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Inverkip, Kip Marina

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At a Glance

Inverkip, Kip Marina

Contact
Marina Tel
01475 521485 VHF # 80

Inverkip is a small village which was somewhat dominated....

.... by the tall chimney of it's power station. The long established and good sized Kip Marina is formed at the mouth of Kip Water, on the opposite side to the village.

Plenty of new housing has gone up around the Marina, and the place is developing residents of its own, an area known as Kip Marina Village. It is a handy spot to berth your boat for exploring sheltered waters nearby.

For the passing yachtsman or motorboater, the Marina offers a secure and peaceful berth, together with all the usual facilities expected.

Inverkip village is only small and doesn't offer a huge array of shopping or entertainment (although it does boast a supermarket), but has reasonable transport connections.

Inverkip, Kip Marina

Approach

Approach for small craft is straight forwards, there are no off lying dangers....

.... it is simply a matter of leaving the coastline at a suitable offing. The Firth of Clyde channel is well marked for shipping, and there is plenty of room to keep well out of the way.

For those of you returning to the Clyde after years away; the "lum" on the power station was removed four or five years ago and is no longer there to assist the lost sailor. The marina had at one time redecorated their red roofs but relented and returned them to their Admiralty chart designation (Ed's note - I wonder whether it was yachtie complaints or pressure from Faslane submarine captains that brought this about!!)

Approaching from north or south, staying outside the 10m depth contour will keep you away from shoreside rocks and drying patches. The power station jetty to the South of the Marina projects quite a way into the 10m contour, and the ends are lit at night by 2F.G (vert). Although the jetty is still there (2022) it is scheduled for demolition.

It is necessary to locate the green conical Kip (Fl.G.5s) buoy, moored to the West of the Marina. This marks the start of a buoyed and dredged channel leading straight into Kip Marina. This channel has plenty of water at all states of the tide.

The Marina works on VHF channel 80, telephone 01475 521485, with the link to their website below:

http://www.kipmarina.co.uk/

  Harbour   Anchorage   Marina
   £   GMT

Waypoint

Marina 55:54'.5 N 004:53' W

Charts

Admiralty 1907

Rules & Regs

Unknown

Hazards

Entry to Marina by Buoyed Dredged Channel

Tides

+0110 Dover MHWS 3.4, MHWN 2.9, MLWN 1.1, MLWS 0.5

  Berthing

Call the Marina on VHF channel 80 for allocation of a berth.......

.......staff should be around 24 hours a day. Other contact details for the Marina have already been given. Prices here work out to £2.81 per metre per night which includes VAT and shore power. (This is cheaper than Holy Loch, Largs or James Watt Dock)

The visitors berths are on "B" pontoon which is the pontoon on the starboard bow as you pass through the entrance.

In settled offshore weather it is possible to anchor in the small bay just to the south and the Marina, north-east of the power station jetty.

A little further south also, anchorage can be had in Wemyss Bay. See both of these on the charts.

Anchorages and moorings on the West side of the Firth are covered elsewhere.

Marinas and Mooring

Kip Marina

 

The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Inverkip
PA16 0AS

  Harbour Authorities, Marinas, Moorings & Berths

  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

  Facilities

Water and electricity (You may need your own long cable) are available on the pontoons, showers, toilets, sauna and laundry ashore. There is 24 hours security with CCTV. Diesel and gas bottle exchanges are available 24 hours, and there is a Chandlers on-site. There is no petrol at the marina and the nearest is in Wemyss Bay several miles away.

WiFi is available throughout the Marina.

Boats can be lifted up to 50 tonnes with outside storage and a covered workshop. Most specialists will be found including GRP repairs, marine engineering, electrical engineering, riggers, sail and fabric repairs, outboard specialist, and Yanmar diesel distributors. Check the directory.

Facilities in the small village include a cashpoint, a post office, Sainsburys Local, cafe, pharmacy, and railway station connecting with Glasgow.

Trailer Sailers will find a free slipway just to the south of the Marina, with access at three quarters of the tidal range. This is not suitable for larger boats.

Launching can also be accomplished at the Marina with charges, at all of the tidal range. Contact details already given.

Chandlers

Chandlery At Kip Yacht Marina

 

The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Chandlers

Yacht Chandlery - Full Marina Services Available
  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

Gael Force Marine

 

16-18 Earl Haig Road,
Glasgow,
Glasgow,
Glasgow
G52 4JU.

  Chandlers

This chandler supplies the complete range of yachting requirements under one roof. Their website is an access to their mail order business
  Call     www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/    More Info

What to Do

On-site at the Marina housed in the conspicuous buildings is the Chartroom Bar/Restaurant, serving the Marina village, and locals.

