"Evicted": Marina Won't Renew Contract for Next Year to maximize Profit

[mtwain69]

Am so glad back in '05 we were fortunate to buy our new house on the water. 10 minutes and we're out in the gulf since the marinas were raping folks on wet slip prices. Good luck

[parallax]

Seems to be more of a northeast thing. Seems generally to be Less regulation more supply and fewer really rich folks in the southern areas
The pandemic has flooded us from escapees north and west. A bit scary. I see ominous signs here as many of our marinas have been purchased by conglomerates
I love it here in little creek but times they are a changin

[ScottinMA]

Originally Posted by Nokay

I'm quite shocked. Our marina here in the North East (Cape Cod/Buzzard's Bay) just informed us that they won't renew our contract for next year. We have been with them for two years.

After giving all sorts of vague reasons they finally admitted that they are a "Full Service Marina" and that they prefer customers that use all their services such as the yard, winter storage, detailing service (!) etc. I pressed the dockmaster quite a bit and I don't think he meant to admit this.

I do all my own work ... both because I am able to and because I enjoy doing it myself ... and we winter-store out boat with a yard that lets me go to the boat in the winter to do work on it. (Our marina won't even let us put our canvas cover on ourselves once it is out of the water.)

I'm just floored that they could and actually would do that. We're now scrambling because no marina currently knows if they have space next year. Quite a terrifying thought not to be able to get a marina slip next year.

Is it possible that the pandemic has created such a demand for slips that marinas can now profiteer from the situation and they try to upgrade to "full service" customers?!

Are you comfortable stating the name of the marina?

Scott

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

It is a 10 percent tax on the portion of the sales prices of boats over $100,000; planes over $250,000, furs and jewelry over $10,000, and autos over $30,000.

The tax, in effect, is a sales tax, one of the few federal sales taxes on items other than tobacco, alcohol and other minor sins. Maybe the luxury tax should have been called an ostentation tax, making it clear that high-living rather than riches was being taxed.

RICH PEOPLE STOPPED BUYING BOATS

The problem is that about the time the tax went into effect, boat sales dropped lower than a deep-water anchor.

this is an excerpt from that article...true...it was a Federal Tax.....but the point I was trying to make how it clobbered the boating industry, especially in Florida, which took years to regain it's footing...

RICH PEOPLE STOPPED BUYING [BIG NEW] BOATS

Well, at the expense of the mega yacht building industry, and a few white shoe'd yacht brokers, that would solve quite a few problems.

• Less deep pocketed owners with big new boats to give reason for marina evictions
• Increases the value of old boats which can be refurbished
• Reduces the waste of chopping up boats
• Reduces the oil based production of fiberglass
• Creates a whole new industry and many jobs refurbishing old boats for resale
• Limits the transition at many marinas from 30-40 ft berths to 100ft berths
• Those who have to have the mega yachts will contribute a bit more to the nation's tax income
• Helps put boating back within the financial reach of middle class folks

I'm all for it.

[David Mathis]

Try the marinas on the Hudson River and Lake Champlain but if you want to use the ones on Lake Champlain, go quickly, the New York State Canal System closes for the season on October 13. With the colorful fall scenery, it's a beautiful cruise up the Hudson and onto the lake. Many of the freshwater marinas in the far northeast have sufficient room to accommodate your boat and welcome your business.

[CaptJimFrei]

Originally Posted by Nokay

I'm just floored that they could and actually would do that. We're now scrambling because no marina currently knows if they have space next year. Quite a terrifying thought not to be able to get a marina slip next year.

Is it possible that the pandemic has created such a demand for slips that marinas can now profiteer from the situation and they try to upgrade to "full service" customers?!

Yes, wet slips are in high demand...2 year wait at my marina on a lake in NC. Just say sure, I'll use your services. At least you'll get another year to search for another slip.

[merrydolphin]

As a cruiser I once cruised up to New England for a summer season. I say once for a reason. Another way that capitalism works is to vote with your feet “as dont go there” or more like with your dock lines or even anchor. I have cruised a good chunk of the world and find the New England area among the most cruiser unfriendly areas. They are set up for the wealthy and if you don’t have a lot of money, get lost! I even found it difficult to anchor. Soooo simple solution. It’s a big world. Very sorry for the locals that may not have that choice. I suppose the flip side to that is maybe if you live there and have a boat that needs a slip, you make enough money that you can afford it. If you don’t, they could care less. Not for me. I’’ll go elsewhere. Other than South Florida where you can easily pay over a thousand a month and much more, I find that from the Chesapeake on down, is fairly cruiser friendly, although Annapolis proper can be pricy, but at least friendly. Sorry for your experience. I find the Carolinas quite boater and Cruiser friendly. Anchor with little to no problem for free or take a dock on a monthly bases for 250 to 350 full amenities inc power. Just saying, this is another side of capitalism.

[ValiantV]

THough some will call it "capitalism" and say it's good, other will say it's bad - it IS a fact if life and it's likely that marina owners are not the rich SOBs some people give them credit for.

