Mooring in Northern Ireland

[JumbleDuck]

I am thinking of leaving the boat in Northern Ireland until next summer, and I'd welcome any suggestions of (a) moorings for the summer and (b) storage for the winter. My fall back option is Bangor Marina, which I like very much, for both, but other ideas would be welcome.

Wherever it is for the seasons needs to have good public transport links from Belfast; wherever it is for the winter would ideally have a good company on hand to fit a new engine for me. Swinging mooring fine for the floating bit.

Reason? I like exploring the Irish Sea and it would be nice to save the time it takes to get here (I'm in Bangor as I write) and back from the Clyde.

 

[Minchsailor]

For winter storage, have a look at Coleraine. I have an idea the council have a yard with some good deals, but there are other places. On the train line from Belfast and Antrim airport.

 

[Quandary]

I cant think of anywhere close to good links from Belfast with year round publicly available moorings, there is (or was) a small private harbour between Kilroot and Whitehead but I know little about it now and it would not have a workshop to hand. Up the Lough at Holywood or Jordanstown you might find a mooring but limited shoreside facilities. Bangor is probably your best bet.
Carrickfergus might be a bit cheaper both for berthing and having work done. (Rory Moore at Northshore Marine Services, they operate the yard, hoist and workshop at the harbour beside the marina and his mother (Wendy) is a sailmaker)
To be honest I think you are are daft, far more accessible choices around the Clyde.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Carrickfergus might be a bit cheaper both for berthing and having work done. (Rory Moore at Northshore Marine Services, they operate the yard, hoist and workshop at the harbour beside the marina and his mother (Wendy) is a sailmaker)

Carrickfergus is cheaper, but has all the charm of a 1970s East German housing estate.

To be honest I think you are are daft, far more accessible choices around the Clyde.

I live in SW Scotland, an hour or so from Cairnryan, so getting to Belfast is pretty easy. The trouble with the Clyde is that it takes time to get here from there - a week on average, allowing for some bad weather and day sails only - which restricts what I can do in four weeks. If I leave the boat here over the winter I have a head start next year.

 

[SAMYL]

Why not leave it in the marina in the centre of Belfast? Cheap, safe, handy to transport, pubs, restaurants etc, and with some good winter deals. Engine work could be undertaken at Carrickfergus only an hour away and much more userfriendly than BJs in Bangor.

 

[dgadee]

Why not leave it in the marina in the centre of Belfast? Cheap, safe, handy to transport, pubs, restaurants etc, and with some good winter deals. Engine work could be undertaken at Carrickfergus only an hour away and much more userfriendly than BJs in Bangor.

Copelands Marina at Donaghadee. Has hard standing, too.

 

[Aja]

+1 for Copeland marina. Friends bought their last boat from there and said it was friendly and secure.

regards

Donald

 

[steve yates]

Was going to suggest donaghadee too, great wee town, pier 21 is a great pub. The marina access is restricted by tide times, but if you could find a mooring in the harbour for the summer, and cope lands hard standing in the winter, your made.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Many thanks, all. I shall contact Copelands. Any further suggestions welcome ... anywhere up Strangford Lough?

 

[Pete7]

Yes,

http://marinas.com/view/marina/9247_Ringhaddy_Cruising_Club_Killinchy_NI_United_Kingdom
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ports/17046/United_Kingdom_port:RINGHADDY CRUISING

Or

http://slyc.co.uk/

or

http://www.portaferrymarina.co.uk/

On the way up the Bann to Coleraine you will see a couple of private marinas that are also options in addition to the town centre moorings.

 

[lpdsn]

Many thanks, all. I shall contact Copelands. Any further suggestions welcome ... anywhere up Strangford Lough?

Loadsa moorings up Strangford Lough, but Belfast itself is your best bet. Especially if you consider Bangor a fallback. Pontoon berthing, reasonable price and very sheltered. One train stop or a short bus or taxi ride from the airport. You could even walk from the airport to the boat if enthusiastic enough.

The ferry from Cairnryan comes into the port but a couple of miles downstream and on the other side.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The ferry from Cairnryan comes into the port but a couple of miles downstream and on the other side.

Tell me about it. Last time I was there we visited the Nomadic ... we could see the Stena ferry arrive across the docks but it still took a twenty quid taxi journey along the motorway to get there. It was so much easier in their old terminal.

As well as winter storage - which Bangor will do for a modest £800 - I'm particularly keen to hear ideas for August onwards and for launch till June next year. How would I go about finding a mooring on Strangford, say?

 

[dgadee]

Tell me about it. Last time I was there we visited the Nomadic ... we could see the Stena ferry arrive across the docks but it still took a twenty quid taxi journey along the motorway to get there. It was so much easier in their old terminal.

As well as winter storage - which Bangor will do for a modest £800 - I'm particularly keen to hear ideas for August onwards and for launch till June next year. How would I go about finding a mooring on Strangford, say?

