Winter on Bute

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Nichlas

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Hi everyone!

We’re a Swedish family who are planing on sailing to the west cost of Scotland next summer. But it seems a long way just a few weeks so we’re looking for a place to store her during the winter so we can continue cruising at least the summer of 2020 as well.

Found this island of Bute which looks nice and the transfer from the airport was ok. There was a yard called ardmaleish boatbuilding that hade winter storage and capacity of lifting our boat.

Anyone that has any experience of this company?

/Nichlas
 
I think they are more of a commercial yard but would do the job. There are plenty other places on the Clyde that you could over winter. have you looked at Clyde marina winter packages? Might be a bit more expensive than The one on Bute. There's also Port Bannatyne on Bute or Rothesay Harbour do good rates if you want to stay in the water.
 
Ardmaleish is well regarded and does yacht work as well as small commercial stuff - a lot of Caledenoian MacBraynes go there for servicing and refits. The only real problem is that they are not easy to get to by public transport: the bus service from Rothesay to Rhubodach is infrequent and you have a 1/4 mile walk to the yard. On the other hand, 1/4 mile is not that far and a taxi from Rothesay should only be £6 - £7.

My boat winters in the alternative, Port Bannatyne Boatyard. Much easier by public transport because Rhubodach and Ettrick Bay buses stop there as well as Port-only ones. John Stirling, who runs the yard, is very friendly and helpful and has an excellent team working for him, if you want to pay to have any work done. The yard and the marina both get completely full in the winter, but as long as you book in advance you should be fine. Don't turn up in at the end of September and expect a place afloat or ashore.

PB boatyard has a great community of owners, and we all help each other out. Sleeping on boats ashore is common. Crime on Bute is negligible.
 
Clyde Marina Winter packages are very competitive , easy access by plane , train, car , masts can stay up as metal cradle provided , great staff and lots to do in surrounding area, Bute is also lovely but to get there and back might be an issue if your are traveling from overseas.
 
Lots of options on the Clyde - with some trade offs between price and convenience.
There are a handful that can store in sheds ashore (as is common in Sweden, but less so in the U.K.) - including Fairlie Quay.
Storage outside ashore is available in most of the marinas - Largs, Kip being great but not cheap, Troon, Rhu, Rosneath etc.
Bute and places like Portavadie slightly more difficult to get to.

Having spent two great summers sailing in Sweden (and over wintering in Baltic Germany) but having a boat now back in the Clyde, I am happy to return the favour and help if I can with information. Feel free to PM me
 
Thanks for all replies!

I´ve sent an email to Port Bannatyne to see if they had any berths available but they have not got back to me yet, maybe closed during the holidays. The marina and the island looked nice but I am not sure they will be able to lift and store the boat (14,5x4,5m).

Since we live far away I would like to store her on land when not using the boat. If we stay in the water I´ll need someone to look after her.

Got a quote from Clyde Marina today and it looks promising :-)

Anyway we need a summer berth for a few months as well and of course it would be best to have winter storage and summer berth in the same place. We will probably rent a berth in clyde marina

Still trying to get used to the price for a pontoon berth in the UK…
 
Nichlas said:
I´ve sent an email to Port Bannatyne to see if they had any berths available but they have not got back to me yet, maybe closed during the holidays. The marina and the island looked nice but I am not sure they will be able to lift and store the boat (14,5x4,5m).
Click to expand...

Weight is a bigger issue than size there, as they use a mobile crane to lift the boat and then carry it across the road into the yard. They may well be closed for the holidays - a lot of places in Scotland aren't opening till Monday.
 
You may have to fly into Edinburgh which would possibly suggest a car hire which would make James watt dock a likely option for winter storage but would recommend going further down the Clyde for summer sailing depending on how often you would be travelling to-from Sweden
 
Having re read your post you do not actually say that you will be on the Clyde but the west coast so this would open up the possibility of spending the winter in the area around Oban which has reasonable rail and bus access along with cars.
There are a lot more anchorages north of the Crinan canal which is seemed as the border between the Clyde and the north
Assuming you come through the Caledonian Canal you will find more than enough to keep you occupied for the first year
 
scottie said:
There are a lot more anchorages north of the Crinan canal which is seemed as the border between the Clyde and the north
Assuming you come through the Caledonian Canal you will find more than enough to keep you occupied for the first year
Click to expand...

You'll need very different anchoring gear.
 
Yes we will fly to edinburgh and then transfer from there.

I Checked som marinas in the oban area as well but the transfer time (train) makes it impossible to fly in over the weekend. The clyde seems more sheltered for weekend cruising as well? Family wants good resturants, shopping, golf, marinas...

But looking at the charts i dont think the distances is that far, so during 4-5weeks we should be able to reach the north and come back to clyde anyway? Or maybe i´m missing something, like the tide which is new to us. :-)

Regarding the comment on anchoring gear, what do I need?
 
