to know the marina’s social climate. Some marinas are
leave them at the dock, while dockhands wash down the
known for their dock parties, so if you have a family, make
boats, clean them, and then call the forklift driver to lift
sure you’re either at the family dock and away from the
the boats and return them to their proper storage slot.
partiers, or better yet, at the marina where most of the fellow occupants partake of the same social activities. It’s not intrusive to ask the marina manager if the marina hosts events that would infringe on your privacy.
This model works fine until the major holidays—Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day—when everyone wants to be out on the water. Make sure the marina has the resources needed for these extra busy days, and be sure
In recent years, the role of marinas has changed. The marina
there’s adequate staff hired for the busy boating season.
is no longer the place for renting boat spaces. It has evolved
The other problem boaters might encounter is working
into the social gathering place. Individual docks will host
on their boats during the off-season. Insurance policies
parties and cookouts. It’s not unusual for some marinas to
prohibit work onsite, so boaters will have to either haul
host potluck dinners every Friday evening during the summer,
their boats out themselves or get the boatyard to do it.
while others stage musical concerts. Even the marina itself has changed in the way it communicates with customers (via email and phone calls) and the activities it sponsors
LIVEABOARDS
(in-water boat shows, boating safety classes, musical
Why not make the boat your home and your marina your
performances, National Marina Day celebrations, and so
local address? It’s tempting to walk away from the stresses
forth). Check out all these activities before selecting a marina.
of home or condo ownership and think about getting up to waves lapping at the hull. Instead of an hour-long rush hour
DRY STORAGE The previous paragraphs have been talking about wet slip marinas, but dry storage is another option. Although not very common in the Great Lakes, dry storage marinas offer both pros and cons.
commute, think of taking a 20-minute taxi ride or even a leisurely stroll from the boat to the office. Living aboard your boat in the marina sounds great, but there is another side to it. Not every marina welcomes liveaboards, and even those that do have a separate lease agreement apart from the regular lease agreements. A liveaboard is more than just a person or
In dry storage marinas, boats are kept inside a storage
family that spends their weekends on their boats. Liveaboards
shed when not in use. An advantage here is that boats
will be at the marina 365 days a year, and the idea of living
are protected from the elements, i.e., heat, wind, rain,
a life without a care in the world is far from reality. There’s the question of responsibilities ranging from costs for extra electricity, water, and pumpouts to security, safety, and insurance. Depending on your liveaboard arrangement, there will be either a few or many neighbors, and like in a neighborhood, some are desirable and some aren’t. A word to the wise: know your liveaboard neighbors.
sun, etc. Boaters bring their vessels to the marina in the
THE REPORT CARD
spring, leave them there throughout the boating season, and can even leave them in dry storage during the winter.
Ultimately, choosing a marina is as important a factor in your total boating experience as buying a boat. Write
When dry storage customers want to spend a day or afternoon
a list of factors important to your marina lifestyle, and
on the water, they simply call the marina beforehand, tell the
after each boating season, review how your marina
operator when they want their vessels ready, and then drive
stacks up, and don’t be afraid to move if the report
to the marina where they will find their boats fueled and filled
grades are failing. On the other hand, marinas are not
with ice, food and beverages, depending on their wants.
perfect places, so weigh the positives and the negatives,
When boaters return from their time on the water, they don’t have to worry about docking their boats. They simply
22 GLB | Sept /Oc t 13
make a conscious decision, not an impulsive choice, and be sure your marina is making the grade.