Club Moorings
The club has some 120 moorings to offer our members at the most reasonable rates on the Clyde. We are however, a sailing club, not a ‘park and forget’ moorings association and members are expected to participate fully in both the running and life of the club. Prospective members are asked to commit to this when being interviewed for membership.
The majority of the moorings are of the ‘fore and aft’ variety along the wall on the north east side of the inner harbour (photo above), some of which at the southern end dry at low water. Immediately in front of the clubhouse there are two trots of shallow moorings suitable for smaller bilge keel yachts and motor boats and inside these, on the shoreline, are some drying moorings. The maximum beam that can be accommodated on wall moorings is limited by the 12 ft space available for each boat (to include fenders). Our island pontoon provides around 40 finger berths for boats up to around 36 ft, however the vessel’s draft is often the determining factor as to whether it can be accommodated. None of these moorings or berths are ‘walk on’ and as such require a dinghy trip from the shore however this is reflected in the annual charge. The 2023 charge for wall or trot mooring is £751, the island pontoon berths are charged per metre, currently around £114 p/m (2021).
The island pontoon and trot moorings.
There are waiting lists for both moorings and berths and normally a boat must occupy a wall or trot mooring before applying to be put on the island pontoon waiting list.
Currently (2023) there is no waiting list for moorings suitable for boats up to 30 ft.
The Club does not benefit financially from the letting of the moorings, the fees paid by the members go directly to Troon Yacht Haven. The club does however charge boat owners a berthing rights fee to help maintain those parts of the mooring tackle and facilities for which it is responsible. This is usually set at a similar rate as the full member subscription – currently £105 (2023).
Being a berth holder does carry responsibilities.
Responsibilities of Berth Holders
It is incumbent upon us all as seamen to ensure the security of our vessels and that of others.
A boat owner holding a wall mooring must maintain in good condition one half of the chain bridle and fore and aft warps also one spring and breast rope (see moorings guidance notes and diagrams). A monthly check for wear and chafe is essential, six monthly for shackle corrosion. The pick-up line and bow and stern lines should be of the sinking variety with a float or floats mid way. Floating line makes it easier for the prop to foul. If there is any doubt about the condition of any component it is time to renew it, so liaise with your mooring partner and make arrangements to renew the worn part. Long link chain is recommended for the wall chain and less than 10mm is false economy (even 10mm will require part renewal in three years). Kyle Chandlers stocks 10mm long link chain and black shackles.
The riser and ground chains belong to the marina and are its responsibility. Provision of the float and top shackle is is by the club and spares are kept in the garage cage (available from the moorings convenor). All other parts are supplied by the boat owner. Only black shackles (not galvanised or stainless) should be used to connect mooring warps to the riser. However it is up to the individual skippers to assess the condition of the tackle (except for the ground chain). Contact the moorings convenor or a member of the moorings sub-committee if help is needed in this.
Use inert nylon cable ties or monel seizing wire to secure shackle pins. Copper wire is not appropriate for this job. Mooring warps – if you cannot splice a nylon thimble into your bow/stern lines ask another member, chandler or rigger to do it for you.
Boat owners with craft on trot or drying moorings have similar responsibilities regarding the proper maintenance of their moorings although the detail may be different to that of wall moorings.
Periodic checks are made on mooring tackle and if the Council is concerned about the condition of a boat’s mooring the Moorings Convenor will be asked to assess the situation and advise the boat owner accordingly. If there is a chance a boat may sink or cause damage to another, the boat (and its mooring partner) may require to be moved to marina berth(s) at the offending owner’s expense.
