RJ
03-14-2003, 02:11 PM
HOW-TO: LOOKING FOR A MARINA?
With a new boating season here already, it’s never is too early to plan where your boat will be spending the summer months. Keeping your boat in a marina is a pleasant thought that saves time and effort, when pursuing one’s fishing or boating pleasures.
I spent a few seasons trailering my boat from ramp to ramp, which was fine because I like fishing the various areas and ports of Long Island. It’s the diversity and beauty of such areas that add to the fishing experience that makes Long Island such a great place to live. This past few years I have kept my 20-foot "The Fishing Line" center console in a marina. Since "putting in" at a marina, I use the boat more frequently with less work. It’s a joy to drive to the marina, load the rods and bait and off we go. No fuss, no mess. When we get back, it’s jump off the boat, clean her up and drive home. A lot fewer hassles this way, but you do pay for this luxury.
There were several reasons I decided to use a Marina and again this coming season. First and foremost is the fact that my wife is a schoolteacher and is off during the summer. She doesn’t drive my 5-speed truck and has no experience backing a trailer, so a marina was the logical choice. This allowed her to use the boat with little problem. There are no road problems from trailering and no trailer lights or electrical problems to contend with, never mind the dreadful worry of wheels, bearings and flat trailer tires. Now that I’ve convinced you to spring for the marina, let’s look at some factors to consider when looking for a marina
The fact there are some really good deals out there doesn’t hurt either. Let’s face it, the boating industry isn’t as strong as it once was, but it is making a strong comeback thanks Mike Duffy from the New York National Boat Show (NYNBS). and the NYMTA
Are you looking for a full service marina, the basics or are you just looking for a slip to store your boat? If you take your time looking for a marina, you can find good deals on basic and full service marinas. With an average cost around $40 to $75 per foot and as much as $100, when you look at the combination price of summer/winter storage, choosing a marina is not as hard as you would think. There are many choices out there and you can make the right one if you do a little digging. Lets look at a full service marina. You can make any adjustments on the cash dollar value, as you go along when you compare this to marinas with a little less service. When looking at any marina, you’ll want to consider several factors.
First, how is the marina kept and what condition are the docks in. Face it, you’re going to spend a fair amount of change when choosing to use a marina and you want to make sure things are in order. Take a stroll around the premises and see what condition the docks, planking and poles are in. Are poles dug in deep or just stuck in the mud? After this survey, there are still several factors to consider and look for, when deciding to rent or own a boat slip in a marina. Do the lines come with the slip? Bumpers? Are there enough cleats around the slip? Are they large enough for your boat?
If you’re looking at a full service marina and by that, mean they should be able to haul your boat for you, can they accommodate you on this? Is there electricity and running water at your slip? Can they fix things if something happens? Suppose you hit something and the prop is bad. Can they fix it or do they have to send it out? Can they handle through hull fitting problems? Electrical? Engine problems? The list could be endless, but a "full" service marina should be able to do most if not all of these things. What kind of shape is the repair equipment in? How’s the attitude of the yard manager? Are they friendly or are they doing you a favor? We know they’re busy in the yard, but do they return your phone calls?
Many top quality yards and full service marinas have schooled engine technicians with certificates of graduation. You’ll want to see these certificates!! It makes a difference if they have them or not, because mechanics who are top quality use the right tools for the job. We all know the majority of any repair bill is mechanic’s labor time, and using the right tools will save time and money! When the mechanic gets in your boat, does he/she put a towel down under the can of paint or oil? Do they wipe their shoes before getting in your new white boat? If not, maybe you don’t belong in that yard or marina.
Does the marina have a policy of putting down in writing estimates of repairs? There are horror stories galore where you say go fix it not thinking it’s a big job and when the bill comes back everybody’s angry. Make sure you ask to see the marina’s certificate of insurance! Do they have product liability insurance? Will they stand behind what they fix? Remember, boating can be expensive and you’ll be putting down $500 & more on a slip & it’s your right to expect and get good service!!
All of these things are considered before I put my money down and you should too!! If you run outboards on your vessel, you should ask what the depth of the water is where you’ll be docked. If the area is a tidal area, is there enough water under you? The last thing you want is to start an outboard and find the water is too shallow. Now you’re taking sediment into your outboard that can cause overheating down the road. Now you’ve ruined your day and are in for an expensive repair. Not that anyone is purposely dishonest, but take a stick and check the depth yourself. Do this during a full or new moon tidal period when tides are at their most extreme and a true depth reading can be obtained.
