Why Do Marinas Do this ?

[canucksailor]

I've placed this thread here for a more generalized response that I would receive in the tech forums.
A friend is frustrated about a boat repair (electrical of course) to the point she is going to sell her sailboat. Right now, the boat is in a marina that does not permit outside techs to work on a boat - although their own people cannot resolve the problem and have spent over $1000 trying, to no avail.
By what right do marinas exclude outside contractors? I'd really like to know, for my friend's sake, what is the rationale here.
Thanks all....

Wally

[DeepFrz]

She can always move to a contractors dock while they work on the boat. Rational? Money of course...greed.

[AnchorageGuy]

Wally, I am sure every marina has their own reasons. It is mostly a money issue, they have a captive audience, but may also be a security and insurance issue. An uneducated installer doing electric work on a boat can spell disaster for the entire marina if a fire results. The marina can control the quality of the work if they control the experience of the tech. I don't always agree with this and being a service tech for over 35 years I have worked in a lot of marinas. I am always required to carry insurance and prove it and usually have no issues wherever I work on a regular basis. The Marinas that will not allow outside contractors are becoming fewer, but are still around. We usually will not stay at the marinas with this policy since I can't do everything on our boat. We always ask their policy up front before moving into a new marina. Some states even have regulations against this policy, but the marina can still make it difficult for someone else to work there. Chuck

[dennisjay]

They do it because they can. I would never berth a boat in a marina with such restrictive policies. Also, some marinas require contractors to kick back a percentage of billings for working on boats in their marinas, an unethical practice, imo. Also ask before making a commitment on a slip.

[Unicorn Dreams]

They can do it because it's their property.
Just like you can keep people of your land..

Plus they may have certain insurance requirments, plus they are in business to make money. Doesn't make sense they wouldn;t allow outside techs when their techs can;t fix the problem..

Anybody at the marina on weekends???

[zeehag]

money.
more money.
greed.
contracts with workers.
money
greed
in many cases one is able to make a special exception with marine on use of special --LICENSED workers to do the work.
these workers need BUSINESS LICENSE, INSURANCE, AND CERTIFICATIONS TO PRESENT TO THE MARINA.
goood luck.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by canucksailor

I've placed this thread here for a more generalized response that I would receive in the tech forums.
A friend is frustrated about a boat repair (electrical of course) to the point she is going to sell her sailboat. Right now, the boat is in a marina that does not permit outside techs to work on a boat - although their own people cannot resolve the problem and have spent over $1000 trying, to no avail.
By what right do marinas exclude outside contractors? I'd really like to know, for my friend's sake, what is the rationale here.
Thanks all....

Wally

Weird. I have heard of boatyards doing so, but never of marinas!

Just get the right guy, sign them up as a CREW and off they go sorting off the problem. That's the deal I have with some owners for whom I work.

b.

[Seahunter]

They want their cut.

[Khagan1227]

Marinas can't stop my friends from visiting. I just have to pay certain friends to visit.

[Capt Phil]

I lived aboard in a San Diego marina for a number of years that had restrictions on who worked aboard the boat moored there. The workers were required to check in each day before heading to the dock. All workers either had the show they had liability insurance or worked for a contractor who carried insurance.
This practice was enacted after a gypsy carpet installer laid carpeting aboard a large sportfisher, neglected to vent properly resulting in an explosion and fire that destroyed 4 good sized boats (40-50 ft), two of which were used as liveaboards.
Virtually all of us who lived aboard were in favor of this check-in procedure because it protected our homes.
Additionally, there is a record of who is in the marina in the event there is theft or vandalism.
Personally, I'm in favor of controls that improve the security and safety of my home and investment provided it is applied evenhandedly and not abused or used as a form of extortion. Capt Phil

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

I lived aboard in a San Diego marina for a number of years that had restrictions on who worked aboard the boat moored there. The workers were required to check in each day before heading to the dock. All workers either had the show they had liability insurance or worked for a contractor who carried insurance. ...

This is also the practice of my marina in Vallejo although they permitted an un-insured person to clean/wax my boat but under my personal liability.

[Astrid]

I just have to pay certain friends to visit.

You too? I guess a few of my past shanghaiing routines have gotten around my limited circle of otherwise visiting friends.

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by Khagan1227

Marinas can't stop my friends from visiting. I just have to pay certain friends to visit.

Yup... there IS more then one way to skin that cat.

[Blue Stocking]

I am sure that this does not apply to present company, but I have had boats skedaddle while I was back at the office making up the bill.
My arrangement with the yard owner was that if I brought the work to the marina, I billed directly, and he got only the slip fee.
If he called me in, I billed him and he paid me before the boat left, presumably after paying him in full.
There is a certain CSY44 cruising in the islands, that I will own, if he stops thru here again.

[canucksailor]

So - it would seem to be greed, with some rationale applied to justify it. My point is, this woman has spent over $1000 to have the marina fix an electrical problem - and it ain't fixed because their people seem not to have the know how.
So - how does she get this done? She's not (no disrespect intended) the type to invite certain 'friends' aboard. Besides, few of her friends carry toolboxes...