What Do You Look for in a Cruiser Friendly Marina

[youmeandthed]

Just to get a few ideas about what everyone out there looks for in a cruiser friendly marina.

Currently we are staying at a great marina with a horrible reputation and just as bad management.

Any thoughts?

[Sailmonkey]

Clean showers, a common area that can be used for project sprawl without offending someone.......maybe a few good dock neghbors. We're pretty simple though.

[rgscpat]

Value, security (different kinds), convenience/access...

[ohdrinkboy]

A loaner truck is usually a big plus.

[skipmac]

More or less in order of importance.

1. Not outrageously expensive.

2. protection from waves, wakes, etc

3. strong, safe docks, cleats and pilings.

4. Showers and heads that don't offend the wife.

5. Nice neighbors

6. Docks without giant splinters to gouge your feet.

Anything else is mostly gravy.

[Bash]

wifi.

[belizesailor]

...

- Good bar/restaurant
- Good potable water at the dock
- Fuel dock w/ good fuel
- Good electrical (many in developing countries have crap for wiring)
- Access to town

...

[barnakiel]

- clean toilets and showers, HOT WATER in the showers,
- quiet neighbours,
- wifi,
- no cats, dogs, etc. allowed,
- not too far from everything,
- not too many 'vagabundos del mar' per dock,
- knowledgeable management and staff that will take adequate action when necessary.

b.

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

...

- Good bar/restaurant
- Good potable water at the dock
- Fuel dock w/ good fuel
- Good electrical (many in developing countries have crap for wiring)
- Access to town

...

perfect. i use to put bar and women at the top of the list. with booze and sex, what more do you need? now too old for that stuff so silence is at the top of the list. sure miss those old drunken orgy days. of course back then the worst thing could happen was a bad hangover.

[Bash]

--a short walk from the yacht club
--access to good sailing without having to motor more than two minutes.
--within a 15-minute sail of an America's Cup venue.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by reed1v

perfect. i use to put bar and women at the top of the list. with booze and sex, what more do you need? now too old for that stuff so silence is at the top of the list. sure miss those old drunken orgy days. of course back then the worst thing could happen was a bad hangover.

Well, there are still places where you can find that too.

[reed1v]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Well, there are still places where you can find that too.

copenhagen, havana, and perth about the only places nowadays for out and out safe bacchanalas, imho. singapore, old bombay(mumbai), cote d'azur, and most of the carib use to be wild in the 60s. really wild. all gone to the new worldwide puritanical movements or to the crime cultures.

[S.V Brava]

Clear water, clean fresh water, workshop, wifii, security...

[Billy Higgins]

A free and secure dinghy landing at the marina with a nice anchorage not too far off . . .
Then the marina would have a nice gas dock, pay-for showers, and perhaps a store which we could patronize to help offset the marina's costs for providing the convenience of the dinghy landing.

[Kettlewell]

Since I usually only go into a marina rarely to do stuff, my list might be different:

1. Cheap and clean fuel
2. Free or cheap fresh water
3. Convenient location for whatever repair I am looking to do (in other words, if you need new batteries, don't pick a luxury marina by the beach, choose one downtown near the stores.)
4. Convenient groceries
5. Inexpensive
6. Decent protection if I am planning to stay for a few days
7. Floating docks preferable
8. No nearby restaurant or music venue so it isn't noisy at night. Besides, there are usually better and cheaper restaurants around than the ones at the marinas.
9. I like funky--old and dilapidated with a mixture of crazy old boats is always fun. I've tied up with the fishing trawlers and amongst the local fisherman, and they're usually a colorful lot. Funky usually means cheaper. Though on the other hand I have by necessity pulled into what looked like the ritziest place around and paid no more or even less than the crappy marinas, so it pays to ask around.

Keep in mind that I rarely stay in a marina if possible, and usually then only for a night or two.