A short trek to Inverkip village will reveal...not too much! The Inverkip Hotel comes well recommended (meals too), the Elbow Room does not..avoid, but the Chartroom already mentioned has a VG Reputation and is on the doorstep so to speak.

History

Inverkip (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Chip) is a village and parish in Inverclyde, Scotland. It lies about 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Greenock on the A78 trunk road. The village is served by Inverkip railway station, on the Inverclyde Line.

Inverkip was made a burgh of barony before the Act of Union in 1707, with the parish containing all of Gourock, Wemyss Bay, Skelmorlie and part of Greenock. Inverkip Parish Church dates from 1804 and is on the site of an earlier (twelfth century) kirk. The graveyard contains the tomb of the chemist Dr. James Young who was nicknamed 'Paraffin' because of his pioneering work in oil technology. He lived at nearby Kelly House, which burnt down in 1913, the report laying blame with the suffragettes.

The parish of Inverkip's chief claim to fame (or notoriety) was in relation to witches in the mid 17th century. A local verse recalls
"In Auld Kirk the witches ride thick
And in Dunrod they dwell;
But the greatest loon amang them a'
Is Auld Dunrod himsel'."

'Auld Dunrod' was the last of the Lindsay family of Dunrod Castle. As the result of a dissolute life he lost all his possessions and fell into the black arts. Local reputation had it that he was in league with the devil, and he died in mysterious circumstances in a barn belonging to one of his former tenant farmers. Nothing now remains of the castle which stood at the foot of Dunrod Hill.

Today Inverkip is mainly of significance because of the large marina which has grown steadily since the 1970s and now boasts a small community of its own called Kip Village. Nearby the flue of the mothballed oil-fired Inverkip power station – another creation of the 70s – looms large.

Cornalees, a nature reserve up the back of Inverkip and alongside the Greenock cut is a place to relax and is also a recommended attraction for sightseers and hillwalkers, with a lot of beautiful views and paths.

Lunderston Bay is a popular picnic spot nearby and the classical Ardgowan House, built for Sir John Shaw-Stewart in the 17th century stands outside the village. It occasionally has open days and charity fêtes. The late 15th century Ardgowan Castle is a ruin within the estate.

At the top of Langhouse Road a building reminiscent of the cold war can be found. The site which also used to house the HMS Dalriada includes an underground bunker and a surface building.

Inverkip is mainly a residential village and does not boast a huge number of businesses. A sub post office and convenience shop is located on the Main Street, plus a retail and business block, named Kip Park, located to the side of the village comprising of a cafe', fast food outlet, supermarket and a private nursery. A pharmacy is located in a temporary portable building next to this new development. A hotel is also present in Inverkip, as well as a B&B .

The text on this HISTORY page is covered by the following licence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License

Local Business

Brokers

Boat Sales

 

Kip Marina
The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Brokers/New Boat Sales

Full Marina Facilities Are Available
  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

Marine-Electrics

Boat Electrics & Electronics Ltd

 

Kip Marina
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AW

  Marine Electrics/Electronics

  Call     www.boatelectrics.com    More Info

Sea-Schools

The Chartroom

 

Kip Marina
The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Sea Schools

Full Marina Facilities Are Available
  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

Rigging-and-Riggers

Mast & Rigging Services (Scotland) Ltd

 

Kip Marina
Inverkip
Ayrshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Rigging and Riggers

Supply & Service of Spars & Rigging, Workshop Facilities, Technicians, Cover Rigging Requirements From Dinghies To
  • Suppliers of yacht and dinghy masts, booms and spinnaker poles.
  • Servicing/upgrading of most manufacturers of spars.
  • Manufacturers of standing and running rigging.
  • Selden Masts, formerly known as Kemp Masts in the UK, either classic or furling, alloy or carbon, quality spars designed and produced in the UK and Sweden, customised by ourselves, to your requirements. Supply only, or fully commissioned by our mobile staff, anywhere in Britain. We also repair damaged spars or supply replacements for insurance. Upgrades on standard production spars, or high tech racing masts.
  • Insurance replacements/repairs or new yacht build supply.
  • We also supply and service other makes of spars, Z Spars, Sparcraft and Proctor Hi Performance Spars, Nordic Masts, Isomat, Francespar.
  • With our portable hydraulic wire swaging machines we can handle stainless steel wire up to 16mm diameter. From our extensive stock we can supply 1 x19, 7x17 or Dyform constructed wire. We also supply replacement rod rigging.
  • Ropework, includes splicing of wire to rope halyards, eye splicing snapshackle to halyards. Endless rope splices ('fleet'). Using Braid on Braid, Dyneema/Spectra or Vectran constructed ropes. Specialist tapered splices and wear sleeves for the racing yachtsman. Anchor warps to chain splicing. Mooring warp loop ends.
  • Spinnaker poles, end for end or dip pole. We stock a large selection of tube and ends to build from. Carbon fibre poles for racing or for weight reduction on larger cruising yachts. All mast & deck equipment upgrades for spinnaker /cruising chute/gennaker/Code 0 handling systems. Vertical pole stowage systems for ease of handling and clearer decks. Whisker poles and telepoles for booming out headsails.
  • We stock wire end terminals by Stalok, Hasslefors and Blue Wave, Navtec/Gibb All quality manufacturers, using high grade stainless steel and bronze materials, finished in satin or bright polished.
  • Booms- complete booms for slab reefing, c/w inboard end jammers if required, or single line reefing. Upgrade of old boom or replacements.
Superyachts.
  Call     www.mastandrigging.co.uk    More Info