Nichlas said:
Yes we will fly to edinburgh and then transfer from there.

I Checked som marinas in the oban area as well but the transfer time (train) makes it impossible to fly in over the weekend. The clyde seems more sheltered for weekend cruising as well? Family wants good resturants, shopping, golf, marinas...

But looking at the charts i dont think the distances is that far, so during 4-5weeks we should be able to reach the north and come back to clyde anyway? Or maybe i´m missing something, like the tide which is new to us. :-)

Regarding the comment on anchoring gear, what do I need?
Click to expand...

Anchorage gear is a minefield lol a good anchor and up to 80m of chain is plenty, the seabed around the Scottish west coast is as varied as any place, thick seaweed, shingle, rock, sand is always encountered somewhere, there can be deep drop offs fro the seashore as most sealochs were carved out by Glaciers so steepen very quickly, but you will also find a large amount of sandy sloping bays.
There is also Prestwick Airport , and Glasgow Airport, I dont they were you will be flying from so these might be an option then the Clyde marinas are only 30 to 40 mins away, if you want good golf ,nice restaurants ,etC, then I would suggest Largs as it is the biggest town with a marina (walking in ) and has Golf galore and castles and National parks near by.
James Watt gives you better transport to Glasgow with the benefits that gives you , if you choose to go further North Into the Islands then other facilities become less, and yes 5 weeks is plenty to enjoy Scotland's West Coast.
Happy sailing
 
Nichlas said:
Yes we will fly to edinburgh and then transfer from there.

I Checked som marinas in the oban area as well but the transfer time (train) makes it impossible to fly in over the weekend. The clyde seems more sheltered for weekend cruising as well? Family wants good resturants, shopping, golf, marinas...

But looking at the charts i dont think the distances is that far, so during 4-5weeks we should be able to reach the north and come back to clyde anyway? Or maybe i´m missing something, like the tide which is new to us. :-)

Regarding the comment on anchoring gear, what do I need?
Click to expand...

Why Bute? It is an island that requires a ferry to arrive and leave, with all the opportunities to mess up a good schedule.

We spent the Winter 2017-18 in Troon on the coast after the summer cruising the West Coast from Oban. It is accessible to airports by train and seems secure, if basic.
It does give you access to a lot of cruising grounds for weekends and the week.
You can get to the west coast via the Crinan canal - check your draft and contact Quandry or you can sail around the Mull of Kintyre.
Tides are not too much of an issue, except they can speed your journey if you get it right. A good pilot book will give you all that information.

The choice of anchor gear is another volume at least. Getting a consensus will be an achievement.
I have not idea what I would use in Scandinavia.
Contact Quandry, he is a local that has my respect and trust.

Someone should come along with details of the amazingly detailed charts of many lochs and so on. We used them and they are very useful - just forgotten the name.

Good luck, have a great time.
Manage the expectations on the restaurant and shopping front.
Anchor a lot it is much more fun.
 
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Z
Gwylan said:
Why Bute? It is an island that requires a ferry to arrive and leave, with all the opportunities to mess up a good schedule.

We spent the Winter 2017-18 in Troon on the coast after the summer cruising the West Coast from Oban. It is accessible to airports by train and seems secure, if basic.
It does give you access to a lot of cruising grounds for weekends and the week.
You can get to the west coast via the Crinan canal - check your draft and contact Quandry or you can sail around the Mull of Kintyre.
Tides are not too much of an issue, except they can speed your journey if you get it right. A good pilot book will give you all that information.

The choice of anchor gear is another volume at least. Getting a consensus will be an achievement.
I have not idea what I would use in Scandinavia.
Contact Quandry, he is a local that has my respect and trust.

Someone should come along with details of the amazingly detailed charts of many lochs and so on. We used them and they are very useful - just forgotten the name.

Good luck, have a great time.
Manage the expectations on the restaurant and shopping front.
Anchor a lot it is much more fun.
Click to expand...

There are various tide gates which are showstoppers if ignored on the west coast and Antares are the charts you are referring to .
An investment in CCC directions will be advisable.
I believe that most Scandinavian boats anchor from the back with shoreline from the front and the water level doesn’t alter much so it’s a whole new ball game
 
Nichlas said:
Yes we will fly to Edinburgh and then transfer from there.

I checked some marinas in the Oban area as well but the transfer time (train) makes it impossible to fly in over the weekend. The clyde seems more sheltered for weekend cruising as well? Family wants good resturants, shopping, golf, marinas...
Click to expand...

