JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
It's always weather permitting anywhere up here, really. It would be worth asking them if they would take your boat across from the marina for lift out.
Winter on Bute
- Thread starter Nichlas
- Start date
It's always weather permitting anywhere up here, really. It would be worth asking them if they would take your boat across from the marina for lift out.
pvb
Well-Known Member
I've seen joke cartoons about that....
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Spyro
Well-Known Member
Just had it stuffed
Nichlas
New Member
Good idea! I did´t think about that... is it close?
Port bannatyne would get back to me next week so we will see if they have any berths or possibility to store her there.
Stooriefit
Well-Known Member
Hi Nichlas,
I keep my boat in Clyde Marina at Ardrossan. In terms of public rail transport connections I doubt there is anywhere better as the train stops literally at the marina. The facility is excellent with all tide access and I'm not aware of there being any weather issues with lift out/lift in - the travel hoist is on the protected side of the marina which is an old harbour basin. The staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable - there are over 300 boats ashore for winter and some 70 or more still afloat (there is a gate which they can close to fully enclose the harbour if the weather is particularly bad). As far as the winter weather is concerned I've been in all the Clyde marine facilities of the years and would say that I have been able to work over the winter on maintenance tasks more often at Clyde Marina than anywhere else. There is a large ASDA store within 5 minutes walk. There are currently several foreign boats at the marina - US registered, Canadian, Australian and Swedish.
The down sides are (i) Ardrossan is far from the prettiest town and it has seen better days (ii) the waters off the marina entrance (for a couple of miles) are uncomfortable and most boats get thrown about a bit - nothing unsafe but you need to be aware of it particularly for children.
If I were you and visiting I would only take a winter package at Ardrossan and pay for your summer mooring wherever you are going to be - most likely out on the west coast.
Hope this helps.
I keep my boat in Clyde Marina at Ardrossan. In terms of public rail transport connections I doubt there is anywhere better as the train stops literally at the marina. The facility is excellent with all tide access and I'm not aware of there being any weather issues with lift out/lift in - the travel hoist is on the protected side of the marina which is an old harbour basin. The staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable - there are over 300 boats ashore for winter and some 70 or more still afloat (there is a gate which they can close to fully enclose the harbour if the weather is particularly bad). As far as the winter weather is concerned I've been in all the Clyde marine facilities of the years and would say that I have been able to work over the winter on maintenance tasks more often at Clyde Marina than anywhere else. There is a large ASDA store within 5 minutes walk. There are currently several foreign boats at the marina - US registered, Canadian, Australian and Swedish.
The down sides are (i) Ardrossan is far from the prettiest town and it has seen better days (ii) the waters off the marina entrance (for a couple of miles) are uncomfortable and most boats get thrown about a bit - nothing unsafe but you need to be aware of it particularly for children.
If I were you and visiting I would only take a winter package at Ardrossan and pay for your summer mooring wherever you are going to be - most likely out on the west coast.
Hope this helps.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
About a mile. Bottom left to centre top:
This early I would be very, very surprised if they didn't.
Stooriefit
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I should also have said that Clyde will take your boat from its berth and put it on the hard without you needing to be there. They will also put it back the water without you needing to be present either. The staff are very good and reliable and I have no problems withy this service.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Ditto Port Bannatyne, in all respects. We're spoiled for good choices on the Clyde.
Minchsailor
Well-Known Member
+1 for Clyde Marina Adrossan for winter storage. Good marine engineers. Chandlers and sail makers at Largs.
Yes, the town is a dump, but it easy to get away from, and down the road at Saltcoats it is marginally better.
Yes, the town is a dump, but it easy to get away from, and down the road at Saltcoats it is marginally better.
Martin&Rene
Well-Known Member
Just some more detail on background info
The Welcome Anchorages info (should be called Welcome Moorings!) is available on line at
http://www.welcome-anchorages.co.uk/
with foreign language versions available. The 2019 edition will probably be available end of Feb-Mar, though the're are not normally major alterations. A paper version will normally be available free from chandlers and Marinas sometime in March.
For excellent detailed charts of anchorages and tricky passages, then look at Antares charts.
http://www.antarescharts.co.uk/
I think most people run the Antares charts on a laptop or Tablet using MemoryMap. You can get the app free, but really the best way is to buy the full set of UK and Ireland charts and then add in the Antares charts so that they work together.
https://www.memory-map.co.uk/memory-map-marine-pc-mobile
There are a few Antares charts for inside the Clyde area, but most of them are for the West Coast.
Another source of info is
http://www.cyca-online.org.uk/
in particular the events calendar
http://www.cyca-online.org.uk/cm/dynamic/large/22122018115254.pdf
which lets you see when various big race meetings are on or when Club musters (meetings) are on which may make a place particularly busy.
Since there has been much talk of trains, it is worth while looking at
https://www.thetrainline.com/
The train fare structure in the UK is complicated, but if you know when you want to travel and sometimes even the time and can book ahead, then you can make significant savings.
Similarly, Western Ferries (for Tarbert or Portavadie) or CalMac (for Bute) do reduced fares for regular visitors. Charging them high fares is the local way of welcoming tourists to the area.
