Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 06-06-2012, 20:18   #1
cruiser

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Tampa Bay area
Boat: Hunter 31'
Posts: 5,731
Damage Fee for Dock?

Once a month the sailing club i belong to organizes a weekend cruise to some other place. Sometimes it's an anchorage, and sometimes it's a marina.

This month we went to Regatta Pointe in Bradenton. We've had trouble there in the past -- dinner coupons not honored, or the dockmaster insisting that every boat be measured to make sure the owner paid the right amount -- but we were assured that these things would not be a problem this time.

Well, they weren't. There were no coupons for a discount at the big restaurant, so no risk that they wouldn't be honored. They did not measure the boats. However, they did require a $300 credit card deposit (not run "unless needed") against "damage to their docks." It's not as if their docks are brand new and pristine. I didn't bring my boat this time, so I went to the office and inquired -- politely -- about this unexpected $300 deposit. The person at the desk bristled and snarled at me that he didn't know that it was "unexpected." It was as if he wanted an argument and suggested I "have a talk" with the dockmaster tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure I understood what had taken place.

I've stayed at a lot of marinas as a transient at this point (along with a lot of hotels) and have never had to leave a damage deposit. Is this typical in other parts of the country? Has anyone else run across this practice? Personally I'm not of a mind to go there with my boat in the future, but if I did, I certainly would photograph the dock as soon as I came in, given that they aren't brand new.
Rakuflames is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2012, 20:35   #2
Registered User
 
Dennis.G's Avatar

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sea of Cortez and the U.P. of Michigan
Boat: Celestial 48
Posts: 904
Re: damage fee for dock???

Hotels and rental car agencies both always (usually at least) require a credit card for pretty much the same reason. They just don't call it a deposit as it is covered in the fine print of your signed contract for service. I think it sound unusual just because of the way they present it to the customer, but a credit card security against damages is not unusual.

Why $300? What if you did a $1000 damage?
Dennis.G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2012, 21:49   #3
CF Adviser
 
Bash's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
Re: damage fee for dock???

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rakuflames View Post

This month we went to Regatta Pointe in Bradenton.
Regatta Pointe in Bradenton.

Why would anyone cruise to a marina with such a pretentious name? "Regatta Pointe?" Seriously? Are we thinking that it's Venetian? French? In Florida?

(Regatta = Venetian. Pointe = Old French.)

You start out by stating that your sailing club has had trouble there in the past. Okay--there's a solution to that: don't go there in the future.
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
Bash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 03:15   #4
Registered User
 
Katiusha's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 803
Re: damage fee for dock???

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rakuflames View Post
I've stayed at a lot of marinas as a transient at this point (along with a lot of hotels) and have never had to leave a damage deposit. Is this typical in other parts of the country? Has anyone else run across this practice? Personally I'm not of a mind to go there with my boat in the future, but if I did, I certainly would photograph the dock as soon as I came in, given that they aren't brand new.
All the countries all the marinas we've been to never required a damages deposit. Hotels typically do, though not all.
Katiusha is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 03:28   #5
CLOD
 
sailorboy1's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,364
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

maybe they just don't want your club to come there
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
sailorboy1 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 04:10   #6
Registered User
 
Dulcesuenos's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Western Caribbean
Boat: 38/41 Fountains pajot
Posts: 3,060
Images: 4
Across the river is much nicer. We've dinghied. Over to RP before and my own feelings were I wouldn't stay there based on the dilapidated docks and half sunken vessels we saw at the east end.
Dulcesuenos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 04:15   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Newport News VA
Boat: Egg Harbor sedan cruiser 1970
Posts: 958
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

Quote:
dilapidated docks
at that marina and a large deposit sounds like they can claim any prior damage as you causing it.
sdowney717 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 04:42   #8
Registered User
 
psneeld's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Avalon, NJ
Boat: Albin 40 double cabin Trawler
Posts: 1,886
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

without hearing the dockmasters comments (and side of the story) speculating is just that.

my 2 cents about damage deposits in this case...I know I'm speculating too ...maybe they apply it for group arrivals...that would make sense to me after seeing the results and seamanship of many "groups" through the years...
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 04:54   #9
Registered User
 
denverd0n's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
Images: 6
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Lucas View Post
maybe they just don't want your club to come there
Kind of sounds that way, doesn't it?

I've never been told of a "damage deposit" at a marina before.

