What Do You Look for in a Cruiser Friendly Marina

[gettinthere]

Specifically while cruising, stopping only for a day or 2...

Inexpensive
Clean, free drinking water
Clean harbor water
Free pumpout
Good laundry facilities
Good groceries close by
Floating docks with full length finger pier

We don't use marina showers, most are definitely not worth the effort. If they provide water and we have a shower stall aboard, what's the point?

[Celestialsailor]

Like minded people.

[The Blue Heron]

Clean Showers
Good access to docks and pumpout
Clean Showers
Marina T-Shirt
Good LEE

[The-Captain]

Clean, hot showers, preferably free.
Wifi.
Close to some good eateries.
Fuel handy.

[gettinthere]

OK, I give...why all the fuss over clean showers? Does nobody have a shower stall aboard their boat? Am I part of the 1%?

I did know a couple who lived aboard in the summer. They NEVER used the head aboard their new 49' yacht. Didn't want to get it messy. So every morning they would load all their stuff into the car, drive to the marina head and shower & dress before going off to work. Anytime day or night, when nature called, hop in the car and off to the marina head. Is that what is at the heart of this?

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by youmeandthed

cruiser friendly marina.


Any thoughts?

Now isnt that term "Cruiser Frendly Marina" an Oxymoron statement?
Not to knock you, but if you're a cruiser, you're not interested in a Marina as you're on the move.. you're Cruising....
And as cruisers, your stay is just a brief one and your on the move again.. so why would you care if the marina was friendy or not..

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Randyonr3

Now isnt that term "Cruiser Frendly Marina" an Oxymoron statement?
Not to knock you, but if you're a cruiser, you're not interested in a Marina as you're on the move.. you're Cruising....
And as cruisers, your stay is just a brief one and your on the move again.. so why would you care if the marina was friendy or not..

So you get to keep your dingy and motor?

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by Therapy

So you get to keep your dingy and motor?

you'll have to explain that one to me.. I only leave my dink where it is secure and with the permission of the landowner or the manager of the property where I leave it.. if its going to be an ongoing issue with work, I make arrangements to pay for a parking area for the dink..
At present we're tied to a private dock on the Georgina Slough in the California Delta.. my canvas and sail shop is at OxBow Marina about 1 mile up the slough so I commute by dink daily. I have a slip where I share the expence with 3 other people that have small boats.. Being a friendly marina has nothing to do with it.
If you leave your dink somewhere where you have no right to do so, its your own fault if its gone when when you return..

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Randyonr3

you'll have to explain that one to me..
..

A friendly marina would have a low crime rate.

[Randyonr3]

Originally Posted by Therapy

A friendly marina would have a low crime rate.

your just grabbing crap out of the air now, unless you have stats to back up what you say..

We all know marinas are different, for hevens sake, I do as We've been in hundreds of marinas over the years and could write a book on the pros and cons of being in such.
One thing we've found in common was the restroom cleanliness and how it reflected with the rest of the marina.. we've seen older marinas with restrooms that sparkled and uasally the whole marina is clean and a pleasure to be in.. and on the other side, we've seen new marinas that have mold growing in the corners of the restroom floor..
We've never chosen a marina because it was friendly or not, we really didnt care.. the marina is a business and we treat it as such.. but we would chose on its LOCATION.. wether its near a buss line or stores, being near down town,
and let us not forget, the water itself, does it have a tidal surge, or maybe a fuel dock where boats are comming and going all day and night..
But being friendly or not, never an issue..

something you might want to concider when picking a marina, Marinas are business's and a business in there to make money, not friends..
approch it as such.. find out if you get a discount if paying up front for the full time you'll be there. because it is a business, you always have room to negotiate..
and often marinas, at least on the west coast, you can stay as a cruiser for 90 to 120 days without being classified as a liveaboard..
And knowing this, we've pulled in, stated we wanted a slip for 4 months and would pay in full up-front.. many times we've gotton as much as 20% off, no deposit required, and electrical free.. and I really dont care if they have a smile on their face or how friendly they are..

[JoanK]

1. Safe and secure
2. Good docking
3. Clean bathrooms, showers, laundry
4.easy walking into town, groceries, loaned car is a plus.
5 shore power water close by