How’s the accessibility to the gas pumps and how many pumps are there? If it’s not that accommodating, watch out! You may not think it’s important, but what happens when you decide to go boating or fishing on a nice day and boats are lined up 12 deep at the pumps. This can make for a long wait, killing the spirit of the day you started you with. Can you get to the pumps in your boat at low tide? Make sure the marina uses a top quality fuel with proper additives! With the way engines are made today, stick with name brands like BP, Texaco and Gulf. They have been around for years and are staples of the industry.
Does the full service marina in which you’re looking have a pump out station. In today’s world, there is no excuse to discharge any material into out marine environment. It has been proven that untreated fecal matter is bad for the ecosystem of the marine world and every full service marina should have a pump out station. Even if it’s a minimal charge to maintain the pump out station there should be one. Some full service marinas offer services like Valet storage. This allows you dry rack storage year round and they put you in the water at your convenience upon a phone call, should you decide to come out for the day.
Other marinas offer Dockiminiums. In a Dockiminium, you actually purchase your slip in a full service marina like a condominium. This way there’s no one telling you they’re not going to renew your slip from year to year. You own it outright along with a small piece of property on land adjacent to the slip with its own tax map with meets & bounds and a deed. For example, you buy A1 on land with the water to A1. The water of your slip is what they call the "common element" in the Dockiminium, just as the hallway in a condo is that building’s common element. In a situation like this, you’ll find the other amenities associated with condos. Tennis courts and swimming pools to name a few. Does your future marina have a meeting room or card room? Is there landscaping or does the marina look like it’s oil and concrete? One of my main concerns was do they allow fish cleaning at the dock, your slip or is there a special area for this chore?
These are things that make for an enjoyable stay and fun time on the water. An over looked item is where’s your slip in relationship to the prevailing winds? As most readers know, the prevailing winds on a late summer day are from the southwest. If your boat doesn’t have twin engines or the twins you have are close together and the maneuverability of your boat or your experience isn’t up to task, you may want to rent a different slip. Maybe one where you head into the wind when you dock, causing less possible damage to your neighbor’s and your boat.
All the above-mentioned questions and points of view, and there are lot of them, are important when you’re going to lay down the amount of money we’re talking about. As stated earlier, the boating industry is growing again, but odds are in your favor for finding the perfect slip in that perfect full service marina. All it takes is a little homework, the gumption to ask some tough questions and you’ll be set for an easy and fun time on the water this season.
With a new boating season here already, it’s never is too early to plan where your boat will be spending the summer months. Keeping your boat in a marina is a pleasant thought that saves time and effort, when pursuing one’s fishing or boating pleasures.
I spent a few seasons trailering my boat from ramp to ramp, which was fine because I like fishing the various areas and ports of Long Island. It’s the diversity and beauty of such areas that add to the fishing experience that makes Long Island such a great place to live. This past few years I have kept my 20-foot "The Fishing Line" center console in a marina. Since "putting in" at a marina, I use the boat more frequently with less work. It’s a joy to drive to the marina, load the rods and bait and off we go. No fuss, no mess. When we get back, it’s jump off the boat, clean her up and drive home. A lot fewer hassles this way, but you do pay for this luxury.
There were several reasons I decided to use a Marina and again this coming season. First and foremost is the fact that my wife is a schoolteacher and is off during the summer. She doesn’t drive my 5-speed truck and has no experience backing a trailer, so a marina was the logical choice. This allowed her to use the boat with little problem. There are no road problems from trailering and no trailer lights or electrical problems to contend with, never mind the dreadful worry of wheels, bearings and flat trailer tires. Now that I’ve convinced you to spring for the marina, let’s look at some factors to consider when looking for a marina
The fact there are some really good deals out there doesn’t hurt either. Let’s face it, the boating industry isn’t as strong as it once was, but it is making a strong comeback thanks Mike Duffy from the New York National Boat Show (NYNBS). and the NYMTA
Are you looking for a full service marina, the basics or are you just looking for a slip to store your boat? If you take your time looking for a marina, you can find good deals on basic and full service marinas. With an average cost around $40 to $75 per foot and as much as $100, when you look at the combination price of summer/winter storage, choosing a marina is not as hard as you would think. There are many choices out there and you can make the right one if you do a little digging. Lets look at a full service marina. You can make any adjustments on the cash dollar value, as you go along when you compare this to marinas with a little less service. When looking at any marina, you’ll want to consider several factors.
First, how is the marina kept and what condition are the docks in. Face it, you’re going to spend a fair amount of change when choosing to use a marina and you want to make sure things are in order. Take a stroll around the premises and see what condition the docks, planking and poles are in. Are poles dug in deep or just stuck in the mud? After this survey, there are still several factors to consider and look for, when deciding to rent or own a boat slip in a marina. Do the lines come with the slip? Bumpers? Are there enough cleats around the slip? Are they large enough for your boat?
