Are all marina's crazy?

[ActiveCaptain]

Originally Posted by Amgine

...we should talk about marinas which are good, or bad, and help those which excel to continue in business

That's what ActiveCaptain is all about. There are thousands of reviews on marinas (and anchorages). There are also databases for bridges, SeaTow/TowBoatUS locations, Wal-Mart's, etc. It's all free but requires registration (for free).

I've found that there is only a small percentage of "bad" reviews about different facilities. That small number of bad ones is pretty important though.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by ActiveCaptain

That's what ActiveCaptain is all about. There are thousands of reviews on marinas (and anchorages). There are also databases for bridges, SeaTow/TowBoatUS locations, Wal-Mart's, etc. It's all free but requires registration (for free).

I've found that there is only a small percentage of "bad" reviews about different facilities. That small number of bad ones is pretty important though.

Great looking site!

[irwinsailor]

The new manager made me a very fair deal last year for storage and he also made it worth my while to stay there this summer, so we are back. I plan to head south next summer to start our new life on the water. This has been a bad summer due to my Dad's illness. We were only able to sail the boat 5 times this year.

[Sandero]

Active Captain is a great concept.

Come on sailors... fill up the data base.

It's Wiki sailing!

[Pblais]

This has been a bad summer due to my Dad's illness.

It is amazing how real life can get in the way of great ideas and well thought plans. I think we have had a similar summer. It only emphasizes how important it is to get away quickly. The hardest part of the trip is getting out of town!

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Pblais

It is amazing how real life can get in the way...
It only emphasizes how important it is to get away quickly.

SO.

Part of what I want to do is escapism.
I am guilty of wanting to escape from my responsibilities.
To be so far out of town that I can't come back to help if ______gets ill.
So sorry.

Not sure how guilty I will feel about that when the time comes.

Biggest fear.

How guilty the wife will feel and what that will do to change the plans.........

[Tellie]

You'll find more honest and ethical employess at a travling carnival than you will at most marinas.

[Stranded Mariner]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

They're not all crazy. The one at Abel point (Whitsundays) is stupid.

Abel point, that's in Airlie right?

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Stranded Mariner

Abel point, that's in Airlie right?

Yes. It should be re-named "Unable point". They wouldn't be able to run a raffle.

We spent an entertaining afternoon listening to them trying to find a berth for a succession of boats via the VHF. "Try B22" "No, there's already a boat there." "OK, stand by............try J17" then a few minutes later "No there's a boat in J17 already".......and so it went, for boat after boat.

Quite amusing until it happened to be US trying to get a berth!

What's more, you book a berth for a week, but you don't get the same berth for the whole week - you get moved every day. But the berths they try to move you to are usually already taken!

The service points - water & power, are not at the ends of the fingers, they are in the MIDDLE of the berths - so you need huge extension cables and hoses.

There is no water available at the fuel dock - you are supposed to book a berth for the night just to fill up with water! (And then you need around 30 metres of hose. Even the fire hoses don't reach! )

Even getting fuel is a major exercise - you virtually have to book the fuel dock!

And when you do finally succeed in getting to the fuel dock they forget to activate the bowser. Even after being reminded several times by VHF. And then in person. And then in person again, but this time with threats of violence........

[shadow]

I am still in the process of learning and saving up for my own boat, but I do love hearing these types of stories so I won't get to shocked when it finally happens to me. I guess I've been really lucky and spoiled with my friends that have boats back in the US. They have very high end boats with matching high end marinas. I guess for what they pay for, they better get top notch treatment.

I've traveled all over this world meeting tons of people from various levels of society and one thing is definitely true, there are jerks and idiots everywhere!! Just look at your local and federal government employees. They can't do the most basic of things without a total screw up. Most not all..

I assume that with an industry and area with the highest turnover rate of transients, it wouldn't shock me that the service and people are dodgy at best. I do like the carnival comparison.

[Wannafish]

Originally Posted by irwinsailor

The new manager made me a very fair deal last year for storage and he also made it worth my while to stay there this summer, so we are back. I plan to head south next summer to start our new life on the water. This has been a bad summer due to my Dad's illness. We were only able to sail the boat 5 times this year.

Gunner,
I wish you well in the coming months.

You don't by any chance have the owner/operators manual for the genset I bought do you?
With my luck you probably threw it away last week...

[Chief Engineer]

If customers of mine are planning on changing marinas, I tell them the ones that charge a fee to them for my presence....One in Middle River Maryland Bills the Owner $75.00 per visit, One in Pasadena, wants 10% and a fee for plugging into their electric outlets, two in Baltimore want sole proprietors to have Workman's Comp....even though we are excluded from being required to carry it by the state.

But to be fair...if you clean up your mess and DON"T eff up their carts(I don't use them at all)...you will be received with open arms BTW take your oil, batteries and other crap wit-cha.

[David M]

Chief,
Are you saying it's not a good idea to put six 8-D batteries in their dock carts?

[Chief Engineer]

That would have to be a dock cart from hell.

And another thing, if you don't put the first one in (up by the handle) but put it in at the other end.....you will know how the mouse feels in the mousetrap.

I find it much easier to use a hand truck or a 4 wheel cart with pneumatic tires.

Originally Posted by David M

Chief,
Are you saying it's not a good idea to put six 8-D batteries in their dock carts?

[David M]

My back has gotten too old for 8-D's.