Dockside Etiquete

[capejt]

I think I saw a post similar to this about a year or so ago, but now the problem has hit me so I thought I'd bring it up again to solicit responses.
For the past ten years we've kept our boat ('79 H33) at a local marina. The marina has two main docks. One (the one we were originally on) was occupied by those who enjoy a quiet place to sit in the cockpit on a starry night, it was nice. The other dock is populated by large powerboats and heavy drinkers. Then along came Hurricane Sandy and took out the water and power to "my" dock (which is also the fuel dock). In the midst of the storm the boat on one side of us swamped and went to the bottom. My boat broke a stern line and one of the springs causing a collision with the neighbor boat on the other side. There was later a battle of "he said, he said" concerning storm prep and the insurance company's responsibility. I ended up winning that one, which cast the dockmaster in a bad light. Anyway Spring rolls around and I was told they have to move me to the other dock to free up the slip so they could raise the swamped neighbor. Okay, that makes some sense, but they moved me to the very end of the other dock which is known as the "rowdy" dock.
This past Saturday night I went down to my boat to make preparations for hauling leading to its sale. I was amazed at what I ran into. On the main dock there was a party going on behind one of the large powerboats. Not on the boat mind you... on the DOCK! There were two or three lounge chairs, two barbeque grills, and a cafeteria style table blocking the dock about a third of the way out. I felt like I was walking though someones living room trying to get to my boat. When I tried to make my way through the crowd I got looks like "Who are you and what are you doing here?". After spending several hours working on my boat, I made my way back to the car. By now the party had broken up, but the "furniture" was still there. I had a good mind to "accidently" bump the stuff into the drink, but I just let it go since I won't even be at this marina within a week.
Their actions are clearly outlawed by the marina rules and regulations, but there's no enforcement.
The whole episode has left me wondering if I really want another boat after all.
What do you think?

 

[anchorclanker]

I would ask for another dock, or look somewhere else.

 

[RichH]

I would ask for another dock, or look somewhere else.

Ditto with anchorclankers advice. Unfortunately power boaters spend more $$$ at marinas than sailboaters, so expect lesser concern by the marina to solve your problem.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Such dock parties are not unusual here, but I usually get offered a beer and some BBQ.
Can't answer about another boat but you sure don't want to be in that marina anymore, it's a "hostile" environment now.

 

[Bad Obsession]

It sounds like you are in a sour environment. It is probably a good time to move away from that marina because of what has happened.

You can't fix stupid! You can teach the ignorant unless they want to be taught.

It is similar to what I see around here in Northern Virginia. People go about their business without concern for others. Oh, am I in someone's way? That question never gets asked these days because people are so self absorbed.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Obviously you're unhappy on the dock but reading through your post I'm not sure exactly what the problem is:

• Was it the noise of the party?
• The alcohol?
• Was it you felt disrespected? You didn't like the way they looked at you? (that's what you said)
• The dock was blocked (although you made it through)?
• Was it that they broke the rules?
• Was the problem the marina management didn't respond to the complaint to your satisfaction?
• Was the problem that they were powerboaters?

We've had parties on our dock that were noisy, alcohol fueled and impeded conveyance but we all somehow get along amicably. I agree, there's a problem on your dock.

 

[Rob2435]

I always thought of the marina as a social environment. I am not suggesting that rowdy, late night parties are the norm, but I have sat on the main dock with a few beers. We have always been polite and cleaned the dock up afterward. We have even met some transients and enjoyed their stories while hanging out.

If they were right next to your boat and you were trying to catch some sleep, I may understand a suggestion to move the party down the dock...complaining about people enjoying the "other" side of boating, not so cool.

 

[Merlin Clark]

I enjoy dock parties. The noise must not be THAT bad if it didn't bother you on the other dock since noise travels across water so well.
Join in. Show up with a 6 pack and introduce yourself. You'll probably hear some slanderous talk about sailboats but most will be tongue in cheek so respond in kind. Heck, you might even have fun. Beats finding a new marina.

