live aboard priorities for a marina

[Sojourner]

OK so this post might just be a cheap excuse to put up some pics of our winter marina/port, but I gotta do it. We spend hours each week talking incredulously how the heck we fell into this paradise, and how hard it will be to ever go to another marina again

In order of importance, from a marina to live in (over winters) I need:

1) AMBIANCE.

That was easy!

I hate new, I hate crowded, I hate modern, I hate sleek.

I LOVE decaying fortresses, meandering breakwaters whose once straight lines have shifted slowly over centuries, the smell of stones and seaweed and the sound of your own footfalls echoing in empty places. Overgrown paths leading to a secluded shore with no one on it. That feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you feel like a kid again instead of some middle-aged, more-exhausted-by-the-day soul worrying about mortgages and health problems.

Compared to our old home port in northern Italy, surrounded by million dollar boats, pools and carparks, this crumbly paradise gives me life.

I'll trade any other inconvenience for that

[CatNewBee]

The question for me is, WHY would I want to go to a marina as liveaboard. I mean, we chose a boat as our home to explore the world. So Marinas in my view are temporary facilities we only use when we must, for a purpose.

And the obvios are, to park the boat temporary for some reason, to haul out or work on it, to explore the country, to provision or to survive weather.

I do not see it as a landlubbed permanent stay thing.

[BlackHeron]

-Affordable
-DIY work on boat friendly
-Package/mail service at office
-Ice available
-Public transportation system close by or loaner car
-Laundry & Showers that aren't disgusting
-Workshop with used oil collection, sewing room with cutting table or open loft floor space
-Lounge with good wifi for updating charts and research
-DIY pumpout available
-Floating docks if large tidal range
-Mast crane, haulout service is nice
-Wet & dry storage available with good security
-Dive/bottom service available
-Access to grocery, hardware, chandlery, automotive supply, machine and diesel shops nearby
-Dinghy dock, and a protected anchorage close by with reasonable day/weekly rates. Derilict-free, and floating meth lab free
-Cruiser-friendly, but not necessarily "live-aboard" friendly (not a long-term floating trailer park)
-Fuel nearby. Doesn't necessarily need to be a fuel dock. We can haul jugs from gas station close by if need be as we don't often require much. Alcohol-free gas a must in the USA.

For us marinas are for doing the stuff we can't do while at anchor, or for leaving the boat somewhere safe and secure when we need to be away from it. We rarely need more than a week or three. Usually a day or two is all that is required to get what we need done and be on our way again.

For marinas that allow dinghy access to cruisers, we appreciate this greatly. A tiered pay system is nice. Free or cheap for basic secure shore access, a little more to access showers/lounge/other services if wanted. When day dockage is free to cruisers we are happy to buy fuel, supplies at ship's store, ice, groceries, or eat at marina restaurant to make it worth their while to them. Otherwise we can drag our dinghy up on shore somewhere for free or find a public pier.

[AKA-None]

And now we have a clue why some monthly expenses are wildly different

[lhsmith]

What is important depends on your lifestyle and boat, I think. For instance, we are a retired couple who came to the Med to experience people, history, food, wine, and to share experiences with like-minded cruisers. Being vegetarians, we cook most of our own food. So proximity of food markets, particularly fresh vegetables/fruit, other cruisers, good restaurants/cafes, public transportation to local attractions and a major airport, chandleries and hardware stores top our list. Absence of loud discos is a big plus. That satisfies our winter needs. We move around during the rest of the year, and basic needs, historic attractions, and wineries attract us. (I should add that we have a good shower and washing machine aboard, so we don't worry about those.)

[Woodland Hills]

In slip pumpout is my number one priority. If we are in a marina by the month and not cruising and anchoring then the boat is a floating condo and I don’t want to be bothered with disconnecting everything including gangway and MarQuipt stair and platform just to pumpout.

