Marinas in the Upper Midwest?

[KarlH]

Does anyone have experience with liveaboard marinas in Minnesota, Wisconsin or nearby states?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Karl.

[KarlH]

Thanks

I'm still getting acquainted, but it looks like there's an endless supply of useful information here as well as some pretty neat people.

[MNGator]

The only year round liveaboard marina in the Twin Cities is the Watergate marina on the Mississippi in St.Paul. Winter is bleak though, shrink wrapped boats, bubblers in the water and slippery docks!

[Tayana42]

The best live aboard marinas in Minnesota are in Southern California.

[LakeSuperior]

Year around live-aboard in the Midwest hasn't gained the popularity that perhaps is deserved. I suspect the reason stems from the harsh winters. Perhaps if there were a few covered, heated marinas this would change and the Midwest could get the recognition it so deserves.

[30West]

My boat sits in heated storage, plugged into power and even a hose hookup. I suppose it wouldn't take much to turn that into space people could live on their boats, but there are some rules and it would be weird.

I worked at marinas as a kid, there were year round liveaboards in the water long ago here, a couple had wood stoves.

[ctl411]

Originally Posted by 30West

My boat sits in heated storage, plugged into power and even a hose hookup. I suppose it wouldn't take much to turn that into space people could live on their boats, but there are some rules and it would be weird.

I worked at marinas as a kid, there were year round liveaboards in the water long ago here, a couple had wood stoves.

Water runoff from sinks wouldn't make you any friends lol. Add to that the cost of dropping a mast plus cost of indoor vs outside storage if a sailboat. You could rent a apartment month to month as a friend did in Holland Michigan.
I asked Anchorage, he said no go. They did but that was many years back.
Yacht Basin would be good for in the water by the service well. Close to shower room and they run bubblers anyway.
Haven't asked them, but still may be cheaper to rent apartment.

[30West]

Used to be you could rent cottages along the lake cheap in the winter. Most of those are year-round now, or owned by someone who really doesn't need rent money. If you ask around there are still some cheap winter cottages, college students find them. I've thought about buying one when my youngest moves off, renting it over the summer while living in my boat, living in it in the winter.

[ctl411]

That would be nice, rent when high live in it during the cheap season. I thought about Port Sheldon as a in the water winter spot. Power plant keeps the ice away.

[KarlH]

Originally Posted by MNGator

The only year round liveaboard marina in the Twin Cities is the Watergate marina on the Mississippi in St.Paul.

Thanks!

Winter is bleak though, shrink wrapped boats, bubblers in the water and slippery docks!

Yeah, that could get pretty glum. This isn't a long-term proposition; if it works out, It'll be easy to move.

[KarlH]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

The best live aboard marinas in Minnesota are in Southern California.

I have some friends who claim they're in Northern California

I take no position.

[Tayana42]

Lake Minnetonka is almost Northern California isn't it?

[KarlH]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Lake Minnetonka is almost Northern California isn't it?

It would need at least twice as much drizzle to be a dead ringer.

[KarlH]

@LakeSuperior, I was just looking at your photos... That's a gorgeous boat