Questions for Marina BEFORE...

[model 10]

Ask them if they have a trash pump for sinking boats.

[SecondBase]

Originally Posted by SSgtPitt

Where do i dump old oil, contaminated bilge water, antifreeze?

"In most states, any shop that does oil changes is required to take modest quantities of used oil from consumers. The used oil is either recycled back into other petroleum products or burned in special furnaces for heat."

Up and down the east coast I've always found marine diesel shops to be very cooperative about proper disposal.

[mayberrybfd]

Lest we not forget where can I buy BACON !!!

[TomAndLee]

Originally Posted by mayberrybfd

Lest we not forget where can I buy BACON !!!

OMG! My husband was just talking about this!!!

[Group9]

Usually, you can learn more, by finding a current liveaboard, and just talking to them.

[jhulmer]

Don't forget about storms and Hurricanes. Ask what is the evacuation policy? At my marina if there is a hurricane warning, a mandatory evacuation is issued.

Of course the next question is were is the best hidey hole? Go and check it out before you are required too.

[mogulskibum]

Very few of these are "make or break" questions, but rather they fall into the "nice to know before it happens so I don't get surprised" bucket:

Turn on the shower and smell the water - depending on local geography and water supply, it might not be the most pleasant showering experience.

On that note, is the water available at the slip drinkable? (not potable/safe, but drinkable, i.e. doesn't taste like **** -
it's nice to know if you're going to need bottled water and/or a really good filtering system.)

How is the electric use calculated and billed?

Do they allow divers to scrape bottoms in the slip, or are you going to have to go somewhere else to get your bottom cleaned?

Are there work boats or a fishing fleet in the harbor/port/marina that leaves early, or returns late? Do they make a lot of noise and/or throw large wakes coming and going?

Is there a particular wind direction or weather pattern that creates a surprising amount of chop, or that creates an extremely high or low tide?

How stable is the marina ownership? (hard to gauge, but asking how long the current owners have been in place and/or if they're thinking about selling can be an enlightening question.)

Can you add cleats, tie down posts, rub rails, ladders, grab handles, solar lights, dock box, etc to your slip?

Dog/cat policies.

Do they allow fishing/crabbing from the docks and/or in one's slip?

Is there a fish cleaning station, does it get used, where are the fish guts disposed of?

Where is the trash located, how often and when is it emptied?

(pay attention to those last two, because there may be a very good reason this particular slip is open and/or such a "good deal")

[Lepke]

"Yes, the nearest West Marine is most important! "

Interesting. I've never bought anything from West Marine. And when I have checked prices, found them expensive.

[bvisailing32]

Great questions and excellent answers.

One other thing that you must make sure of...

Live aboards in the particular marina are Allowed. Official Registering and signing up.

Another situation is future expansion plans for the marina and totally doing away with live aboards. Or re-doing all the slips. You are going to be moved or moved out.

This next thing has been mentioned, but big with us would be pump out stations, and discharge rules for grey and brown water. No one wants to be next to a live aboard that pumps over board.

And, what is the policy if you get caught. Fined and /or kicked out.

Is there a pump out service boat that can come to you ? A lot of live aboards disregard over board pumping out of waste. Not good.

Also, location of your slip. We would stay away from the vicinity of a dockside bar or shop filled area. The noise late in the evening is one thing. The other that can be a problem, is boaters pulling into your slip, heading to the bar, and you get back after a day sail, or a few days and nights of cruising and there is a strange boat in your slip.

The problems that can occur with that situation can be mulriple. All not good.

You need to get someone ashore go into the rocking out good time bar, and try and get the manager to announce that they need to move the boat.
Not happening, they are well rummed and are going to continue to party.

Then you stand off and call the harbies to tow. At closing, the find their boat is gone and you are in your rightful slip. That starts more action, and aggressive confrontations, and the police... etc. These are only a couple of results of opening yourself up to those problems.

The other posters have shared great ideas, and I am going to re read them.

Outstanding

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by michaelratinter

Everything was spelled out in the rental agreement.

You pay on time; they let you stay?

[Paul L]

Not sure what it's like in your neck of the woods, but most places we have cruised the availability of liveaboard slips is a seller's market. So you basically agree to the rental agreement and are happy to get a legal liveaboard slip. Not a lot to negotiate.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Internet service & all of the questions which go with. Nearest child care, & quality schools. Marina bulletin board - both paper & electronic. Rules regarding noise, particularly power tools to work on boats, & what time window you must work within. Along with environmental reg's about same. 5 nearest pumpout stations & their fees. Fresh water quality. Frequency of restroom & shower cleaning. Rules about guests, especially parking their vehicles while staying with you.


EDIT: You might also ask about age demographics. Gyms, fitness centers, & other health activities like yoga nearby. Social hubs nearby, festivals that a marina hosts. Such as the Baha Ha Ha. Are there people with kids living there, & if so what age kids & how many. As for the most part, they make great neighbors. Not to mention that kids are a lot of fun. Plus it speaks to the quality of the environment if people are comfy raising their kids there. As to me it means that the parents are comfortable with the quality of the "extended family" in said locale (the marina).
Also, proximity to public transportation. Nearby resturants & cafes? And or gucci coffee shops. Nearby shopping hubs, & of what types & quality. Movie theaters.
Rules governing having private contractors at the marina to work on your boat; keys, hours window, parking, noise, power avail...

[CaptainMikeTEYC]

For those docking in hurricane prone areas, get the detailed hurricane rules and plan in writing. It should include details of when the plan kicks in. Ex. Any name storms, warning or watch, do you have to move the boat, what happens if you can not move it. Hurricane procedures can be incredibly complicated. Just know what they are. Also when do they cut off electric and water, are there any nearby bridges that are locked dow. When?
Get eberything you can, because even if you liveaboard you could be far away and unablebto attend to the boat in time

[TomAndLee]

Y'all rock...this is why I come here. Thank you for staying on topic and the great suggestions...there are some good ones here!

[Flyingriki]

Has anyone mentioned draft?