Yes, ferry a good distance away from Belfast centre but easy bus access. Flying often cheaper (excluding luggage) to Belfast harbour airport which is on Bangor rail line.

Do you mean afloat over winter? Marina does 1/2 price deal. Hard standing for 6 months at Bangor for my boat made my eyes water.

 

[Sybarite]

Yes, ferry a good distance away from Belfast centre but easy bus access. Flying often cheaper (excluding luggage) to Belfast harbour airport which is on Bangor rail line.

Do you mean afloat over winter? Marina does 1/2 price deal. Hard standing for 6 months at Bangor for my boat made my eyes water.

There is also Kenny Smith's boatyard at Whiterock in Strangford Lough.

 

[lpdsn]

Tell me about it. Last time I was there we visited the Nomadic ... we could see the Stena ferry arrive across the docks but it still took a twenty quid taxi journey along the motorway to get there. It was so much easier in their old terminal.

As well as winter storage - which Bangor will do for a modest £800 - I'm particularly keen to hear ideas for August onwards and for launch till June next year. How would I go about finding a mooring on Strangford, say?

I'm sure Stena run a free bus from the city centre for foot passengers - certainly do for their equivalent Dublin service.

By Bangor I presume you mean BJ's. It's a well run yard. the marina itself doesn't have any out of the water storage.

Belfast Marina will do you a deal by the month. It's free seating as you won't get a numbered berth but everyone is friendly & helpful.

For Strangford Lough just try the clubs. There must be a dozen, but the bigger ones seem to be on the Quoile, and at Ringahaddy, Whiterock & the DCC at Ballydorn. There have been more reporting sightings of the Yeti than public transport in that part of the world (obvious exception is buses to Downpatrick and I did actually once catch a bus from Comber to Balloo to get to Ballydorn).

PS There's also an east belfast YC with storage next to the airport. I know nothing about them but the yard is visible from the Bangor train - does seem to be where old boats go to die.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Yes, ferry a good distance away from Belfast centre but easy bus access. Flying often cheaper (excluding luggage) to Belfast harbour airport which is on Bangor rail line.

Since I live an hour or so away from Cairnryan, the ferry makes most sense for me. However, I do visit Edinburgh regularly so plane is an option too. Unfortunately Belfast City is served by FlyBe and generally more expensive than EasyJet to International.

Do you mean afloat over winter? Marina does 1/2 price deal. Hard standing for 6 months at Bangor for my boat made my eyes water.

Yes, afloat. £100 per metre for six months, or £80 per metre unserviced.

I'm sure Stena run a free bus from the city centre for foot passengers - certainly do for their equivalent Dublin service.

No Stena bus in Dublin. However, there are National Express services from Birmingham and London to Belfast which stop locally to me (Castle Douglas). The coach takes you to Cairnryan, a shuttle bus takes you to Belfast Bus Station and the ticket costs about the same as, or sometimes less, than the foot passenger ticket on the ferry.

By Bangor I presume you mean BJ's. It's a well run yard. the marina itself doesn't have any out of the water storage.

Didn't know aout BJ's. Will make enquiries.

Belfast Marina will do you a deal by the month. It's free seating as you won't get a numbered berth but everyone is friendly & helpful.

For Strangford Lough just try the clubs. There must be a dozen, but the bigger ones seem to be on the Quoile, and at Ringahaddy, Whiterock & the DCC at Ballydorn. There have been more reporting sightings of the Yeti than public transport in that part of the world (obvious exception is buses to Downpatrick and I did actually once catch a bus from Comber to Balloo to get to Ballydorn).

PS There's also an east belfast YC with storage next to the airport. I know nothing about them but the yard is visible from the Bangor train - does seem to be where old boats go to die.

Many thanks. I shall make investigations.

 

[GTom]

Planning something similar to avoid the VAT status fallout of Brexit. Any good yard recommendations in Carlingford or Strangford loughs?

Considering a summer+winter, but only for one year, which means laying my own mooring in a club might not be the best option.
BTW anyone leaving the boat on a swinging mooring in winter?

 

[dgadee]

There is a small marina in Donaghadee - the Copelands Marina - which is a bit rough and ready but not too expensive. They lift out with a crane. Depends on your size of boat but I have used it on and off. Gate for easterly winds and 2 hr before and after hw access. Donaghadee easier to get to than Strangford locations.

 

[Quandary]

When I read this thread, my first thought was ' Strewth!!!! (substitute epithet, better not to type my usual) that Nanni diesel of JDs has not lasted very long' but then I noticed the thread was from an era long ago when it was still a dream rather than a nightmare.

 

[GTom]

There is a small marina in Donaghadee - the Copelands Marina - which is a bit rough and ready but not too expensive. They lift out with a crane. Depends on your size of boat but I have used it on and off. Gate for easterly winds and 2 hr before and after hw access. Donaghadee easier to get to than Strangford locations.

wow, that entry doesn't look much more encouraging than the tides on Strangford... I think I'll better ask few of the countless clubs on Strangford which itself seems like an interesting mini-cruising ground.