By your own admission, they just make the minimum off of you - no yard services, no haul-out, no detailing. They need to make more to cover their ever-rising expenses (property taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.) JUST like every other business.

I think the only legitimate gripe you have is that they didn't give you much notice.

Besides - you're a boat owner, you MUST be rich! Why are you even complaining? :P

[Giro]

Few boat owners know that most marina operators in the continental United States do not own locations, within the marinas, they operate. Many, if not most, tenants are under the notion that the marina operations are run by the owners of the real estate that they comprise. In fact, most marinas are simply tenants on long term leases and are subject to “rent increases” the same as we lowly boat owning tenants are.

[Painless]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

Mine just raised slip rate from $675/month to $910 and with a 6-10 year waitlist they ain't shy about saying "Don't let the door hit you on the way out if you don't like it."

Sounds like Dana Point….

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by pcmm

Actually I believe its that they place less value on money. $25 Uber eats, $5-8 Starbucks, $150 a month cell bills, all adds up. I see it all the time with the millennials where I work. They all complain about being broke (and at very well paying jobs) but think nothing about getting McD's through Uber eats, which turns a $12 "combo" in to a $25+ lunch and they do it regularly! All while dreaming that their first car will be a tesla. These generations have ongoing expenses at a much higher rate than previous generations and they are conditioned to think that $150 a month on cell plans, $300+ a month on uber eats + Ubers to get around +++ are all "Normal expenses"

I believe your example is typical mainly of the urban high-skilled, high-paid millenial - people in software, IT and other new-economy jobs. I was in those fields and worked with that cohort, and yes they are right into all that stuff, but I also recall that they spent many, many extra hours on the job, and so takeout was about the only way they would get fed. Uber is a more rational choice than owning a car, if you live downtown. And don't get me started on the ridiculous Canadian prices for internet and cell phones.

You won't see the same behaviour from millenials in the trades or other less lucrative fields.

They're for sure getting a rough ride trying to buy a first house when an average detached home is reaching close to $1m.

Around the GTA, it's probably higher now.

My Gen (Gen X) didn't have those extra regular expenses (we also had $6 min wage and Boomers who were all supposed to retire at 55, that didn't)

Well this late boomer has retired a bit early, partially because of the COVID layoffs, but also because if I don't actually need to work, but others do, then it's better all round if I stay out and pinch pennies a bit (with the odd consulting gig), while someone younger gets the full-time job. You're welcome.

[sloopdogg]

Nokay, Have you ever considered a mooring?

[Lightwave99]

As stated bye previous posters, "money rules," as is clearly evident in the current world situation, created and governed by very very high-level profiteers to create mass hysteria and control and separate people while making trillions of dollars.
When we went offshore from Vancouver Canada 10 years ago, we started off by perilously "harbour-sobbing" south down the west coast of the USA and we also were shocked to find only full-service marinas, nowhere to anchor as everything was filled with expensive mooring buoys, and very unfriendly marinas, mostly. We always do our own work, having built our own beautiful cat and maintained and improved her over the years.
This would not be possible if we were in the USA, I'm pretty sure.
Good luck in finding a nice small marinas in some "backwater" as others have suggested above!
Happy sailing when spring returns! We keep right on sailing here in British Columbia.

[Lightwave99]

PS: meant to say "harbour-hopping" and auto correct made it into "harbour-sobbing". Now was that a Freudian slip?

[Aquasition]

Sorry to hear about this. I'd be annoyed for sure.

Looks like your profile says you're in Massachusetts.

Regardless of where you are, have you considered joining a yacht club instead of using a marina? Clubs are for the most part FAR more affordable and are non-profits that are built by and for members for the affordable enjoyment of boating. (At least the clubs that are not marinas in disguise or country-club snobby.)

Check out the Massachusetts Boating and Yacht Club Association (https://www.mbyca.org/ ) for a good list of clubs. There are of course some that are not in MBYCA.

One of the benefits of a Club is that you have reciprocity with other clubs, i.e. you get to go to other places and stay for free or pretty darn cheap -- it is more about community and not about marina profit. In fact, my wife and I are heading to a reciprocal club for the weekend. Another benefit is that most clubs are filled with DIYers -- and DIYers who love to help others learn and help themselves. Everyone is always willing to lend a hand. There are of course MANY other benefits -- too many to list here!

I'm on the board at the Watertown Yacht Club (Watertown Yacht Club) and being 6 miles up the Charles River under a number of bridges it is not conducive to sailboats, but am happy to chat with you if you have any interest or questions about what it is like to be part of a club instead of a marina customer. Most clubs have an up-front initiation fee and pretty low costs after that. Even with the initiation fee, my own break-even with being at a Club versus at a marina was just over 1 year. And I've been a member since 2010 and the savings compared to a marina have been MASSIVE, and I've had a great time, made great friends, and volunteered to help on various committees and on the board.

Heads up that most clubs have seen record high membership applications, and some have waiting lists, etc. -- so you may want to look into this option much sooner rather than later.

Hope this is helpful!