%$#@& Marina!

[JeffM]

Sorry for the rant, but I've reached the boiling point. There is a question at the end....

Our marina was sold over the winter. The new owner's "other" business is a gas station / auto repair shop, and he has had a boat at this marina for several years. He has a short temper and he brought in a new manager who seems to be constantly up-selling and wants to sell new parts instead of trying to repair the old -- and is very condescending when you ask for more information about the problem. We have had a couple of disagreements this spring and I decided to move my boat.

My contract gives me seven days from the date they launch the boat to move it. Prior to the problems I had asked to wash and wax the boat before the launch (this was before I decided to move the boat). However, when I showed up (I had taken vacation to do the work)I was told the wash racks "weren't ready" (in fact my boat was on a rack in the wash rack area) and I'd have to wait.

Today I was told that winter storage customers are not allowed to use the marina utilities and are not allowed to wash and wax on the property. If I want to pay the marina to do the work, though, they'll do it.

This is my first encounter with winter-only storage (as a non-slipholder). Is this common? If your boat is pulled and blocked for the winter at a marina other than your in-season marina, does that marina typically prohibit you from working on your boat before launching? They haven't allowed customers do their own bottompaint, but this wash/wax issue seems new.

I don't remember this sort of prohibition -- or at the policy wasn't enforced -- prior to the new owners taking control.

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Turtlesboat]

depends on the marina, at least around here. I had to hunt around to find a DIY marina because most don't let you work on your boat.

 

[StressAweigh]

Jeff I am here in Maryland on the eastern shore. At the Marina I am at (have been there 10 years) At my marina if you store your boat on the hard deck for the winter you can not do any work on your own boat (bottom paint wash wax anything on the outside) You can work on the inside

 

[Nehalennia]

sounds crazy, I can understand maybe charging a small fee to use a pad, but not allowing it seems a little extreme

 

[JeffM]

Hmm. Thanks for the responses....maybe I was too hasty in condemning them, but it seems unreasonable to not allow at least washing and waxing. I understand not allowing jobs like bottom painting for environmental reasons, but washing/waxing seems pretty innocuous.

Jeff

 

[Turtlesboat]

there are a lot worse things i've seen marinas do or not do.

There is one Marina in the sound I checked out, their policy was that if you rented their slip in the summer, you HAD to store it there in the winter. If you do or do not store the boat there in the winter, you have to pay for it. You also have to pay for the winterizing and commissioning work even if you don't have it done. ie: you get charged for an oil change even if you don't get one done.

Now that's nuts.

 

[eddiezuskin]

Supply and demand. You can keep raising the prices and making it more restrictive if folks have nowhere else to go. In an area that has open slips and competes for your business I don't think you will see this type of nonsense. From what I hear around parts of Florida you need to kiss ass to get on a waiting list to get a slip only if someone dies. Not that way, yet, in Middle River, MD.

I did get in a beef with a nearby marina owner's spoiled son about trying to coordinate a haulout/survey/bottom repair/bottom paint job because he advertised $15/ft for haulout/scuff/paint with Micron. I know I saw it on his website and then he accused me of trying to scam him and showed me his "current" price list-$21/ft. I was not the only person to see the original pricing and its OK to change your mind if you made a mistake and decide you can't make enough money at a certain price. I was only annoyed that he tried to make me out to be the villain. I just said "FINE" and took my business elsewhere.

Eddie, I feel better now, Zuskin

 

[jrirvine1]

Hi again Jeff, sorry for the PITA marina manager. Why not consider moving directly across the bay to the “pretty” side, where life is more relaxed, the crabs are better and everyone is always in a good mood. There are a few slips available at my marina, just PM me if you are interested. Also, rates are cheaper across the bridge.

 

[rondds]

our marina charges you for a powerwash separately from the haulout. if you dont elect to do the powerwash, GOD HELP YOU if they catch you hosing off OR powerwashing your own bottom. yeah, i get the environmental concerns, but i've watched them powerwash dozens of times and they do NOTHING to collect the runoff. NOTHING.

another GESTAPO practice is, if you winter somewhere else (ie: decide you dont want to be sodomized by paying $41/ft to sit on land at their place), you are "not guaranteed" your slip, or, for that matter, ANY slip come the spring. despite the fact that they require a $500 deposit on oct 1 to reserve your summer slip. i havent heard of anyone who got booted for this "offense," but i bend over every winter so as to not make waves (no pun intended).

that being said, they are great with letting us DIY til our heart's content. i know of two marinas in northern barnegat bay that recently switched to no DIY at all. cant change your oil, cant tighten your stuffing box, cant replace your spark plugs (you get the idea). and i know of MANY a boater that either left that marina or was asked to leave b/c of this policy. it is within their right to set up such a policy and they will hide behind "insurance" and "liability" issues, but when you boil it down, it's all about the almighty dollar.

any lawyers out there? would this be "challenge-able" in a court of law? :huh:

 

[JeffM]

Supply and demand. You can keep raising the prices and making it more restrictive if folks have nowhere else to go. In an area that has open slips and competes for your business I don't think you will see this type of nonsense. From what I hear around parts of Florida you need to kiss ass to get on a waiting list to get a slip only if someone dies. Not that way, yet, in Middle River, MD.

Thanks, Eddie! I agree about supply and demand, but there are plenty of slips available in our area. The day I decided to move the boat I went and looked at three other marinas, two of which had suitable slips available. By the end of the day we had a new slip -- and paid $600 less! The marina has more amenities, but they don't have a mechanic or out-of-water winter storage (they have ice-eaters for winter, though, so we can stay in the water if we choose), and they're a bit farther from home.

