Rhu or Fairlie seem like a reasonable compromise, dinghy out to the boat and motor into the pontoon for the management to board.

 

[davidpbo]

It's looking like it's Largs then! The only previous time that I have been to Kip was by road about 15 years ago and the burn that runs through the marina was an absolute raging torrent. All the boats at that end of the marina were either being blasted against their pontoons or were stretching at their ropes. Not a good thing to see.

As it was when we were there last year. We were sheltering from a storm.

 

[JumbleDuck]

As it was when we were there last year. We were sheltering from a storm.

I am told that Largs can be spectacular in a strong easterly, though have never seen that myself.

 

[dimdav]

which Pub is that? I was based in Ardrossan for several years but never tried any of the pubs.

It will be Charlies Bar on Glasgow St. I reckon the giant para cap badge on the front kind of gives it away

 

[Martin&Rene]

Jumbleduck commented
Quote
I am told that Largs can be spectacular in a strong easterly, though have never seen that myself.
Unquote

Yes it can be windy in an easterly, especially at the higher berth numbers, but we have just developed a mooring technique that we always use, with my wife as the helm, when we are being blown into our berth. We have never hit the main walkway yet. Other people just have permanently rigged shore based mid-springs set up on pick up posts. Compared to Kip though, there is very little swell in the Largs Marina.

 

[yotter]

I have been at Kip for years. It is very sleltered in most wind directions except West to Northwest. The hill to the south with the trees provides good shelter from the prevailing SW wind. I find that once through the entrance it is very placid. We live locally (a few hundred metres south of our berth, on said hill) and do a lot of day sails, so quite familar with the local conditions.

 

[GTom]

Moorings at Rhu or Fairlie seem like a reasonable compromise, dinghy out to the boat and motor into the pontoon for the management to board.

Fairlie seems a bit exposed to me:

 

[penfold]

Those weren't on Fairlie Quay moorings. It isn't very exposed, at most a fetch of a couple of miles which will be lively in a blow but the mooring is there to store your boat not provide restful repose.