AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
This is an often overlooked harbour, and maybe for good reason, it's got a bar that reputedly eats boats & isn't that attractive when you get there, but for indefatigable tickers of Scottish harbours, it has to be done. I searched here for information but there isn't much, so I'll report what I found in case anyone else does a search.
First, the bar. It isn't as bad as it's made out. It's charted at 0.5m LAT but I found 0.7m. It's narrow & rocky at either side & the lateral buoys are gone, but it's basically straight down the middle of the posts. Following the deepest soundings on the chart plotter made it straightforward. Ignore the yellow post off the entrance, it doesn't mark the channel. It's not going to be fun in a brisk west wind obviously. The footbridge is permanently open. There is no HM any more.
Once inside, where to go? There's plenty of quayside but it's unprotected from local Ayrshire ruffians, although plenty of water. Fender boards needed here. The locals advised against it because of troublesome yoofs.
The Scottish Maritime Museum has pontoons with only 1 exhibit on them, the rest used by local boats. Their website says ring in advance for a berth, so I did to be told no space - followed by horror stories of boats lost on the bar & it's all to dangerous to even contemplate so go to Troon instead. I went in anyway & there was some pontoon free, so I rang them again. 'No you can't go there, the resident is coming back at high water'. However, the other residents are very welcoming & friendly so I rafted up. Needless to say, the missing resident didn't return. On the pontoons are signs everywhere stating how uninvited guests are committing a criminal offence & will be towed to the quayside at their expense. Charming! So I suggest ignore that miserable lot, go in anyway, & raft up to a resident, not the exhibit (Kyles).
It's now ticked off. I don't have to go back ?.
First, the bar. It isn't as bad as it's made out. It's charted at 0.5m LAT but I found 0.7m. It's narrow & rocky at either side & the lateral buoys are gone, but it's basically straight down the middle of the posts. Following the deepest soundings on the chart plotter made it straightforward. Ignore the yellow post off the entrance, it doesn't mark the channel. It's not going to be fun in a brisk west wind obviously. The footbridge is permanently open. There is no HM any more.
Once inside, where to go? There's plenty of quayside but it's unprotected from local Ayrshire ruffians, although plenty of water. Fender boards needed here. The locals advised against it because of troublesome yoofs.
The Scottish Maritime Museum has pontoons with only 1 exhibit on them, the rest used by local boats. Their website says ring in advance for a berth, so I did to be told no space - followed by horror stories of boats lost on the bar & it's all to dangerous to even contemplate so go to Troon instead. I went in anyway & there was some pontoon free, so I rang them again. 'No you can't go there, the resident is coming back at high water'. However, the other residents are very welcoming & friendly so I rafted up. Needless to say, the missing resident didn't return. On the pontoons are signs everywhere stating how uninvited guests are committing a criminal offence & will be towed to the quayside at their expense. Charming! So I suggest ignore that miserable lot, go in anyway, & raft up to a resident, not the exhibit (Kyles).
It's now ticked off. I don't have to go back ?.