[LoudMusic]

This appears to be non-transient liveaboard. As a transient with a well equipped boat, the only things I'm really concerned with at a marina are a well built dock, high pressure clean water, and preferably screaming fast internet Oh and somewhere safe to have my shipments delivered.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by Sojourner

OK so this post might just be a cheap excuse to put up some pics of our winter marina/port, but I gotta do it. We spend hours each week talking incredulously how the heck we fell into this paradise, and how hard it will be to ever go to another marina again

In order of importance, from a marina to live in (over winters) I need:

1) AMBIANCE.

That was easy!

I hate new, I hate crowded, I hate modern, I hate sleek.

I LOVE decaying fortresses, meandering breakwaters whose once straight lines have shifted slowly over centuries, the smell of stones and seaweed and the sound of your own footfalls echoing in empty places. Overgrown paths leading to a secluded shore with no one on it. That feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you feel like a kid again instead of some middle-aged, more-exhausted-by-the-day soul worrying about mortgages and health problems.

Compared to our old home port in northern Italy, surrounded by million dollar boats, pools and carparks, this crumbly paradise gives me life.

I'll trade any other inconvenience for that

And where is said marina?

[slug]

Originally Posted by hpeer

And where is said marina?

Looks like Corfu

Wind blasted

[hpeer]

We are in our late 60’s and still living the sailing life. We anchor, won’t take a mooring unless required. Someday that will unfortunately change. We will need to “retire” from the active cruising we do. At that time we may need to buy a lubber lot. Or we may move into some marina, if live aboards are still allowed by then.

We are no longer enamored with the USA. I hate cold weather and cities. We would appreciate essential shopping nearby. Kind of sounds like Jolly Harbor, Antigua.

[slug]

Originally Posted by hpeer

We are in our late 60’s and still living the sailing life. We anchor, won’t take a mooring unless required. Someday that will unfortunately change. We will need to “retire” from the active cruising we do. At that time we may need to buy a lubber lot. Or we may move into some marina, if live aboards are still allowed by then.

We are no longer enamored with the USA. I hate cold weather and cities. We would appreciate essential shopping nearby. Kind of sounds like Jolly Harbor, Antigua.

Sail across to the Med

Lifestyle is one hundred percent better than the Caribbean

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by slug

Sail across to the Med

Lifestyle is one hundred percent better than the Caribbean

Need to figure out how to do that. Being Americans and all in the Schengen.

[DDabs]

Originally Posted by Sojourner

Compared to our old home port in northern Italy, surrounded by million dollar boats, pools and carparks, this crumbly paradise gives me life.

I'll trade any other inconvenience for that

Where in Italy is that if you don't mind me asking? Beautiful!! Don't worry, I'm in the States so I won't be rushing over to get a dock

[SVHarmonie]

Before untying and cruising full time I lived aboard for 20 years. Not one of the polls list of "important features" matter to me a bit.

I look for two things:

Privacy. Am I left alone when I want to be?

The second important feature will seem contradictory, but it really isn't: Compatible Community. In other words do I fit in to the community that exists there? Are they friendly? But not nosey? Are they helpful? But not pushy? It's kind of an abstract thing, and sometimes hard to evaluate before you live there for a while, but it is way, way more important than good wifi...

[Shrew]

I think there are needs and wants here. Most of these are nice, but "Dog walking park? Childrens Play area? restaurant/bar??

Here is my list FWIW:

-Docks structurally sound and well maintained
-Decent parking
-2x30amp electrical
-water
-well protected from wind and fetch
-reasonably close to open water
-access to pump out (either in slip, or pumpout boat)
-at least one finger pier
-preferably a decent length finger pier
-Policies that prohibit (and enforce) people from leaving crap all over the docks
-relatively safe, low crime area

We do like to have the following:
-clean bathrooms and showers
-laundry facilities
-travel lift for emergency hauls

The last one only because your home marina tends to be a little more responsive and sympathetic than 'dialing for dollars' at neighboring marinas who don't know you. Plus in emergencies, like a hurricane, they will pull their customer's boats first.