Docking edicate?

[myersb]

Well finally got to see my boat at its slip today. What an experience!

While my wife and I were parking the car to go to our boat. We noticed people on chairs all over the dock. Mind you this is 8:30am. We gathered our things and started heading to our boat. Seems like everbody just sets up lawn chairs on the main entrance behind there boat. As we worked our way through the crowd of people. Several were already drinking and trying to make lite humor, asking if we would "like a beer", "cocktail hour" and "hair of the dog" whatever that means. :huh:

Once we arrived at our boat we uncovered it to do some general maintenance. Thats when two boats down from us had to turn on there radio and play it like we were at a concert. This went on all day. At one point the boat that was playing there music left to go and get something to eat. They didn't even have the courtesy to shut off there radio.:smt021

Well I could go on and on with more examples.The only reason I am writing this is because of my disgust with the whole ordeal. Is this common dock edicate? Should my wife and I just relax and go with the flow? By the way we wanted to take the boat out, but the water is too high several boats had reported hitting under water logs. I do not need that this season.

 

[Quint4]

You are on the "party" dock. In our marina a few of the docks are known to be loud and rowdy. This may be an occasional occurrence or every weekend.......time will tell.
I would give it a few weeks and see if this is a regular situation. You can ask to be moved to a more laid back dock.

Scott, you type faster than me!

 

[fwebster]

You are really just describing the management of the marina....i.e. no control at all. Ask to be moved and if that doesn't work out in a week or 2, be looking for a new marina because this isn't going to get any better under the present dockmaster.

I guess we are fortunate, but our marina works to weed out those who are hard partyers and not compatable with the tone the owners want to preserve. We realize that and most of us try to do our part to keep the community atmosphere we have.

 

[tdschafer]

That sounds like a typical weekend over at Davis Park Fire Island. That was great when I was single and 20 something. Now I'm married with children and find the relaxed atmosphere of Watch Hill more to my liking. I still head to Davis once in a while but, after my kids see several adults falling off the dock intoxicated I just retreat back to WH!!!

 

[billnpat]

the reality of the situation is that you are in a public (so to speak) place and people are not always considerate of their neighbors. In our marina, quiet hours start at 10 pm, but up to that point the sky is the limit. While i do enjoy listening to my new polk speakers, i try not to blast them when i know that others are around. Unfortunately, some folks just are not considerate of those around them. The folding chair episode is annoying too, but happens as well.

You'll be fighting a losing battle if you attempt to change their behaviors. It won't work, and they'll just regard you as a prick most likely. The best solution would be to either go with the flow or move to a quieter dock. I chose the latter, and although my dock neighbors are on average 30 years older than myself, i feel at home.

Excellent advice.....go with the flow...You may also be able to move another slip.....We are in a very quiet relaxing spot :smt001

 

[Bugsy24]

You are really just describing the management of the marina....i.e. no control at all. Ask to be moved and if that doesn't work out in a week or 2, be looking for a new marina because this isn't going to get any better under the present dockmaster.

I guess we are fortunate, but our marina works to weed out those who are hard partyers and not compatable with the tone the owners want to preserve. We realize that and most of us try to do our part to keep the community atmosphere we have.

Definitely mention it to Marina Management and like above posters if it doesn't change then ask to be moved or Hit the Highway for a Quieter Marina!!!

 

[Gofirstclass]

There's a group at the opposite end of our dock from where we are that spends weekends in the deck chairs with drink in hand, but they're friendly and quiet...no blasting stereos, etc. We wander down there from time to time to join them for a beer because we don't want to look like "the snob b*stards with the big boat", if you get my drift (most of them have 30'-36' boats). They're a lot of fun but sitting on the dock for the weekend just isn't our cup of tea. When we go down to the boat we usually clean her up and head out for the weekend.

There was a boat on the next dock over that had a bunch of 30-somethings aboard that blasted their stereo all afternoon. Not much we can do about it but if that continues I may just slip a note on their boat letting them know that not everyone appreciates the loud music and asking them to be respectful of others.

GFC

 

[Southpaw II]

I think you also have to consider that it's the beginning of the season. I boat year-round, but for most people it's a very seasonal thing. Some boaters will have a big "throw down" at the beginning of the season, and then you will never see them again. That's the boat that stays dirty most of the year....In some locales, the 4th of July is both the peak, and the end of the boating season; some places it's Labor Day.

If the behavior that is undesireable to you continues, just move on.

Don

 

[Alegria]

As Quint points out you are on the party dock! We were too our first season. We just went with the flow and actually made some great friendships out of it! If you are on a lake in PA you may not have any other marina choices so maybe another slip might be the answer. Give it a few weeks and see what happens. It only would bug me if I was overnighting on the boat and the racket went on to the wee hours. For us that never happened or i slept like a log don't know for sure.

 

[techmitch]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_of_the_dog

 

[myersb]

Thanks all. Alegria you are correct we are on a lake with no other slips to available. I guess we will put up with it for know.

