Dock & Mooring Fees

[Dfitchtx]

Is it common for fees to double or dramatically “step up “ at a certain boat length? For example, $3 / ft below 40 ft and $6 / ft above 40 ft.

[skipmac]

I would not say it's common but certainly isn't uncommon. Usually see the break point at higher footage and usually not quite that much.

[valhalla360]

Double is a lot but yes, as you move up, you see jumps in per foot pricing.

Keep in mind, your average 60ft boat is also a lot wider than your average 30ft boat, so the space you are taking up is much larger.

[Dfitchtx]

I am thinking in terms of 36 to 39 feet so I should not expect a large variance between ports.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Dfitchtx

I am thinking in terms of 36 to 39 feet so I should not expect a large variance between ports.

It's more about the size of the slip.

They usually have 2 or 3 sizes.

So if they have a 36ft slips and a 50ft slips, a 39ft boat will wind up in the bigger slip and pay big boat prices.

The break point of slips varies from marina to marina.

[KP44]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

It's more about the size of the slip.

They usually have 2 or 3 sizes.

So if they have a 36ft slips and a 50ft slips, a 39ft boat will wind up in the bigger slip and pay big boat prices.

The break point of slips varies from marina to marina.

We often see the difference in slip size. A local marina has slips for up to 44, then up to 51. They have another dock with slips for up to 63'.
Our boat is 45', I pay for a 51' slip.

[slug]

Technically , in many regions , dockage is charged by the square meter

Length x beam

The same with shipyard hard standing

[slug]

Originally Posted by Dfitchtx

Is it common for fees to double or dramatically “step up “ at a certain boat length? For example, $3 / ft below 40 ft and $6 / ft above 40 ft.

Yah, very common

This is why 40 ft is the sweet spot for boat length

In many regions small craft dock at semi public facilities . The classic semi public small craft facilitie has small capacity power connections and often shared water connections

Big boat must go to the yacht marina

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Dfitchtx

Is it common for fees to double or dramatically “step up “ at a certain boat length? For example, $3 / ft below 40 ft and $6 / ft above 40 ft.

I have never seen it for a dock. So whether a size increase is "common" I guess depends on where you are.

[Davy J]

Not directly related to your question, but one thing that seems to be coming more common place, is to be charged for the slip length. Not boat length......., 27’ boat in 30’ slip, you pay for 30 feet, 31’ boat in 40’ slip, you pay for 40’ feet. And for some reason most seem to jump in 10’ increments.

[Dave Lochner]

Originally Posted by Davy J

Not directly related to your question, but one thing that seems to be coming more common place, is to be charged for the slip length. Not boat length......., 27’ boat in 30’ slip, you pay for 30 feet, 31’ boat in 40’ slip, you pay for 40’ feet. And for some reason most seem to jump in 10’ increments.

Financially, paying by the foot favors the boater, paying by the slip size favors the marina.

It is also easier to manage, boats under a certain length go in Slip size A, boats in the next group go in slip size B. This system is fairer to smaller boats as it makes no difference to the marina whether a 30 ft or 35 ft boat is in a 35 ft slip so there is no incentive to discriminate against smaller boats to increase revenue.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Davy J

Not directly related to your question, but one thing that seems to be coming more common place, is to be charged for the slip length. Not boat length......., 27’ boat in 30’ slip, you pay for 30 feet, 31’ boat in 40’ slip, you pay for 40’ feet. And for some reason most seem to jump in 10’ increments.

At my marina, you pay for boat length OR slip length, whichever is greater. They put my 35 foot sailboat on a 26 foot dock, and I paid for 35 feet. You have to pay for overhangs like anchor rollers and davits as well. And if you keep your dinghy in the water, you add that to your length as well.

Does it sound crazy? I think so. But they have to keep increasing the rates because so many people are leaving. (BTW, they are leaving because of the rates).

When they put my 25 foot sailboat on a 12 foot dock...I moved to another marina.

This is what happens when marinas are operated by office people who have never even seen a boat.

[Davy J]

Valhalla beat me to that explanation by a couple of minutes.......

[Dfitchtx]

Beginning to sound like a 36’ Boat would be a good bet. I plan to live on this boat and I am 6’3” and 260 lb. Boats under 30 are not comfortable for me.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by Dfitchtx

Beginning to sound like a 36’ Boat would be a good bet. I plan to live on this boat and I am 6’3” and 260 lb. Boats under 30 are not comfortable for me.

Don't know where you're going, but sometimes there's also a cruising permit cost based on size.

For example, in the Bahamas, the annual cruising permit up to 34' costs $300 annually, 35+ costs $600 annually.