If you’re looking at a full service marina and by that, mean they should be able to haul your boat for you, can they accommodate you on this? Is there electricity and running water at your slip? Can they fix things if something happens? Suppose you hit something and the prop is bad. Can they fix it or do they have to send it out? Can they handle through hull fitting problems? Electrical? Engine problems? The list could be endless, but a "full" service marina should be able to do most if not all of these things. What kind of shape is the repair equipment in? How’s the attitude of the yard manager? Are they friendly or are they doing you a favor? We know they’re busy in the yard, but do they return your phone calls?
Many top quality yards and full service marinas have schooled engine technicians with certificates of graduation. You’ll want to see these certificates!! It makes a difference if they have them or not, because mechanics who are top quality use the right tools for the job. We all know the majority of any repair bill is mechanic’s labor time, and using the right tools will save time and money! When the mechanic gets in your boat, does he/she put a towel down under the can of paint or oil? Do they wipe their shoes before getting in your new white boat? If not, maybe you don’t belong in that yard or marina.
Does the marina have a policy of putting down in writing estimates of repairs? There are horror stories galore where you say go fix it not thinking it’s a big job and when the bill comes back everybody’s angry. Make sure you ask to see the marina’s certificate of insurance! Do they have product liability insurance? Will they stand behind what they fix? Remember, boating can be expensive and you’ll be putting down $500 & more on a slip & it’s your right to expect and get good service!!
All of these things are considered before I put my money down and you should too!! If you run outboards on your vessel, you should ask what the depth of the water is where you’ll be docked. If the area is a tidal area, is there enough water under you? The last thing you want is to start an outboard and find the water is too shallow. Now you’re taking sediment into your outboard that can cause overheating down the road. Now you’ve ruined your day and are in for an expensive repair. Not that anyone is purposely dishonest, but take a stick and check the depth yourself. Do this during a full or new moon tidal period when tides are at their most extreme and a true depth reading can be obtained.
How’s the accessibility to the gas pumps and how many pumps are there? If it’s not that accommodating, watch out! You may not think it’s important, but what happens when you decide to go boating or fishing on a nice day and boats are lined up 12 deep at the pumps. This can make for a long wait, killing the spirit of the day you started you with. Can you get to the pumps in your boat at low tide? Make sure the marina uses a top quality fuel with proper additives! With the way engines are made today, stick with name brands like BP, Texaco and Gulf. They have been around for years and are staples of the industry.
Does the full service marina in which you’re looking have a pump out station. In today’s world, there is no excuse to discharge any material into out marine environment. It has been proven that untreated fecal matter is bad for the ecosystem of the marine world and every full service marina should have a pump out station. Even if it’s a minimal charge to maintain the pump out station there should be one. Some full service marinas offer services like Valet storage. This allows you dry rack storage year round and they put you in the water at your convenience upon a phone call, should you decide to come out for the day.
Other marinas offer Dockiminiums. In a Dockiminium, you actually purchase your slip in a full service marina like a condominium. This way there’s no one telling you they’re not going to renew your slip from year to year. You own it outright along with a small piece of property on land adjacent to the slip with its own tax map with meets & bounds and a deed. For example, you buy A1 on land with the water to A1. The water of your slip is what they call the "common element" in the Dockiminium, just as the hallway in a condo is that building’s common element. In a situation like this, you’ll find the other amenities associated with condos. Tennis courts and swimming pools to name a few. Does your future marina have a meeting room or card room? Is there landscaping or does the marina look like it’s oil and concrete? One of my main concerns was do they allow fish cleaning at the dock, your slip or is there a special area for this chore?
These are things that make for an enjoyable stay and fun time on the water. An over looked item is where’s your slip in relationship to the prevailing winds? As most readers know, the prevailing winds on a late summer day are from the southwest. If your boat doesn’t have twin engines or the twins you have are close together and the maneuverability of your boat or your experience isn’t up to task, you may want to rent a different slip. Maybe one where you head into the wind when you dock, causing less possible damage to your neighbor’s and your boat.
All the above-mentioned questions and points of view, and there are lot of them, are important when you’re going to lay down the amount of money we’re talking about. As stated earlier, the boating industry is growing again, but odds are in your favor for finding the perfect slip in that perfect full service marina. All it takes is a little homework, the gumption to ask some tough questions and you’ll be set for an easy and fun time on the water this season.