Finding the Right Marina for Your Boat

What to look for when you choose a Marina

Should you have a yacht or a sailboat and wish to live in the craft for any duration of time, you will need to find a Marina. Due to the variance as well as the fact that your boat may be stationed at the marina for quite a long time, there are a few points to consider when you in the process of finding the right marina for your boat.

Does the Marina match your lifestyle?

Marina communities vary as much as the neighborhoods on land. Some marinas are catered to sailboats, others are catered to luxury craft, such as Chris Craft,  while others are for larger craft such as a CRN, Lurssen Yacht, Warren Yacht, Mondomarine ,or Trinity Yacht. Ensure that you are finding the right marina for your boat which not only matches the craft that you are going to have there, but also that the culture at the marina. You do not want to appear as the outcast amongst the masses.

If it looks trashy, it probably is

The age old saying hold true “if it looks like a duck, walks like and duck, and quacks, it is probably a duck”, the same is true when you are evaluating a marina, if the marina looks trashy and the vessels which have been there for quite a while are not aesthetically pleasing, then the clientele that is attracted to such a location is more than likely not going to be the kind you wish to dock your boat beside.

When finding the right marina for your boat, walk the dock and look at the various boats. Look at the people who come out of the craft. It is not wrong to look about your community and see the neighbors that you will have. Most people would not move into a house or rent an apartment without at least checking the surrounding buildings and tenants. The same should hold true with picking your marina.

Is the management professional?

Perhaps the most important factor to consider when finding the right marina for your boat is in the management. Professional management, not just professionalism, makes for safe and comfortable living. Check the rules and regulations of the marina. What is ideal is a marina which has structure but not overbearing. All marinas have rules, at least the reputable ones do. Again, this plays to your personality, character, and your lifestyle. If your lifestyle is more on the free spirited, you will want to seek a marina with less structure. However, if you are more concerned with a luxurious way of living, you will want to seek out a stricter set of rules. Keep in mind that the looser the rules, the more apt it will be to have problematic variables.

Check with the marina to see how they handle infractions of the rules.

Reducing Risk

Check to see how insurance is handled on boats wishing to use the facilities. Any place that does not require an insurance slip is a liability and should be avoided. As your boat will more than likely be in a row with other craft, it is ill advised to go to a place where there is a fire hazard and uninsured motorists. Additionally, if the dock allows for major repairs to be done on vessels, you need to see how the management will ensure that these repairs will not cause damage to other craft.  The last thing you want is to have oil leaking all over your custom painted hull or a mechanical part busting a hole in your craft from ill responsible tenants.

Amenities

If you hold to the concept that marinas are the equivalent of the sea’s apartment complex, then you would also realize that each marina will have a set of amenities. If several marinas are close by, check to see what amenities are available. Some may offer showers, fresh water, a laundry mat, toilets, etc. Other locations may have a tier system for the amenities, meaning that the more you pay the more add-ons you will receive. Check with management prior to pulling your boat in.

What are the local docking/marina regulations and stipulations?

It is always the best practice to check with the local zoning and boating authorities to ensure that your vessel follows the legislation of that area. While you may be able to secure a spot at a marina, there is not guarantee that you will not receive a ticket/fine if your boat is not in accordance to local code.

Find a marina

If you are overwhelmed finding the marina right for your boat and don’t know where to start, please look at the Vessel Vendor site. Vessel Vendor has an abundance of information and services listings from professionals in various locations around the state.