Yes, there is masses of cruising available on the Clyde, relatively sheltered and no significant tidal constraints. Very quick to get to most of the mainland based marinas on the Clyde from Edinburgh Airport by car (just over an hour to Largs or Kip for example). Some are also close to railway stations - but the train doesn't go to the Airport so perhaps 2 or three connections.
Bute is quite a bit further to get to - car/train then ferry then the connections on the island. Seems an unnecessary complexity. If cost is the issue then other ashore options can be suggested - eg Dumbarton ?

I would strongly recommend buying the relevant Imray Clyde Cruising Club pilot as it is a great read ... and also lists all available marinas, anchorages etc
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ccc-Sailin...8&sr=1-1&refinements=p_27:Clyde+Cruising+Club

Nichlas said:
But looking at the charts i dont think the distances is that far, so during 4-5weeks we should be able to reach the north and come back to clyde anyway? Or maybe i´m missing something, like the tide which is new to us. :-)
Click to expand...

No the distances aren't huge. many Clyde based boats traditionally did a 2 week trip out to the West Coast - via Crinan Canal (good fun) or round the Mull of Kintyre (watch the weather forecast, but a dawdle for somebody who has done the North Sea). But 4-5 weeks will give much more time to explore (yet still just allow a small sample of anchorages and islands).
Unlike within the Clyde, the tides tend to be stronger on the West Coast of Scotland and around the Hebrides. In practice this generally means trying to manage the timings to go with the direction of tides, at least through the strongest streams. This may mean some very early starts to catch the tide - character building!

Nichlas said:
Regarding the comment on anchoring gear, what do I need?
Click to expand...

Anchors are a bit of a standing joke on this forum - as they prompt long and pointless debates. Coming from Scandinavia, what you won't need is a stern anchor !
Most boats here will have a reliable bow anchor, a decent length of chain and ideally an electric anchor windlass (or a very fit crew).

As well as the Imray / CCC Pilot Guides, which are near essential for the areas you want to explore and really good, the other things recommended would be the Admiralty Leisure Folio of charts for general use, plus the superb Antares electronic charts for detailed anchorages etc. http://www.antarescharts.co.uk/

Hope this is of use
 
Nichlas said:
Yes we will fly to edinburgh and then transfer from there.

I Checked som marinas in the oban area as well but the transfer time (train) makes it impossible to fly in over the weekend. The clyde seems more sheltered for weekend cruising as well? Family wants good resturants, shopping, golf, marinas...

But looking at the charts i dont think the distances is that far, so during 4-5weeks we should be able to reach the north and come back to clyde anyway? Or maybe i´m missing something, like the tide which is new to us. :-)

Regarding the comment on anchoring gear, what do I need?
Click to expand...


The shopping is best done in Edinburgh,Glasgow or even Oban for the tourists bits.
What anchor set up do you have ?
Welcome anchorages gives the available pontoon and mooring facilities but there are plenty of secluded places where anchoring is the only option
You will require a decent anchor , reasonable length of chain ( 30mtr plus ) and a winch preferable electric
 
Gwylan said:
Why Bute? It is an island that requires a ferry to arrive and leave, with all the opportunities to mess up a good schedule.

We spent the Winter 2017-18 in Troon on the coast after the summer cruising the West Coast from Oban. It is accessible to airports by train and seems secure, if basic.
It does give you access to a lot of cruising grounds for weekends and the week.
You can get to the west coast via the Crinan canal - check your draft and contact Quandry or you can sail around the Mull of Kintyre.
Tides are not too much of an issue, except they can speed your journey if you get it right. A good pilot book will give you all that information.

The choice of anchor gear is another volume at least. Getting a consensus will be an achievement.
I have not idea what I would use in Scandinavia.
Contact Quandry, he is a local that has my respect and trust.

Someone should come along with details of the amazingly detailed charts of many lochs and so on. We used them and they are very useful - just forgotten the name.

Good luck, have a great time.
Manage the expectations on the restaurant and shopping front.
Anchor a lot it is much more fun.
Click to expand...
Nothing to be gained by going via the canal from Troon unless the weather was really bad. In a 47ft boat I think the mull would be quicker and a lot lighter on the pocket.
 
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Thats right, we mostly use the anchor in the back in scandinavia, then we use a 20kg bruce and it work fine in sand and clay.
I will keep my 30kg delta anchor and 60m chain in the bow and see how it works out.

Thanks for the tip of cruising guide, will order it and read up.

We live in the west coast of sweden north of Gothenburg so there are cheap flights to Edinburgh.
By the way, anyone wants to swap berth and storage, just say the word :-)

I choose bute since the ferry was very frequent and the marina close to the ferry. The prices on the main land is... off (by my standards).
£195/m for a pontoon for 6months on bute seems fair (still three times what I pay here). But I´m up for suggestions.

I dont know how I will convince the family that it´s a good idea to go for "character building" sailing...
But I hope the wildlife and nice scenery will make up for it.
 
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