Here are the prices in southern
Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
First, the
Mississippi, upstream to downstream, along with the St. Croix which flows into it. Together with Lake Minnetonka, which is an inland lake not connected to the river system.
Few of these
marinas publish prices.
I called around a while ago and asked for prices for a 30' boat. These are prices for one year, and in most cases include: the slip, winter
storage, spring launch, fall haulout, and summer storage for a
trailer,
cradle, or jacks. They also include water, free use of pump-out facilities (usually self-serve), and electricity. Many of the marinas only
price the slips this way. For the ones that
price "a la carte" I have added everything up.
There are a couple of exceptions that are warm-water marinas that encourage people to store their boats in the water all year and therefore don't include haulout, launch, and storage pricing.
Mississippi pool #2
Starting in St. Paul with the upstream most marina on the whole river. Some have insufficient
depth for sailboats in slack water conditions. There is no place to sail without locking through to pool #3
Watergate, $3300
St. Paul Yacht Club, $3000. Transient rate $1/foot/day
River Heights, $2400
Twin City Marina, $79/foot/year ($2370 for 30'). Rate includes haulout and winter storage although I seem to
recall that there are a few boats that stay in the water all winter
Hidden Harbor, $1850, Transient rate $35/day, liveaboard-friendly, warm water
River Grove, $1890, warm water
Transient slips are typically around $40 per day and are readily available
St. Croix River and Mississippi pool #3
There are approximately 20 marinas in this area, but most use a cooperative model where you
purchase a slip rather than
renting it. Prices are high and waiting lists long.
Representative example:
Afton Marina -- $5760 per year. Slips also available for
purchase, $70,000.
Lake Pepin/ Mississippi pool #4
Red Wing marinas -- $2100 per year, run by the city, 3 of them with the same rates. Several private facilities in the same area with similar rates. Must
motor one hour downstream to Lake Pepin in order to sail.
Red Wing has free transient slips for day use. There is also a sea wall that used to be available for free transient
docking that is being rebuilt. I am unsure whether they will still allow
docking when it is done.
Lake Pepin - best sailing in the area but farther from the metro area so prices are lower than the St. Croix
Lake City Marina, $2150 per year plus a non-refundable initiation fee of $2150. Larger marina with active
racing organizations. Run by the city. Free transient docking for day use.
Hansen's Harbor, $2430 for 28' slip. Smaller, private marina and boatyard with much better
wind protection than Lake City.
Prices are similar on the Wisconsin side of Pepin
Lake Minnetonka
$4000 for slip only on the West Arm along with a pool and clubhouse but no electricity. Water available on shore, run a 100' hose to your boat. Overhead obstruction at 14'9" separates this bay from the main part of the lake. No liveaboards on the entire lake under county ordinance
Looking at getting a sailboat. Also if they are on a hook.
) There are probably 10 marinas that all keep their prices about the same, maybe $5 US per foot/ month. Water is free but electrons are not .50 per kw.
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