Marathon's Message To Visiting Boats

[AquatiCat]

For more information, please see "Mariners BARR" on either Facebook or Cruisersnet.net, but the gist of it is:

(source: January 28th 2012
Boot Key Harbor City Marina Increases Fees
Marathon, FL
by Charmaine Smith Ladd) Tuesday of this week, the City of Marathon approved an increase in the fees for mooring and dinghy dockage at their public City Marina. ...
Mooring rates include dinghy dockage, one weekly sewage pump out (additional pump outs are available at $5 each), parking for one motor vehicle, and access to the marina commons (including laundry and shower facilities).
Dingy dockage rates include all of the above except one is at anchor and not assigned the use of a mooring.
Daily mooring increased from $21 to $22.
Daily dinghy dockage increased from $13 to $22.
...

No kidding. If you don't get a mooring, they will still charge you the same as if you had. The weekly rate for dinghy docking is about $20 lower than for hanging on their mooring all week.

So, that's that. They obviously don't want visitors. We were planning on heading there later this week from Key West (eventually to Bimini), but now will oblige them by visiting some friendlier town farther north.

[Pete the Cat]

Actually, given the ridiculous unwelcome cruisers get in either Marathon or Key West, this cruiser will never go there again in this lifetime. I am sympathetic to the fiscal problems of municipalities, but both these places and many others in Florida are becoming just hostile to cruisers in their policies and services. Go on to Central America and give your money to folks who appreciate your business.

[bchaps]

During the winter of 2010/2011 we moored at Marathon for 10 weeks. We enjoyed the facilities but did learn from Richard, the Dockmaster, that the town fathers simply see cruisers as a supplement to the municipal tax base. Richard explained that the average boater spends close to $2k each month on supplies, fuel, dining, groceries, clothing, etc. He also stated the town Leadership really didn't care about that aspect, but only what the boater can add to the City Municipal coffers through mooring fees.

Too bad...we enjoyed the area.

Bill

[Idylles15.5]

Believe it or not, because I'm sure most people out of the New York area wouldn't believe it, but Manhasset Bay In Port Washington NY couldn't be more friendly if it tried. Anyone heading south through Long Island Sound should stop there if they want to wait for the right tide for the East River, or if they just want a break in a nice bay with plenty of Restaurants on the water. The Bay has a water taxi actually run by my friend, and he also takes care of the transient mooring balls. Not only will he set you up on the mooring, but as part of the service you get a pass for free rides to and from the town dock, where you can reach grocery stores and basically anything you need, A west marine also. Plus he can drop you right off at the marinas with restaurants and live bands and other restaurants on the water. he will then pick you up if your bomboed at a set time or VHS call to deliver you back to your boat. The town also offer free pumpouts at your mooring in an effort to keep the bay clean. Yes that is FREE, people usually just tip the Guy on the pumpout boat and also whoever may be running the mooring launch. There are also two Yacht clubs in the bay which honor club to club courtesy charges, so if you belong to a Yacht club you have other options. So don't believe everything you here about New Yorkers ok LOL. Very boat friendly. If you go to the Hamptons or Montauk you will have to break out the Vasaline so your ass doesn't hurt from the prices. LOL

[gettinthere]

Are the moorings still full this time of year in this slow economy? If so, then they will raise prices until they start to seriously affect business.

Where else can a sailboat anchor in protected waters in the lower keys? There are no other good choices. "Act now, supply is limited".

[sailorboy1]

I think this is just an example of towns needing to raise money.

Far as the money the boaters spend in town, doesn't matter to the town until it effects the businesses and THEY complain to the town.

Cities/towns don't run their business for the benefit of out-of-towners, they do it for the the people who live there.

[Downtothesea]

We spent the past five winters on a mooring ball in BKH and made many friends and enjoyed it. But we tired of all the rules and regulations and customers being treated like naughty school children by Ricard Tanner, the dockmaster, and his pit bull Ann at the front desk. I call it "Father Dick's and Mother Superior's Summer Camp" now! So this winter we are happily spending the winter anchored elsewhere and thoroughly enjoying it! :-)

At the current price it costs $10 per foot per month for a 30 foot boat. You can get a slip lots of places in Florida in a nice marina for that. The new dinghy fee is just ridiculous, of course. Vote with your anchor as we do and let the taxpayers in Marathon foot the bill for an empty mooring field.

The city originally did a good job with the mooring field and marina and attracted a good following of customers. Then they got greedy and will soon kill off the golden goose! :-(

[Gemini Dreams]

Maybe this should be a sticky somewhere as I just went to the desk and stood there in shock for 5 minutes thinking of plan "C". At this rate plan "A" and plan "B" were just WOW!

