Hailing a Marina?

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BillinPA

Member
Oct 14, 2020
105
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2005
Engines
8.1
Am purchasing a 1999 340, but wondering what size do I say the boat is when calling for a transient slip? The swim platform is the standard size.
 
This one place I go transient...knows me pretty well.... so when I go into pay....he always says so you got the 35 footer this weekend..wink wink.. I always smile and say yes...I don’t want to hurt his feelings :)... he’s trying to be nice.
A couple other places know a 420 is 45’... most others go off the 420 and say it’s 42....I hate arguing
 
I always say LOA which was 45'. I used to say 40' but not anymore because when I did some marinas would point me to a 35' dock thinking I'd only hang out a little but when I stuck out 10' they would have me move. Same goes for wall space. My boat would not fit on 40' of wall if there was another motor yacht that would be in front or my bow pulpit would hang over the cockpit of a boat... I'll measure my new boat's LOA when I finally close on one and use that LOA for docking. It's not that much more money for dockage to tell actual length... $15-$20 maybe? If I was worried about what stuff cost I definitely wouldn't be in boating.
 
Most of the time marinas put me on a face dock for one or two night transient stays. If you don’t tell them the specific space size you need, and carve out a few feet to save some pennies, then you could get put in a place you won’t fit. Don’t ask me how I know.
 
I tend to tell them the actual measured LOA or more to make sure I have plenty of dock lenght. The difference in fees for a couple of nights will be the cheapest part of the the outing for sure so why worry about it? I hate being in a short slip and having to step around the transom to board. The one thing I hate more is fishing my slightly inebriated spouse out of the drink when she didn't quite make the step:rolleyes:
 
ZZ13 said:
Most of the time marinas put me on a face dock for one or two night transient stays. If you don’t tell them the specific space size you need, and carve out a few feet to save some pennies, then you could get put in a place you won’t fit. Don’t ask me how I know.
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First season with the Sabre I stuck with 38’ and then we spent a weekend with a bigger boat’s anchor hanging over the cockpit. If we didn’t have pods and the ability to move sideways I’d have never gotten her into the spot.
 
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It used to be in South Haven you could use any number you wanted on the radio. They charge by the foot. The woman who ran the place would put her steel tape on the dock at the end of your swim platform and walk the tape to the end of the anchor pulpit. People new to the area were sometimes embarrassed to learn the actual length of their vessels. She was cool about it and never referred to people as lying, swindling, scumbags if they were off by 3-4 feet.
 
Perhaps I'm an oddball. For two years I've been registering as a 47' boat when I go transient. I do this to make sure I have enough room to easily manage my dingy. Some places like South Haven (if I recall correctly) won't let you reserve a 50' slip if you're sub 44' +/-. I'm happy to pay a little more for the extra room...
 
BillinPA said:
Am purchasing a 1999 340, but wondering what size do I say the boat is when calling for a transient slip? The swim platform is the standard size.
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My boat is a 360 but longer than 36 feet. More like 39. I have had no trouble telling marinas that it's a 36 footer.
 
I dont know where you guys are going but in my case over 40' and you are in a big slip. I am more concerned with my beam as I don't want to be rubbing up against the next guy.. if you know what I mean...
Typically I am in a 45' or 50' slip with lots of room....if its a side tie wall ....then they pack you in regardless of your length.
If its a marina I don't know then I am sure to tell them I am 45' x 14'. We went to Kellys island for the first time last year, they put us in a double well next to a 40' Sundancer and I had maybe a foot and a half between us... We ended up becoming friends and have run into each other a few times since... but next time I will go to the wall. I guess what I am saying its a learning experience...If you want room ...say your boat is bigger then it is....it feels better anyway :)
 
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Our marina ignores the badging and marketing and does it based on actual LOA. That said, our slips are fixed price per slip with prices varying only by the slip size, not the boat you stick in it. But they won't allow a 43' LOA boat in a 30 to 40 ft slip. For transients they use the actual LOA. For storage, shrinkwrap etc. they do it by actual LOA. FYI your LOA is 36' 3" including the swim platform. 33' 5" without the swim platform.
 
I've got one of those boats that Sea Ray made no effort to have the model name come anywhere close to the actual length. It is a 450 SunDancer but SR hung a pulpit off the bow and a 4 ft swim platform off the transom so my 45 ft boat actually measures 50' -10". To avoid problems with the folks that provide transient slips, I always make a reservation 24- 48 hours ahead of my planned arrival and I offer a bit of an incentive: "The boat is a 45 ft Sea Ray but if you can let me have a position at the end of a lay-along dock, I can tie up at the midship and stern cleats and leave about 25 feet of boat hanging out over the water." That position leaves ample room for a 20-24ft boat aft of us that the dock master wouldn't have otherwise, and it also lets me pivot off the last piling and swing our the stern clear of the dock and the boat behind us when we are ready to leave.

We generally go to the same marinas and restaurants and most dock masters know us and know we don't need help. My radio calls are usually returned with "Hey Captain, Frank. Welcome back. Do you need and assistance?" To which I return, "No thanks, Bill, George, Alan, Dave. We can handle it". If I don't recognize the guy on the radio, my first stop is to go register for the stay and meet the new guy........and I do not let folks on the water address me as Mr. Webster........I am just plain Frank.

This may not work for everyone, but it has served us well for a lot of years.
 
fwebster said:
I've got one of those boats that Sea Ray made no effort to have the model name come anywhere close to the actual length. It is a 450 SunDancer but SR hung a pulpit off the bow and a 4 ft swim platform off the transom so my 45 ft boat actually measures 50' -10". To avoid problems with the folks that provide transient slips, I always make a reservation 24- 48 hours ahead of my planned arrival and I offer a bit of an incentive: "The boat is a 45 ft Sea Ray but if you can let me have a position at the end of a lay-along dock, I can tie up at the midship and stern cleats and leave about 25 feet of boat hanging out over the water." That position leaves ample room for a 20-24ft boat aft of us that the dock master wouldn't have otherwise, and it also lets me pivot off the last piling and swing our the stern clear of the dock and the boat behind us when we are ready to leave.

We generally go to the same marinas and restaurants and most dock masters know us and know we don't need help. My radio calls are usually returned with "Hey Captain, Frank. Welcome back. Do you need and assistance?" To which I return, "No thanks, Bill, George, Alan, Dave. We can handle it". If I don't recognize the guy on the radio, my first stop is to go register for the stay and meet the new guy........and I do not let folks on the water address me as Mr. Webster........I am just plain Frank.

This may not work for everyone, but it has served us well for a lot of years.
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And I try to tip right away. It usually improves service for the stay, and they tend to remember us for future stays.
 
My boat is listed as 20 feet, is 22 feet with the swim platform, and 24 feet with the engine up. I always request 24 feet because I want to keep the engine up. The extra couple of feet costs me less than 20 minutes worth of fuel. Not a big deal, and well worth getting the engine out of the water.
 
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