Catamaran Dockage Questions

[fst415]

1) Along the ICW, how available is dockage at marinas along the way for a 36 ft. catamaran with a 16 ft. beam?

2) In Florida waters, if a catamaran with the aforementioned beam were to fit in a slip, would the marina typically charge the same linear foot rate as a 36 ft. monohull, or would the charge be higher because the vessel is a catamaran?

Thanks for your replies.

Feroz

[Hudson Force]

15' is the most common width among slips at marinas along the US on the east coast; however, many marinas have face docks or some wider slips.

Most marinas in Florida are charging by the linear foot and without an added cost for beam.

It would be an advantage for anyone traveling on the ICW, with a wide beam requirement and an interest in marina slips, to call ahead for slip reservations.

[fst415]

Aytha crew, thanks for your prompt and informative reply. You folks probably hold the record for the length of time you have lived aboard boats. Good going!

[Ortolan]

In 4 years of full-time cruising Connecticut to Bahamas, I agree that usually there is no problem & we've never been charged extra for our 23' width. The ICW is especially easy, as the majority of marinas have very long face docks where they put most transients.

However, there are some situations where it does become an issue in the northeast as well as the Bahamas. With many marinas which have conventional slips, you'll need a T-head which are limited.

- In one case in CT (a T-head for a season) they charged by the length of the dock - not the boat - but that is un-common for transients.

- In some busy northeast harbors we've been told they just don't take catamarans (even though I know they had a couple of T-heads).

- A Nassau marina (with no T-heads) had to put us into a large (70') boat slip just to have the width - yet they put us off & left it empty for 2 days - finally letting us take it - I think they wanted to wait for a 70' boat to take it (makes sense).

As no serious issues, but ...

Russ

[Mystic38]

Luckily there are very few places where you need to be in a marina on the ICW.

Your issue will be finding a slip that you can fit into with your beam.

So, if you can fit in the slip, you wont be charged extra, if you take a T or face dock you wont be charged extra, but if you consume 2 adjacent slips due to your beam you may well be charged twice.

Originally Posted by fst415

1) Along the ICW, how available is dockage at marinas along the way for a 36 ft. catamaran with a 16 ft. beam?

2) In Florida waters, if a catamaran with the aforementioned beam were to fit in a slip, would the marina typically charge the same linear foot rate as a 36 ft. monohull, or would the charge be higher because the vessel is a catamaran?

Thanks for your replies.

Feroz

[Double-Wide]

We cruised from the Bahamas to the Chesapeake for 4years and very few problems finding a alp when necessary. I never paid a penalty for being a multihull, mainly on principle.

With the cost of a daily slip we anchored out most of the time.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[valhalla360]

16' is pushing the limits for typical 36' slips but lots are wide enough and as others have said, they don't typically charge extra if they put you on a T-head or in a larger slip (though I wouldn't blame them if you can't fit in a typical slip and you take up prime space due to beam)

There are some marinas that say there is an extra charge for catamarans. What we have done when we run into this is to call ahead to ask the price for a 34x14 sailboat. When we arrive, they are put in the position of explaining why a 34x14 monohull should pay less. Usually, they don't bring it up and the couple that did quickly dropped it. We did typically have a fall back option if they stood their ground but they never did. (if you have a 20' beam, this probably won't work because it will be readily obvious you are a catamaran when you call)