Other-Businesses

CK Yacht Butlers

 

Troon Yacht Haven
Harbour Road
Troon
Ayrshire
Troon
KA10 6DJ

  Other Businesses

  Call     www.yachtbutlers.co.uk    More Info

Flags-and-ensigns

James Stevenson (Flags)

 

46 - 48 Hamilton Street
Glasgow
G42 0PL

  Flags and ensigns

Based in Glasgow this company can supply all the flags you think of
  Call     www.stevensonflags.com/    More Info

Uncategorised

CK Yacht Butlers

 

Troon Yacht Haven
Harbour Road
Troon
Ayrshire
Troon
KA10 6DJ

  Other Businesses

  Call     www.yachtbutlers.co.uk    More Info

Boat Electrics & Electronics Ltd

 

Kip Marina
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AW

  Marine Electrics/Electronics

  Call     www.boatelectrics.com    More Info

Chandlery At Kip Yacht Marina

 

The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Chandlers

Yacht Chandlery - Full Marina Services Available
  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

Boat Sales

 

Kip Marina
The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Brokers/New Boat Sales

Full Marina Facilities Are Available
  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

The Chartroom

 

Kip Marina
The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Sea Schools

Full Marina Facilities Are Available
  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

Mast & Rigging Services (Scotland) Ltd

 

Kip Marina
Inverkip
Ayrshire
Scotland
PA16 0AS

  Rigging and Riggers

Supply & Service of Spars & Rigging, Workshop Facilities, Technicians, Cover Rigging Requirements From Dinghies To
  • Suppliers of yacht and dinghy masts, booms and spinnaker poles.
  • Servicing/upgrading of most manufacturers of spars.
  • Manufacturers of standing and running rigging.
  • Selden Masts, formerly known as Kemp Masts in the UK, either classic or furling, alloy or carbon, quality spars designed and produced in the UK and Sweden, customised by ourselves, to your requirements. Supply only, or fully commissioned by our mobile staff, anywhere in Britain. We also repair damaged spars or supply replacements for insurance. Upgrades on standard production spars, or high tech racing masts.
  • Insurance replacements/repairs or new yacht build supply.
  • We also supply and service other makes of spars, Z Spars, Sparcraft and Proctor Hi Performance Spars, Nordic Masts, Isomat, Francespar.
  • With our portable hydraulic wire swaging machines we can handle stainless steel wire up to 16mm diameter. From our extensive stock we can supply 1 x19, 7x17 or Dyform constructed wire. We also supply replacement rod rigging.
  • Ropework, includes splicing of wire to rope halyards, eye splicing snapshackle to halyards. Endless rope splices ('fleet'). Using Braid on Braid, Dyneema/Spectra or Vectran constructed ropes. Specialist tapered splices and wear sleeves for the racing yachtsman. Anchor warps to chain splicing. Mooring warp loop ends.
  • Spinnaker poles, end for end or dip pole. We stock a large selection of tube and ends to build from. Carbon fibre poles for racing or for weight reduction on larger cruising yachts. All mast & deck equipment upgrades for spinnaker /cruising chute/gennaker/Code 0 handling systems. Vertical pole stowage systems for ease of handling and clearer decks. Whisker poles and telepoles for booming out headsails.
  • We stock wire end terminals by Stalok, Hasslefors and Blue Wave, Navtec/Gibb All quality manufacturers, using high grade stainless steel and bronze materials, finished in satin or bright polished.
  • Booms- complete booms for slab reefing, c/w inboard end jammers if required, or single line reefing. Upgrade of old boom or replacements.
Superyachts.
  Call     www.mastandrigging.co.uk    More Info

Gael Force Marine

 

16-18 Earl Haig Road,
Glasgow,
Glasgow,
Glasgow
G52 4JU.

