In the early sixties Derek and June Holt along with their daughters Linda, Christine and Sandra, enjoyed sailing on the Clyde from a mooring at Cardwell Bay in Gourock.
Derek became aware of a new innovation in boat mooring being developed abroad which provided the walk on walk off facility which we enjoy today. Being all too familiar with the perils of conveying family and provisions to a boat on a mooring he immediately saw the potential. Identifying the saltings at Inverkip; an inland area which provided exceptional shelter amidst a magnificent rural setting, Kip Marina was born.
Construction continued through the late sixties which coincided with the new main road at Inverkip and the commencement of the erection of the power station and chimney which have been now demolished. The first phase was completed in 1971 and in our gallery you will see a picture from 1973 of a full Kip Marina. It was the first Marina in Scotland (only one of the reasons we are Scotland’s Premier Marina!) and there were only another two Marinas in the UK under construction at the same time as Kip. The Marina originally was planned for 250 boats but expanded to 600 berths by 1984. In 1985 the Chartroom Bar & Restaurant was erected together with the extended shower and toilet facilities. These facilities were refurbished in 2007 providing a brighter, cleaner and much more stylish facility for Kip berth holders to enjoy. The Chartroom has been extended and refurbished with a new Restaurant and kitchen extension enabling it to provide for functions whilst still catering for the berth holders and general public. We now have had a number of wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships performed on the patio, in the Function room and Marquees. The Marquees have seen formal black tie balls, Christmas party nights, Corporate events, kid’s parties and Rock & Roll bands over the years.
All of the Marina pontoons have been replaced as have the electrics, lighting, gangways, and gates together with a new state of the art entry system. Expanded CCTV coverage, webcams and we offer WI-FI within the Marina allowing internet access from your boat.
We also have one of the busiest brokerage departments in Scotland and play host to Scotland’s Boat Show in October each year. This show is the best attended and the most successful show for buyers and sellers alike in Scotland, the show itself now nearly 30 years old. The original Chandlery and offices were demolished in 2004 and replaced with the more modern building which also accommodates Mainsail and Ocean Sailing Scotland.
Buoyed with it’s success from the rebuild, the Chandlery was extended in 2008 and three further units were created providing new premises for Café Riva by Nardini and Sea Change Therapy Health & Beauty Spa. The Chandlery extension provides visibility and product display to the general public on the main road and a hydraulic passenger lift to the upper floor which displays the myriad of casual, marine and technical clothing together with footwear.
