Dockage Rates

1000islander

1000islander

Member
Jul 9, 2007
115
1000 Islands
Boat Info
420 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins
I was wondering if anyones dockage rate have increased for the upcoming season. I got my bill over the weekend and it went up better than 10%. Not only did they raise the per foot cost they change the way they measure your boat(Searay LOA)! Plus they are now charging a new fee to put your boat back in the water in the spring. Prior the winter storage included the spring launch. I understand that things are tough, but trying to slip by the new measuring and not disclosing the splash fee at haul out in the fall was a bit sneaky. People understand the rates are going to increase, but be up front and disclose the facts, don't hid them in hopes that no one will notice.
 
My marina is doing something similar. The outcome is about 80 boats left! Talk about a dumb decision. (by the marina) People are scraping by now. So they raise the rates? What did they think people were going to do? Well, I guess they'll do without about $160,000.00 in revenue. I'd bet the manager is not sleeping well at night now that he may have to lay off or cut back somehow to make up for the loss. Greed, makes me mad. Oh yes, I stayed, but I'm a knuckle head! lol.
 
Mike,
I have to agree with you. I'm seeing quite a few empty slips at the marinas now. Not sure if I'm going to keep mine slipped next year.
 
Ours went up 5%. They have a captive audience with most of us. :smt021

I think it will hurt their smaller slip business, although that is probably why they went up because they know they are going to loose rent on those slips so they are trying to make it up on the rest of us.:smt013
 
My department which also maintains the marinas we have in our county, we have not raised the transient fees, however, we have seen numerous people pulling their boats out of the slips. We will have budget hearings within the next few months and I do believe we may raise the rates to help offset the loss.
 
My marina saw 30% of the boats leave and then said how about we talk. My slip fee was cut by 40%.
 
Our marina has been a joke. At first it was going to be almost 15-20% increase. Then they said a 3%. Well final was about 10%. Some other nearby marina's loved it - and offered deals to get people in. Our marina (700 slips) is down about 100 or more.. So, their increase has cost them more with loss to slips!
 
Our marina froze rates for this coming summer. Which generally don't mean s*#t - their m.o. is to slam tenants with a compensatory hike the following year. I'm changing marinas this spring so I don't know what the new place did from one year to the next, but I'll be paying about $21 less per foot at the new joint.
 
I bet if they lowered the rates 5% as upposed to raising them theyed fill up! This would attract more buisness.
 
Jitts - not sure how that works. I'd imagine that the Marina Owner's Association or whatever organization holds their convention has a philosophy on such matters. Thing is, in this economy, you have to throw out all the rules that have applied for the past 20 years. Right now, I would think lower rates and a serious concentration on customer service would be the best policy. We were warned about deflation - it's here.
 
rondds said:
Jitts - not sure how that works. I'd imagine that the Marina Owner's Association or whatever organization holds their convention has a philosophy on such matters. Thing is, in this economy, you have to throw out all the rules that have applied for the past 20 years. Right now, I would think lower rates and a serious concentration on customer service would be the best policy. We were warned about deflation - it's here.
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Truck stops do this, but we are a captive customer. You can't park just anywhere. Boating is a hobby. It they jack the prices, people will stay home or move to another spot.
Marina owners association. Truck stops have this as well. Collusion, yea right? Absolutely. If it were me I'd keep prices low, fill up slips, make money and tell the Association to pound sand. That's what Wal Mart did to the unions. They make more money then God
 
Ron - my concern is that your slip fee is $21 less per foot. My rent for the whole season is about $35.00/foot. What do you normally pay!?!?
 
Our fee went from $56 to $62 per foot, they now measure the SeaRay way LOA, not by model, adding 3 extra feet to my boat! They certinally have the right to measure any way they please, just tell us, don't measure oneway for years and years then when times are tough change without telling us. Then add fees that were included in storage and now are part of a new launch fee. Hiding the extra charges really bugs me.
 
1000islander said:
Our fee went from $56 to $62 per foot, they now measure the SeaRay way LOA, not by model, adding 3 extra feet to my boat! They certinally have the right to measure any way they please, just tell us, don't measure oneway for years and years then when times are tough change without telling us. Then add fees that were included in storage and now are part of a new launch fee. Hiding the extra charges really bugs me.
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Geez - either I am getting a smokin' deal or you guys are getting screwed! This is my first year keeping the boat in the water, but it still seems like you guys are paying a lot! my LOA is about 30'. I pay 37.00 per foot on title, 33.00 if you figure LOA. No extra fees, even store the trailer in the yard for free. I can lauch it myself, and have my own winter storage; I know they charge for those fees, I just don't use the services so I dont have the fees. No electric charge either.
 
Wow I am glad I have mine on my own lift now. I remember about 1998-2000, I used to have the Cobalt in dry storage under cover on Lake Logan Martin in Alabama. I paid $50/month with 2 months free if I paid for the whole year at one time. I could call tell them I was on my way and the boat would be in the water when I go to the marina. When I was done I would leave it tied at the dock and the marina would put it back on the trailer and put it under storage. I wonder what that costs now? John
 
In my area we pay $146 based on LOA a year. Has been this way for quite some time. I guess one of the reasons is that we also do not pay any annual personal property tax in our county. So, there is always trade offs.

I do look for less expensive marinas, though most are full. Basically 10 marians in the area with 2 being exculsive to their sold boats only and one being a slip condo marina.
 
I rent a 12 by 30 slip, at the time the marina had nothing else to fit my 240. I paid $1900 yearly lease. That makes it $63 a foot. That was in October. I can't imagine them raising prices now as I see very many vacant slips and boats for sale at the marina.
 
My marine for the first time in the last 10 years did not raise the slip fees this year I guess they learned somthing from last year when they had about 125 empty slips
 
I was at Matheson Hammond Park in Coral Gables, Florida this past Saturday, just south of Miami, and talked with the Dock master there a 30 foot slip is $378.00 per month. She showed me the waiting list of notebooks. The waiting time fora slip is over five years.

This was my first time ever being to Miami, I drove A1A down from Boca Raton, Florida (Stopped by the Publix's grocery in Boca Raton to use the free valet parking provided) [valet parking at a grocery store??] all the way to South beach in Miami. Went to Coral Gables and back to South Beach to sample Joes Stone Crabs. I tried them and for the price they are not my cup of tea, but hey I did the Miami landmark thing.:huh:
 
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berth control said:
Geez - either I am getting a smokin' deal or you guys are getting screwed! This is my first year keeping the boat in the water, but it still seems like you guys are paying a lot! my LOA is about 30'. I pay 37.00 per foot on title, 33.00 if you figure LOA. No extra fees, even store the trailer in the yard for free. I can lauch it myself, and have my own winter storage; I know they charge for those fees, I just don't use the services so I dont have the fees. No electric charge either.
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This will be my first year in Saugatuck also. I think you have a great rate. Mine is not nearly as good as that. But, I am paying for location.
 
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