Talked to one of our neighbors today. They told us a story that happened to them last year. While asleep in the early hours of the morning someone (drunk of course) was going around jumping on peoples boats, what ashame.

As for myself, we plan on leaving the dock each time. We are going to stay in a cove somewhere as we did in the past. I wish we had a gen. system on board but are stuck with only batteries for now.
The dock would be nice when it is hot and we could run the AC.

Hopefully something will change at the marina. I know this didn't just start this year. Most of the people seemed to be seasoned for this invironment.

 

[myersb]

Thats great!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_of_the_dog

 

[techmitch]

Thats great!

Thought you would like that!

 

[Summer Fun II]

As others said, Give it a few weeks,

At my marina we have a partying area and the rest of the marina stays quiet. :smt001

 

[tbirdvet]

The marina next to mine is what I call a party marina. My marina is very quiet which is why I stay there. If I turn on the boat stereo I keep it low so not to disturb the others around me.

 

[Asureyez]

Dock Courtesy:

Keep your boat clean
Keep your dock area clean
Keep your hoses and power cords neat and safely coiled
Keep your dock line tails at the cleats Flemish coiled
Keep your entertainment within your boat
Try to lend others a hand when needed
Avoid borrowing tools and supplies
Any complaints with neighbors, take it to the dockmaster

 

[Presentation]

I’m embarrassed to say that at one time I would Flemish coil my dock lines. Now I know better.

The “Flemish coil” is for sailors, Bayliner owners and people who don’t know any better.

If someone puts my dock lines in a Flemish coil it’s gone in seconds by me.

Braiding is faster. Braiding allows you to fling the line over the edge of the dock if you choose to. Braiding does not get messed up if someone bumps the line with their foot. Braiding does not cause the line to take on a ‘set’ or memory. Braiding can be doubled over if you have a long line. Braiding prevents the line from getting tangled. Braiding is cool.

How to…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXJpZUQc0jU

 

[Alex F]

.....As for myself, we plan on leaving the dock each time. We are going to stay in a cove somewhere as we did in the past. I wish we had a gen. system on board but are stuck with only batteries for now.
The dock would be nice when it is hot and we could run the AC.

Hopefully something will change at the marina. I know this didn't just start this year. Most of the people seemed to be seasoned for this invironment.

That's pretty much the ROI when comparing boats to summer cottages/houses. You're mobile :thumbsup:

Chances are having talk with the dockmaster won't make drastic changes. Thus, it'll be mostly up to you to determine if this works. You always have number of options, so you just have pick one and give it shot. If it doesn't work choose different option.

We were in a marina that was in prime location. Marina itself wasn't much to brag about, but it was in very protected spot, walking distance to the beach and many different attractions. The neighbors were very not bad and not too loud, but the beers were "brewing" earlier than coffee. We didn't fit in much but also didn't have a huge excuse to relocate. The biggest driver was that we spend minimum time in marina in general. If you're not planning to be a dock queen, then it won't as bad.

Give it a shot for the season and see how things work. If moving to another dock doesn't fix it for you, then different marina might. If it's the only marina on the lake, then ask yourself a question "do I really have to be only on this lake?". PA boaters are all over PA and NJ states. We have tons of water surrounding us. All you have to do is pick one that works best. It's much better to drive for 45min-1hr to your marina and be at the location you love vs. dealing with nonsense for the whole weekend while being 15min away from your house.

....Braiding is faster. Braiding allows you to fling the line over the edge of the dock if you choose to. Braiding does not get messed up if someone bumps the line with their foot. Braiding does not cause then line to take on a ‘set’ or memory. Braiding can be doubled over if you have a long line. Braiding is cool.

How to…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXJpZUQc0jU

Thanks for the link, Doug. Double braiding is very cool for a long line.

 

[Nehalennia]

As far as partying on the dock, I expect it in many places. Also, I expect it to die down around 10PM or so. I do expect it also on major weekends (opening day of boating season, Memorial day, the 4th, Labor day, etc). Sometimes we join in depending on the situation, but if we're in groups, we're respectful that others that are not 'partaking" in the festivities want some sleep, peace and quiet.

P.S. I like the braiding idea.

 

[Skeetobite]

I tolerated the party atmosphere for 3 years at an otherwise excellent marina. Finally gave up when the foul language went unchecked around my children daily and we moved on.

I'm not a prude and enjoy a few social drinks now and then, but the 24/7 drunken brawl, constant sexual references, filthy language and blasting music isn't for me or my kids. We even restricted our boating to weekdays to avoid the mayhem. I think this occurs in our area because this part of Florida is a "working" community as opposed to having more retired folks. People just want to unwind and party on weekends, regardless of how it may affect others. The farther south I go, the less activity like this occurs.

Some like this and actively seek out marinas with this type of party. That's ok too I suppose, they can have it.