 

[capejt]

Thanks for your replies. A couple of things that I didn't explain very well.
These guys are partying EVERY weekend and holiday. It's been going o for several years.
Due to health and financial concerns I'm selling my boat and (at least for now) getting out of boating.
Old Skool Neil- I can see many of your points, but I think what gets me is the arrogance as if they own the marina. There is no sense of being a good neighbor. No consideration of others.
Funny thing is, I recall one night during July 4th celebrations, they were particularly loud until around midnight. Apparently their little boy had to go to bed. Shortly after bedtime, the parents started yelling at other on the dock to be quiet as their little boy was trying to sleep. This coming from a crowd that just an hour earlier were whooping and hollering and blowing boat horns.

Oh, and here's another jewel I forgot to mention concerning the marina itself. I mentioned that Sandy really did a number on the place. Mine was one of maybe four or five boats that decided to ride out the off season at dock. I spent the entire Winter season with now power to my boat. In other words, no battery charger which meant batteries went dead which meant no bilge pump. At one point I brought my generator from home just so I could put a little life into the batteries for the bilge pump. That really worried me. Anyway, I just got billed for the Winter season and the upcoming Summer season. The Summer season I just write off since I won't be there, but they charged me FULL price for the winter dockage. I understand its a business and all, but do you think its right that I get charged FULL price when all services were not provided?

 

[Winkfish]

I understand its a business and all, but do you think its right that I get charged FULL price when all services were not provided?

It all depends on your contract with the marina.

 

[Tim R.]

Why post this here? You are obviously not looking for a solution because you are leaving. If you are simply posting to whine and have everyone agree with you then you picked the wrong place. Definitely a first world problem.

Maybe they don't like you because you threw the dockmaster under the bus - "There was later a battle of "he said, he said" concerning storm prep and the insurance company's responsibility. I ended up winning that one, which cast the dockmaster in a bad light."

Admins, no sailing content so feel free to boot this to Sail's Call Lounge.

BTW, I live in a marina with lots of boats(mostly power). We all manage to get along. Sometimes there are disagreements. We work it out. I think I learned this at some point as a child.

 

[LuzSD]

It sounds like your situation has landed on your last nerve..... I can sympathize. Probably all of us can at some point or other.

That situation does not define all marinas so go to another and specifically look for the enviro you seek. I also am frustrated by unthoughtful dock neighbors and like it or not we have adjusted our time at our boat around that. We spend relaxing times in the evenings when no one is there. We don't come in from sailing and plan to hang if its too loud or whatever.... We play it by ear in the summer.... Winter is heaven for us now in this marina.

It's pretty hard to be a joiner of a group you've observed and don't respect, so as easy as that suggestion sounds, it does all depend on the people.

Pretty tough response Tim, I think his query is fitting for this forum.... As much as any ... It's a situation that most of us face and appropriate in my mind. True we don't appreciate whining for the sake of whining..... So the biggest take away from all who wrote including me is to find a marina thar fits your style better. Don't give up boating because of this, it's fixable.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

I spent the entire Winter season with now power to my boat. In other words, no battery charger which meant batteries went dead which meant no bilge pump. . . . . . Anyway, I just got billed for the Winter season and the upcoming Summer season. The Summer season I just write off since I won't be there, but they charged me FULL price for the winter dockage. I understand its a business and all, but do you think its right that I get charged FULL price when all services were not provided?

My power is metered separately and I have refrigeration on at all times. My monthly power charge at Southern California rates is always a few pennies over $2.00 so for ease of calculation if the off season is 6 months of the year you may have been charged for $12.00 worth of services you did not receive.

 

[LuzSD]

My power is metered separately and I have refrigeration on at all times. My monthly power charge at Southern California rates is always a few pennies over $2.00 so for ease of calculation if the off season is 6 months of the year you may have been charged for $12.00 worth of services you did not receive.

Neil, you lucky guy!!! In San Diego we were charged $19 per month for electricity and we had no refrigeration at all!!! We complained but to no end.... I always thought it should be under $5!!

 

[Tim R.]