On the other hand, hotels don't tell you that they are putting a "damage deposit" on your credit card, but in effect that is what they do. When they run the card initially they "reserve" a larger amount than they expect you to charge, which reduces your total available credit, but does not actually get charged to your card. Then, when you check out, they actually submit the charges that you owe. I suspect this is what the marina was doing.
denverd0n is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 06:26   #10
Registered User
 
susanna reiter's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: New Mexico and our S/V is in Fort Pierce..hope to be there soon and sailing.
Boat: S/V"KAREN", Pearson Alberg 35. an achilles dingy, 2 kyaks.
Posts: 202
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

No. Never had that type of thing at a marina....nasty that. Thanks for the heads up....a must to avoid.
susanna reiter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 06:30   #11
Registered User
 
sww914's Avatar

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Punta De Mita
Boat: Vagabond 39 Hull # 1
Posts: 1,842
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

"Dr., it really hurts when I do this."
"Well then, don't do that anymore."
__________________
Steve
https://www.landfallvoyages.com
sww914 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 06:43   #12
cat herder, extreme blacksheep

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
Images: 56
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

we went to regatta pointe in 2010---was friendly and the deposit then was 1000 dollars. was a tad high. if you have liability ins, there was no fee. they did suffer some storm damage before we were there and there were some raggy areas, but the folks were friendly and there was a pumpout at most slips. the friendly neighbors took us to provision and were very nice folks. the marina placed us into a slip convenient for the type of boat we sailed--we had zero problems entering or exiting and had no charges on the card.
this marina is a sailmonster hangout, according to sm, and for a marina, wasnt a bad place. 300 dollars deposit for no ins isnt a bad deal. they didnt use it--why complain. we were witness to excellent sunset and in the company of friendly folks despite the fact we sailed in without accompaniment.
our only problem with the place was the terribly friendly folks and ease in provisioning. zero complaint factor. and we had bubba daboatkat with us.
zeehag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2012, 06:46   #13
Registered User
 
svHyLyte's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tampa Bay area, USA
Boat: Beneteau First 42
Posts: 3,961
Images: 25
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rakuflames View Post
Once a month the sailing club i belong to organizes a weekend cruise to some other place. Sometimes it's an anchorage, and sometimes it's a marina.

This month we went to Regatta Pointe in Bradenton. We've had trouble there in the past -- dinner coupons not honored, or the dockmaster insisting that every boat be measured to make sure the owner paid the right amount -- but we were assured that these things would not be a problem this time.

Well, they weren't. There were no coupons for a discount at the big restaurant, so no risk that they wouldn't be honored. They did not measure the boats. However, they did require a $300 credit card deposit (not run "unless needed") against "damage to their docks." It's not as if their docks are brand new and pristine. I didn't bring my boat this time, so I went to the office and inquired -- politely -- about this unexpected $300 deposit. The person at the desk bristled and snarled at me that he didn't know that it was "unexpected." It was as if he wanted an argument and suggested I "have a talk" with the dockmaster tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure I understood what had taken place.

I've stayed at a lot of marinas as a transient at this point (along with a lot of hotels) and have never had to leave a damage deposit. Is this typical in other parts of the country? Has anyone else run across this practice? Personally I'm not of a mind to go there with my boat in the future, but if I did, I certainly would photograph the dock as soon as I came in, given that they aren't brand new.
We've lived here (Manatee County) and been frequenting Regatta Point (the Riverside Cafe has the best breakfasts!) since 1993 and I have never heard of a deposit being required for a transient berth before. Heaven knows that now, especially, Regatta Point and the restaurant on the end of the pier desparately need the revenue generated by visitors. At least 4 restaurants have tried, and failed, at that location, mostly from lack of parking/transient berths. On the other hand, I think expecting a "discount coupon" at the restaurant--which is unrelated to the marina--is a bit much. A "drink coupon" maybe, but nothing more. Note that Regatta Point Marina is listed as one of BoatUS's "cooperating marinas" and, supposedly, offers a 10% discount on fuel and transient fees. (See BoatUS Boating & Fishing Services Locator )

FWIW...
__________________
"It is not so much for its beauty that the Sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."
svHyLyte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-06-2012, 07:26   #14
Boating writer, book author

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: On the Go
Boat: Various
Posts: 752
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

This may be unrelated but I do know that some marinas require you to have a hefty (read six figures) liability policy. If your boat burned or broke loose, for example, it could do a lot of damage to a marina and other boats. These folks sound like stinkers. Perhaps BoatUS could set them straight?
__________________
Janet Groene
JanetGroene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16-06-2012, 07:31   #15
cat herder, extreme blacksheep

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
Images: 56
Re: Damage Fee for Dock?

regatta pointe isnt a bunch of stinkers--actually is a friendly place that was damaged severely ina storm some years ago and is still recuperating from that...the folks who rent on loong term basis are friendly and the marina is staffed by helpful people. 300 dollars is not out of this worldly fee for potential further damage to the marina. every slip has pumpout facilities --those ar damage-able by souls not knowing how to use. they are also expensive to replace.
i found no problem when i was there--we paid --or had on hold on our account--1000us dollars as damage fee in the marina. was no big deal. no we couldnt afford it, but is a policy and has been for looong time--why sweat it now.....
zeehag is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dock

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 18:00.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.