Jim, thanks for the offer -- it's tempting but we've been spoiled by having the boat 10 minutes from home.

Jeff

 

[JeffM]

another GESTAPO practice is, if you winter somewhere else (ie: decide you dont want to be sodomized by paying $41/ft to sit on land at their place), you are "not guaranteed" your slip, or, for that matter, ANY slip come the spring.

I guess there's an upside to our new marina not offering mechanical services or winter storage...

 

[rondds]

you bet your boots there is! you may rue the day they hire a full time mechanic, cause that may be the day you start searching, again, for a new marina.

sometimes i think these marina owners take a weekend course in marina management, which basically encourages them to push out all the "dead wood" (aka DIYers) to maximize profit. and in an area where slips are scarce, they will effectively push out all the dead wood and replace them with people with huge checkbooks and clean fingernails. these same seminars exist in my profession but i cant work that way. there's plenty of money to be made by not alienating the regular guy.

and regarding east coasters, i have said MANY times that in my entire life of boating in the NY/NJ/Greater Baltimore areas, i have NEVER EVER met a marina owner that wasn't grumpy or ornery. i think they take a course in that behavior as well!

 

[jrirvine1]

Jim, thanks for the offer -- it's tempting but we've been spoiled by having the boat 10 minutes from home.

Jeff

Dang! I get a discount for anyone that can be roped in.
(We got no mechanic, no ramp and no storage!)

 

[JeffM]

you may rue the day they hire a full time mechanic, cause that may be the day you start searching, again, for a new marina.

:smt043In that regard, I think I'm pretty safe...it's a condo marina which also has a few rental slips. They freely allow DIY and outside contractors. Unfortunately my mechanical skills aren't very good, so I'm not much of a DIY'r. I suspect that's going to change now, though.

 

[vanburen]

We have had a great experience at Mears Annapolis. While by no means a discount facility, they are a great place. They do not have on staff mechanics, but provide access to several firms. I've never had them pushed, however. I've heard nothing about no DIY, BUT - no haulout so that does limit things. 1 price (per slip), 12 months, all amenities, including wifi. They just provided me a 2x30 to 1x50 splitter - no charge. Winter bubblers and they'll move you to a better winter slip. And the Marina manager is as far from Ornery as you could imagine - she's fantastic. Prince William is pretty good too on the Potomac also, but they of course have an onsite mechanical operation. And you might accidently buy a bigger boat if you aren't careful there. (experience talking....)

 

[Turtlesboat]

Well having been in a "condo marina" with no services, I recommend you buy into the unlimited towing from your local towboat operator. it can get very expensive having to be towed to haul out. Knock on particle board I never had to do that, but I know many that had to, and it ended up costing them a pretty penny to save a few hundred $$.

Ask around to your slip neighbors about who they use to work on the boat. I'm sure there will be a couple to choose from.

 

[Skeetobite]

Wow. You guys make me feel so glad to be on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Our marina used to have a 3 year waiting list, but the economy has now created a significant vacancy. Two years ago (about when we started boating), there were maybe 4 boats stored at anchor in a 6 miles stretch of the Manatee River and the marinas were all full. Now, there are at least 20 or more boats stored at anchor and the marinas are emptying out.

The point here is that our marina (40' minimum LOA) has become very flexible with regard to working on your own boat as well as allowing your outside labor to come in the marina. They used to ban everyone and everything unless you hired their folks.

I think that as the economy continues to soften, you'll find that marinas will actually become more friendly since they will be competing more and more for your storage, slip dollars.

 

[xravenx]

and regarding east coasters, i have said MANY times that in my entire life of boating in the NY/NJ/Greater Baltimore areas, i have NEVER EVER met a marina owner that wasn't grumpy or ornery. i think they take a course in that behavior as well!

Well, I have to disagree...................ask anybody who has stored at Gunpowder Cove Marina in Joppa, MD (like myself since '89). They are a Sea Ray dealer and are just wonderful to deal with. There was a little bit of a transition when Gunpowder Cove Marina was purchased by Marine Max about five years ago and some people bolted. I still store there for the winter and it is about 95% Sea Rays there. I had just finished waxing the hull last Saturday and the service manager walked by my boat and said, "man that boat is looking great", the guy across from me with a 380DA was preparing the bottom of his boat for paint. I have nothing but good things to say about Marine Max / Gunpowder Cove.

John

 

[Larry&Leisa]

I think our marina charges a little add on if another service comes in, however they allow DIY.
As others have said , supply and demand. Last season around june, (when I thought it might be convenient to slip instead of trailer) I got half rate, month to month, and even got to slip in with our buddies who all have 40' plus. This season they have me back to the 'lil' boat area at full rate, but the manager said " i'll just start charging you when you put in, next week? , fine, I'll start billing you for May then see if we can move you over". I have always utilized their gas pumps even when trailering, and frequented the bar and grill so perhaps they are actually wanting/earning my business.

 

[skibum]

Looks like we have the makings of a huge Maryland Sea Ray flotilla in this thread.

I live in Perry Hall and Gunpowder was on our list while we were slip shopping last July. We ended up going with Bill's Boats in Miller's Island. GC is a lot closer to home, but I don't mind the extra 15 minutes that it takes to get there.

So far, we have neither seen or heard any indications that they prevent any DIY work. They readily put the boat on the wash racks when asked. We have seen guys doing their own work. They do, however, prefer that you work with them when needing paid work done. They have shops in town that they have their "arrangements" with. I have no problem with this, as the mechanics, detailers, etc. are using the marina as a place of business, and the marina deserves a cut as "rent" for the location they provide.

And it opens TODAY!!!!!

Finally get to see her... We've not been together since Thanksgiving... crud.. I'm crying... :smt089