live aboard priorities for a marina

[schoonerdog]

I guess I'm listing things in the poll that are optional features of a marina which would be important to live-aboards, versus the absolute necessity of security. For us security is the number one important issue with smaller kids, after that we would look for a friendly live-aboard community.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

You certain? Because the fire marshall would have an absolute fit. I have never seen what you describe, I have always seen the button that opens the gate well back from it, so that no one from outside could possibly push it, but to trap propel on the dock during a fire would not seem to be a good idea.

in our experience marina gates that need swipe card / key in & out are not just common, but the norm now...and not a bad thing

guess all that wet stuff around the marina will help if there is a fire...

cheers,

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by billgewater

................. It was built for a real estate company who either did not have a clue as to what was preferential for a successful marina....................

Sometimes marina developers are unaware, as billgewater says. We once took a slip at a marina that was constructed with a single piling at the at the outside center of each slip. We heard that the owner had thought that he could save money by having one piling for each slip instead of two. I suppose no one was able to point out to him that he was only saving the cost of one piling for each dock instead of each slip. Entering and leaving a slip required a difficult collaboration of neighbors.

[wingssail]

I didn't find our highest priorities listed as choices in your poll.

• A well maintained berth at a reasonable cost
• Slip sizes, including water depth, suitable for our boat
• Potable water and power (metered)
• Reasonable marina rules fairly enforced
• Marina management which wants and listens to tenant feed-back
• Good security presence
• Uncluttered docks and few derelict boats
• Clean bathrooms and showers
• Good internet access
• Close to neighborhood stores, restaurants, chandleries, bars, shopping, and gyms
• Separation between recreational (and liveaboard) tenants and the charter operators.
• Close access to a good sailing area, including racing program
• Beautiful, Scenic Area
• Good climate and weather, devoid of hurricane risk

All of these would be ideal. Our current home, La Cruz, Mexico, is, with a few exceptions, pretty close to this

[swordds]

I would add a good day sailing/micro cruising area with easy and convenient access to the sailing area. Even though I live on my boat I still enjoy sailing it.

[Sidney777]

Just finding a liveaboard Marina.

[drewj]

After 40+ years of the liveaboard life, my wife and I have found that our life on the water improved drastically after purchasing and moving on to a mooring. Would never move back to - what we consider - side by side living - of a marina. Just our opinion.

[dickhein]

I’m surprised no one mentioned parking, or if they did I missed it. It’s very important to us. Our summer berth is in a city and without a parking lot, marina access is difficult. Most liveaboards we know shower aboard as do we. We also have a washing machine aboard. Wifi is our greatest need from a marina.

[Davo1404]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Why do you guys want to be the only ones living on a boat?

My thoughts exactly. The police presence really gave me a laugh.

[slug]

In cities crime is a problem

Police presence keeps the bad guys away ... your bike locked on the dock lasts longer

Depending on your location frontier police are always present ... drug smuggling , people smuggling

[CaptWho]

Originally Posted by schoonerdog

but I'd be curious of the other live aboards what things they find the most import features of a marina.

You don't really specify whether this is for long term or short term. My needs would probably change, depending. For long term, a lot of amenities are nice, but if you're only going to be there for a few weeks or so, I can get by with a lot less.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by chrisr

in our experience marina gates that need swipe card / key in & out are not just common, but the norm now...and not a bad thing

guess all that wet stuff around the marina will help if there is a fire...

cheers,

Not that I have stayed in a lot of marina’s. But every one that I did that Needed a key to enter, you just turned a knob to leave, and everyone that you needed a key card to enter, there was a button often well back from the gate that you pushed to leave.
I’ve never seen one that required a key whether it be a metallic key or an electronic one to leave.
Same with buildings, I know there it’s a fire code that requires a public building to be able to be escaped from.
So far as wet things in a marina not burning, nope, plastic boats burn with an incredible amount of heat and toxic gases and billowing black smoke when they do and being tightly packed together sometimes many burn.

[Alawaiorion]

After I read the list and picked myself off my salon floor from laughing...um...No "keyed" entry at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki. You CAN walk to the beach but no guarantee that you have working cleats on your dock or even that you have a dock that doesn't sway side to side as you walk down it...free internet???? excuse me while I wipe up the coffee that just shot out my nose...

[CatNewBee]

- protected from swell, nice climate
- cheap, safe to leave the boat unattended to explore
- good tackles (dock, cleets, moorings)
- possibility to work on the boat
- haul out slip / travellift / chandler...
- nice community of like minded people
- water, electricity are a bonus
- wifi is optional if good mobile phone coverage available,
- quiet during the night

[cortezsailor]

Originally Posted by slug

No other liveaboards in the marina



No bareboat charter activity



Marina has its own shipyard , marine store



Marina is a bicycle ride from shopping



Safe, protected from surge



Double moorings to keep you clear of the dock



Good police presence

You left out free