  Chandlers

This chandler supplies the complete range of yachting requirements under one roof. Their website is an access to their mail order business
  Call     www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/    More Info

James Stevenson (Flags)

 

46 - 48 Hamilton Street
Glasgow
G42 0PL

  Flags and ensigns

Based in Glasgow this company can supply all the flags you think of
  Call     www.stevensonflags.com/    More Info

Kip Marina

 

The Yacht Harbour
Inverkip
Renfrewshire
Inverkip
PA16 0AS

  Harbour Authorities, Marinas, Moorings & Berths

  Call     www.kipmarina.co.uk    More Info

Tide Information for kip-marina

+0110 Dover MHWS 3.4, MHWN 2.9, MLWN 1.1, MLWS 0.5

Tidal Information
   0   0
UPDATE AUGUST 2022
02 Aug 2022 by Don Thomson 3
I reviewed these notes in August 2022. Prices have increased a wee bit but they are now the cheapest for visitors in the area.
   0   0
Shopping and eating
04 Mar 2022 by Tyro Sailor
...nothing in the village now the little shop has closed - which is probably because of the Sainsbury's Local half a mile up the Gourock road. The Inverkip Hotel does good pub fare (I had haggis & chips) and delicious local beer from the Fyne Brewery. But it wasn't open last Monday or Tuesday, being the tail end of winter, and neither was the expensive-looking Chartroom (red roof, conspic.) restaurant at the marina. We had to get a taxi to Gourock (£15 each way! )where the Taj Mahal provided an excellent meal. And someone looking like Gregor Fisher (Rab C. Nesbitt, Para Handy etc.) was at the next table.
   0   0
Update Early Summer 2021
30 Jun 2021 by Don Thomson 3
I reviewed these notes at the end of June 2021. Prices have changed and as far as I can tell the Old Power Station Jetty is still a feature.
   0   0
Update Spring 2019
14 May 2019 by Don Thomson 3
These notes were reviewed in May 2019. They've put their visitor's price up but that does include shore power if you have a long enough lead. I've been trying to discover the plans for the Inverkip Power Station Jetty but nobody seems to know other than it's scheduled for demolition sometime.
   1   0
Visitor Berth Electricity
08 Sep 2017 by Glynn Hugh
The visitor pontoon has very long fingers that can take up to three boats. If you are not the first in it is unlikely that your power cable will reach the outlet pedestal. The marina no longer has any extension leads for loan. By Ed: Thanks Glynn - I've altered the text to indicate this
   0   0
UPDATE APRIL 2017
10 Apr 2017 by Don Thomson
I reviewed these notes in April 2017. They still haven't removed that Power Station jetty. The marina has put up its prices to £2.50 pempn.
   1   0
UPDATE APRIL 2017
06 Apr 2017 by Don Thomson
These notes were reviewed by Don in April 2017. As has been noted below the amenities block is up and running with a laundrette. Roger who has been the HM here for thirty years retires at the beginning of this season so we wish him well.
   0   0
Update 2015
30 Mar 2015 by Don Thomson
These notes were reviewed by Don in March 2015. We have highlighted the removal of the Inverkip lum (thank goodness, it was an eyesore!) and members should note that Kip Marina has repainted their roofs red as before. We have checked with the marina and they say that the Kip green SHM is now relit (Fl G 5sec) They are maintaining last years prices for visitors (though they were increased in 2014)
   1   0
Buoy unlit
13 Nov 2014 by Mikebr
The green conical buoy Fl.G.5s on approach is unlit. Posted 12/11/14
   0   0
No more chimney landmark
06 Jan 2014 by Stephen Bryant
"Please be aware that the very tall chimney at Inverkip in the Firth of Clyde is no more having been demolished in 2013. Therefore the excellent landmark visible for miles night and day is no more." This was sent at 05/01/2014 19:54:16
   0   0
From Colin Fowler
22 Nov 2013 by Stephen Bryant
"Visited Portavadie marina for the first time in August 2013, a fantastic location with excellent facilities. Surprisingly clear of midges, not sure if that was purely my good fortune. The bathrooms are most probably the best I have ever seen at a marina. "
   0   0
Update 2013
01 Mar 2013 by Don Thomson
These notes were updated by Don T on 1st March 2013. Note that the conspicuous red roofs are no more (but then again they may have been re-repainted!!). Only change is to the prices which have gone up slightly since we last wrote but have been held to the 2012 rates.
   1   0
approach
06 Jun 2012 by grasta
the two red roofs among the new housing have sadly now been painted cream also note that the light on the green starboard entry buoy is not very bright