The dinghy dock went up from $13 to $22 for one day and from around $45 to $88 a week!!! That is a whopping 69% to 95% a week (+_)

If you stay 4 days or less there is no reason to stay in the anchorage anymore! If you stay for a week you can save a few dollars but only around $30.

The mooring field on the other hand only went up $25 a month or around 9%

This appears to be an attempt to move the local worker onto a mooring ball in perhaps the hope to remove some of the derelict looking boats from the harbor. Too bad it actually hits the 1-3 day stop and shop cruiser so hard. So we will be spending less time here and more on the move now. So Marathon is hitting their locals and budget cruiser with an extravagant rate increase and those that are at the upper end and not as drastically impacted by the rate increase only suffer an expected increase. You could also assume there is not really a significant increase for moorings but a massive increase in water prices and you get a break for using their moorings. I haven't checked the water for an increase from 5 cents to 5 bucks yet? But there is an auto vending ice machine that gives you some ice (about 6 pounds) in a bag with some water (about 1/2 gallon) added for $1.75

They have also installed water savers in the shower, one hand on the handle or no water!

w

[Kettlewell]

The boating community in Boot Key Harbor is definitely POed. A group of folks who want to protest the new fees is meeting Friday February 10, 11:15 am in the Marathon City Marina TiKi Hut.

[gettinthere]

I think those PO'd should vote with their feet






And leave an open mooring for me.

The field is full, with a waiting list. In this economy, that's saying something.

[sabray]

Originally Posted by Idylles15.5

Believe it or not, because I'm sure most people out of the New York area wouldn't believe it, but Manhasset Bay In Port Washington NY couldn't be more friendly if it tried. Anyone heading south through Long Island Sound should stop there if they want to wait for the right tide for the East River, or if they just want a break in a nice bay with plenty of Restaurants on the water. The Bay has a water taxi actually run by my friend, and he also takes care of the transient mooring balls. Not only will he set you up on the mooring, but as part of the service you get a pass for free rides to and from the town dock, where you can reach grocery stores and basically anything you need, A west marine also. Plus he can drop you right off at the marinas with restaurants and live bands and other restaurants on the water. he will then pick you up if your bomboed at a set time or VHS call to deliver you back to your boat. The town also offer free pumpouts at your mooring in an effort to keep the bay clean. Yes that is FREE, people usually just tip the Guy on the pumpout boat and also whoever may be running the mooring launch. There are also two Yacht clubs in the bay which honor club to club courtesy charges, so if you belong to a Yacht club you have other options. So don't believe everything you here about New Yorkers ok LOL. Very boat friendly. If you go to the Hamptons or Montauk you will have to break out the Vasaline so your ass doesn't hurt from the prices. LOL

agree

[gettinthere]

Ft. Myers beach mooring field has openings and the rate is $13/day

[Hudson Force]

We like our stays at Port Washington on the town moorings. As I recall there are only about ten town moorings, but there is usually one available. The difference between Marathon and Manhasset Bay is far more than the hospitality of the shore community, but a huge impact of the cruisers themselves. We don't see much value in congregating in a harbor with hundreds of cruisers. As long term Florida cruisers we avoid the "Snowbird Rookeries". It seems counter to all that's best of live aboard cruising to seek out these places like Boot Key Harbor or George Town.

[matauwhi]

G'day, CaptForce. See, per our discussion on the other thread, the $22 a day to tie the dinghy up is essentially a fee to anchor. Very common practice, but not here in New Zealand, at least yet anyway. Cheers.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by matauwhi

G'day, CaptForce. See, per our discussion on the other thread, the $22 a day to tie the dinghy up is essentially a fee to anchor. Very common practice, but not here in New Zealand, at least yet anyway. Cheers.

Yes, I see your point; however, a fee for dinghy access from an anchorage is not a very common practice at all. A $5 to $10 dollar fee to access and use the amenities of a marina is common and this usually includes a lounge area, internet access and showers. The $22 a day fee at Boot Key Harbor is outrageous, but still a fee that is charged for the shore facilities and not an anchoring fee. There are hundreds of free dinghy access locations on the US East Coast and many town free docks available for short term stays for larger vessels. It also remains that anchoring itself is a free activity most everywhere in US waters. Marathon (Boot Key Harbor) is unusual due to the behavior of so many that flock there for the season, but still without a fee for anchoring. We don't usually associate anchoring with going to town, shopping or gathering with crowds.