West coast of Scotland marina's

[tonygibbs]

I am undecided where to keep my 24 foot Jeanneau. I am thinking of Rhu Marina, Kip Marina and Largs Marina. I would appreciate some feedback from those who use these marinas.
Thanks.
TG

 

[scottie]

Kip best marina reasonable infrastructure great day sailing best berths and access
Largs best infrastructure good access to cumbrae bute etc some racing
Rhu furthest to go anywhere and longer to get back east patch racing every week

 

[dcr]

IMHO No doubt about it - Largs is much better than either Kip or Rhu and friendlier too, with superior onshore facilities for families and non boaters if that is important.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

James Watt Dock Marina is handier for transport than the others, and the facilities are fine.

 

[bikerbill]

Have you gave Ardrossan and Troon marinas a thought?

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

IMHO No doubt about it - Largs is much better than either Kip or Rhu and friendlier too, with superior onshore facilities for families and non boaters if that is important.

+1

 

[dunedin]

What sort of sailing do you do?

If you mainly do daysails or weeekends, Largs has most options, Kip next - and very secure and great facilities, but top end prices to match

If go away for longer periods at a time, will be cheaper to base somewhere else - like Rhu, Rothesay - or even Tarbert or Portavadie. After a while at Rhu doing weekends we got bored of the trips down past Cloch on Saturday, back on Sunday

 

[JumbleDuck]

If go away for longer periods at a time, will be cheaper to base somewhere else - like Rhu, Rothesay - or even Tarbert or Portavadie. After a while at Rhu doing weekends we got bored of the trips down past Cloch on Saturday, back on Sunday

Point of information: Rothesay doesn't offer summer berths, though you can winter there. It's visitors only. Perhaps you were thinking of Port Bannatyne, one bay north. Friendly people, reasonable prices, minimal facilities at the marina itself but plenty in the village or in Rothesay.

I keep my boat on a swinging mooring at Port Bannatyne. The only real disadvantage is the need for a ferry, though the Rhubodach one now runs till 9pm every day which allows a connection with the Western Ferries crossing from Hunter's Quay or, if you're desperate, a looooooooong journey back by road to civilisation.

Portavadie is lovely, and not too bad to get to. Again you can go overland, or use Western Ferries, which operate till midnight.

 

[Spyro]

IMHO No doubt about it - Largs is much better than either Kip or Rhu and friendlier too, with superior onshore facilities for families and non boaters if that is important.

Also most expensive.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Also [Largs is] most expensive.

Annual berthing rates, single payment, per metre:

Port Bannatyne: £258
Portavadie: £259
James Watt Dock: £295
Ardrossan: £315
Troon £322
Rhu: £352
Largs: £391
Kip: £399

If I could choose any of these it would be Portavadie, with Port Bannatyne a close second. Of the mainland ones - and I have never been to Troon or Adrossan - I think Kip is the nicest. Largs is getting rather dilapidated (I keep thinking i'll go through rotten decking) although the people and services are excellent, and "Yachts Damaged at Rhu Marina in Storm" seems to have been an headline ever since the place opened.

OP, as a related suggestion. RNYC do some very good mooring+membership deals, which with a club launch might be almost as handy as a marina.

 

[cryan]

I did a job at the Holy Loch Marina last summer. It seemed a friendly place and had a few facilities onsite and Dunoon just five minutes away for shops. Ferry from Gourock makes it quite accessible from Glasgow.

 

[tonygibbs]

Myself and SHMBO discussed the pro's and con's of the marinas you all suggested. We decided that since the weather is nice today, we are going to visit Kip & Largs then take it from there.

Thanks again
TG

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I have been in all three that you mention at one time or another for extensive periods but chose Largs when I bought my own yacht. Kip requires a beat out most of the time and its also a lee shore for the prevailing wind. Rhu is too far up for weekend sailing. Largs offered me everything I needed, I too live in South Lanarkshire, right down the bottom. Travel time 1 hour 20 minutes by car. Largs is sheltered but you do get down draughts from hills, rarely. When we get easterly winds on warm days the evening rush of wind from the hills can be quite strong, scattering newspapers and spilling sundowners (I think the sea breeze comes in from the south and rolls down the hills). Largs is a reach, close reach out and back via the East Kyle so from that perspective it can be less irksome. With a young family I found Largs always had something to offer shelter wise, unlike Kip - although Kip was never a problem really.

Rhu Marina adds about 2 hours on to any passage southwards to Toward Point, about 1 1/2 coming back, so if that is not an issue, it could be worth looking at moorings up that way or Rhu Marina itself.

 

[LittleShip]

All the marinas mentioned have their merits but, I live in Cheshire and base myself in Portavadie. It takes me between 5-6 hours to get there. I could reduce the travel time by approx 2hrs by going to one of the others.

Portavadie is by far the better of all the mentioned marinas for staff, restaurant, facilities but it is remote from shops, nearest one is 3 miles away apart from the marina one which is good for small provisions..... milk bread etc.

New pontoons and the staff walk them twice a day to check lines etc.

3 miles from E L Tarbert and lots of bays to drop anchor in, West Kyle is for me about 1/2 hr cruise away. Don't make a decision until you have been to look.

Just one point about Largs..... I don't think they do a summer berth.

Tom

 

[JumbleDuck]

All the marinas mentioned have their merits but, I live in Cheshire and base myself in Portavadie. It takes me between 5-6 hours to get there. I could reduce the travel time by approx 2hrs by going to one of the others.

I used to live in Oxford and keep my boat at Crinan. It's only fifty miles further than the Clyde coast, so it was a relatively small additional drive for a huge benefit in cruising ground. Of course with the OP in South Lanarkshire, the driving difference between Largs/Kip and Portavadie is relatively large, but I agree still worth thinking about.

 

[aquaplane]

All the marinas mentioned have their merits but, I live in Cheshire and base myself in Portavadie. It takes me between 5-6 hours to get there. I could reduce the travel time by approx 2hrs by going to one of the others.

Tom

My parents lived in West Yorkshire and kept the boat at Tarbert once they were retired, Kip before that.
The extra couple of hours drive isn't a problem when you are going to the boat for blocks of weeks rather than weekends.
Tarbert is cheap for long term berths, not so for visitors, and has good access to shops.

I drive 2 hours to the lakes for a W/E sail and would travel to Tarbert if I was within 2 or 2½Hrs drive.