We started yachting in Scotland 9 years ago and our yacht is based at Largs. For 4 of those years we have just stayed in the Clyde area and had good interesting sailing and on the other years we have had 1-2 trips further out.
The Welcome Anchorages info (should be called Welcome Moorings!) is available on line at
http://www.welcome-anchorages.co.uk/
with foreign language versions available. The 2019 edition will probably be available end of Feb-Mar, though the're are not normally major alterations. A paper version will normally be available free from chandlers and Marinas sometime in March.
For excellent detailed charts of anchorages and tricky passages, then look at Antares charts.
http://www.antarescharts.co.uk/
I think most people run the Antares charts on a laptop or Tablet using MemoryMap. You can get the app free, but really the best way is to buy the full set of UK and Ireland charts and then add in the Antares charts so that they work together.
https://www.memory-map.co.uk/memory-map-marine-pc-mobile
There are a few Antares charts for inside the Clyde area, but most of them are for the West Coast.
Another source of info is
http://www.cyca-online.org.uk/
in particular the events calendar
http://www.cyca-online.org.uk/cm/dynamic/large/22122018115254.pdf
which lets you see when various big race meetings are on or when Club musters (meetings) are on which may make a place particularly busy.
Since there has been much talk of trains, it is worth while looking at
https://www.thetrainline.com/
The train fare structure in the UK is complicated, but if you know when you want to travel and sometimes even the time and can book ahead, then you can make significant savings.
Similarly, Western Ferries (for Tarbert or Portavadie) or CalMac (for Bute) do reduced fares for regular visitors. Charging them high fares is the local way of welcoming tourists to the area.
We started yachting in Scotland 9 years ago and our yacht is based at Largs. For 4 of those years we have just stayed in the Clyde area and had good interesting sailing and on the other years we have had 1-2 trips further out.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Not any more on CalMac. When RET (Road Equivalent Tariffs) come in, cheap deals go out. A ten-journey ticket between Rothesay and Wemyss Bay now costs the same as ten singles. Western Ferries still do very good deals (50% off) if you buy ten tickets in advance.
Nichlas
New Member
Thank a lot for all good advice.
We have decided to go to Scotland in the beginning of April to have a look at the different yards.
Meet the people who runs them and then decide where to keep the boat.
It will be a road trip from Oban, tarbert, Bute to ardorossan.
Probably with some golf being played in between.
We have decided to go to Scotland in the beginning of April to have a look at the different yards.
Meet the people who runs them and then decide where to keep the boat.
It will be a road trip from Oban, tarbert, Bute to ardorossan.
Probably with some golf being played in between.
FlyingGoose
Well-Known Member
Have a nice journey, and be sure tor check out some whisky distilleries purely for scientific purposes of course :encouragement:
Aja
Well-Known Member
Just for clarity Western Ferries route is from MacInroe's Point to Hunter's Quay on Cowal. CalMac do all the other routes mentioned. Also Western Ferries are a profitable organisation and an independent company. calMac are at the top end owned by ScotGov and lose money make of that what you will. They are both welcoming to tourists as far as I can see.
Donald
Mataji
Well-Known Member
I don’t play golf but have walked over golf courses with beautiful views. Tobermory and Port Bannatyne on Bute spring to mind.
dslittle
Well-Known Member
We live (during the winter) ten minutes walk from the Wemyss Bay ferry terminal for Bute. I would be very happy to keep an eye on your boat if you leave it anywhere near here. We sailed the West Coast extensively until we moved our boat to France so PM me if you want any detailed information. We have sailed the Swedish Archipelago and were very welcomed so I would be very happy to reciprocate. The West Coast offers great sailing so come and enjoy...
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Good plan. Hope you enjoy your trip.
And like others have been made very welcome in Sweden so happy to help with any info in return
asteven221
Well-Known Member
If you like your golf, then there are 2 x 18 hole courses and 1 x 9 hole course on Bute - all the stunning views.
Nichlas
New Member
We had a intense weekend driving around Scotland and meeting a lot if nice people in the beginning of April. Quirky roads and small ferry’s all over the place. Also had a look at Neptune staircase and the Crinian canal.
After a lot of thought decided to go for winter storage on the hard at Ardrossan and Clyde marina.
Not sure how often we will use the boat apart from the summer holiday this seemed like the best way to go for the first year in Scotland.
If we were to get a berth it would be in Port bannatyne, really nice sheltered place and service minded people. Loved the island as well and great cruising grounds with stunning views close by. Unfortunately, they could not store her in the yard there due to size otherwise we would have stayed on Bute.
Anyone planning on cruising the west coast of Sweden and want to swap a berth or mooring, drop me a message ��
After a lot of thought decided to go for winter storage on the hard at Ardrossan and Clyde marina.
Not sure how often we will use the boat apart from the summer holiday this seemed like the best way to go for the first year in Scotland.
If we were to get a berth it would be in Port bannatyne, really nice sheltered place and service minded people. Loved the island as well and great cruising grounds with stunning views close by. Unfortunately, they could not store her in the yard there due to size otherwise we would have stayed on Bute.
Anyone planning on cruising the west coast of Sweden and want to swap a berth or mooring, drop me a message ��