Pretty tough response Tim, I think his query is fitting for this forum.... As much as any ... It's a situation that most of us face and appropriate in my mind. True we don't appreciate whining for the sake of whining..... So the biggest take away from all who wrote including me is to find a marina thar fits your style better. Don't give up boating because of this, it's fixable.

LuzSD, read his posts a little more closely. He is getting out of boating for health reasons, not because of this "incident". He does not ask for any advice on how to resolve the situation. To me it comes off as whining. He was not restricted from getting to his boat. The worse thing that happened was he perceived some dirty looks. Maybe someone in the group just told a story that elicited that response and he just happened to be walking by.

In my experience, people are generally nice and welcoming, especially boaters(all boaters). Maybe there is more to this story than what has been written.

 

[LuzSD]

yep, I read that too, and understand. I really think it depends on the people around you. Since we moved from a very quiet wonderful slip in SD where we were double slipped next to a couple that we now consider one of our best friends, to our slip in Dana Point, we've experienced a turn around about enjoying our dock neighbors. One boat far down the way from us is so loud we can hear every word, they get very abusive as the day progresses, use vulgar language amongst themselves and to people walking by and just basically are obnoxious and share it everyone remotely near them. (the boat is for sale so fingers crossed). Last 4th of July we did not go down and the (we thought nice neighbors) next to us on one side removed our power cord from our boat, plugged it into his own, then when ready to go out, draped our cord over our lifelines and took off for a few hours. The loud neighbors on the other side undid our dock line, pushed us over a little so their dingy could tie up there. They draped their wet clothes on our lifelines leaving muddy something down the sides and in the cockpit... and dripped grease in huge plops all along the walkway (like grease from a grill ?) and I found that when I slipped in it.
We only know what actually happened because our friends have their boat across from us and they saw all of this going on.
We have had to move a dingy so we could leave our slip because it was tied on to extend behind us by a good 18 inches. They have filled our slip up with kayaks when we are out sailing so its extra fun coming in. They are nice people for the most part I'm sure.... but just totally unthoughtful. The rest of the dock seems to be great folks, and I appreciate that, but I also expect that. We try hard to be good neighbors and expect (well, wish for at least!) the same.

I hear frustration in the OP and of course it probably is much more complicated based on the damage and emotions of their situation...... but he is right that when you lose the ability to enjoy some relaxing time on your boat it is frustrating.

 

[Ross]

I have never had a problem with dock parties. I just smile and behave in a friendly manner like a dog that wanders though the yard at home when we are doing a BBQ. He introduces himself and gets a friendly pat on the head and doesn't wear out his welcome.

 

[Tim R.]

LuzSD, I too have had similar incidents but I deal with them. One way or another there is usually a solution that everyone can live by. Complaining here without soliciting helpful advice is not one of them.

If he means to warn others about using that marina then fine, tell us what the atmosphere is likely to be. But the original post is not a public service announcement.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Re: power,

Yeah Luz, when the meters were being installed we all instinctively felt dread for what was to come but the reality is we get a fair shake. They measure what we use and charge accordingly. I've never had a problem with it. The liveaboards with their space heaters, microwaves and toaster ovens use more so they pay more. I'm not subsidizing them.

Our original poster, Vegas, sounded like his power usage was keeping his batteries up and replenishing bilge pump consumption, nothing more. From my point of view ($2/month even with refrigeration) it didn't seem worthy of an ulcer. He was wise to bring a generator down to recharge the batteries as long as his boat decided to winter in the slip. I trust nobody complained to the office about the generator noise.

I accept he's unhappy there. I observe too that as far as that dock goes, they were party-hardy's well before he was displaced from his slip so his relocation there, as unpleasant as he may find it, has him in the position of the new neighbor, the guest. Enough said.

 

[shemandr]

Capejt's complaint at first seems trivial but having stayed at a marina where "Utes" came down to Daddy's boat, or whatever, and were partying it up until late hours. I can attest to annoyance. It wasn't a come join in type party. It was we'll do what we want and you can't do anything about it type party -VERY loud music. The marina security had no interest in stepping in. The parents would have to know. My only answer is that utes have discovered they can party it up, sleep on the boat and not risk driving home. Parents seem to be complacent.