New Marina Trend

[Bad Obsession]

In my area it is cheaper to keep a boat than other areas. That is a given but I am still going to complain about a new thing that I am starting to see.

A lot of the Marinas in my area will no longer let you do yard work on your boat. They say that their insurance company won't allow it.

This translates to a haul out that use to cost me about $500 for the old boat, including paint, is now about $1200. Since I have a trailer now it isn't a big deal but I hope that this trend ceases before I eventually go back up in size because this will make owning a larger boat much less affordable in my area. Add to that the insurance going up, the property tax, etc. it will price a lot of medium income sailors out of the sport.

I think that this is also a money making scheme. I hope that the marinas that are doing this feel the hit in their wallet when boaters go elsewhere and things go back to the way that they were!

 

[rpell1@msn.com]

Same is going on in NY. The Marinas here are claiming DEP and EPA problems regarding waste materials, paint, etc. and their responsibility to contain and control. This does impact their Insurance........and adds to their bottom line with additional fees. None of these Marinas are hurting for business, at least not yet. So, why not charge what they can? At my age, I may only have a few more good years of sailing left so the onus will unfortunately be on the younger folk. I wish you all luck.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

This is one of those misplaced blame criticisms. While I agree DIY marinas are becoming scarce and expensive, let's consider why.
They (the marinas) are subject to the same taxes we are, the same insurance increases we are and the same or more onerous environmental regs we are. Note that while they are incurring cost and liability, we expect them to maintain and improve their nfrastructure and aesthetics while we complain about the cost of marina fees. Also, their liability is a direct result of us not following the rules, hence the prohibitions on DIY activities.

 

[Charles Erwin]

Offer to provide your own policy with the yard as an additional (named) insured. Then see what they say.

Consider the possibility that this has little to do with 'their insurance company' and a lot to do with yard service providers - who typically pay fees (and separate additional insurance coverage) to the yard owner in order to be allowed to work on premises. Option two is ask what it takes to become such a service provider (never mind you might provide your services exclusively to yourself.)

Charles.

 

[Rich Stidger]

At my marina in Bristol, RI, we can do our own work. But I have had a conversation with the owner who has told me that at some point the state regulations regarding handling and disposal of bottom paint and other hazardous materials will force the yard to ban all DIY work. I don't know if that is just an excuse to force everyone to pay for the work they would otherwise do, or if it is a legitimate issue. It angers me when I see a yard doing using exactly the same procedures as I do but charging $90/hr and there is no alternative. Perhaps the state legislatures that create these regulations have no concept as to the financial impact of their laws. Perhaps they don't care.

 

[fstbttms]

I will speak for no area other than the Bay Area, but here, boatyards (not marinas, out here those are separate businesses) right and left have been sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars each by psuedo-environmental watchdog groups (read; "shyster lawyers looking for an easy mark") for non-compliance with existing point-source pollution regulations. Granted, the yards need to be in compliance, but if I owned a yard, there is no way in hell I face legal action, pony-up for wastewater filtering and handling systems, pay the settlements AND continue to let any Tom, Dick or Harry do whatever the hell they want with registered pesticides (which is what anti fouling paints are) on my property.

Anger directed at the yards is likely misplaced, IMHO.

 

[KD3PC]

+1 to fstbttms comments, it is the future of boat related services...and will cost a lot to implement, which the yards/marinas will simply pass along to the customer.

The days of open sanding bottom paint or even pressure washing a hull at haul, are all but over. That "effluent" - regardless that it came from the river/ocean/bay, will have to be filtered and such, if allowed to reenter the water stream.

 

[Gunni]

I could suggest that you come across the river to Maryland where boating is common, and king. Most Maryland marinas still allow you to work on your own boat. We also don't have that oppressive personal property tax on boats that Virginia levies. We have marina rules about DIY boat work procedures and we have private / public partnerships called the Clean Marina Program. Clean Marina operators have SOPs and elaborate infrastructure in place to mitigate point, and non-point source pollution. We have on-site oil, antifreeze, battery recovery storage, shrink-wrap recycling, and waste facilities. By leading the effort, boaters and marinas can push back against legislation that seeks to insert itself in our lifestyle.

 

[fstbttms]

Clean Marina operators have SOPs and elaborate infrastructure in place to mitigate point, and non-point source pollution. We have on-site oil, antifreeze, battery recovery storage, shrink-wrap recycling, and waste facilities. By leading the effort, boaters and marinas can push back against legislation that seeks to insert itself in our lifestyle.

The completely voluntary and 100% toothless Clean Marina program exists in California as well. Doesn't do a thing to stop the no-DIY policies from being implemented.

 

[Don Lucas]

In my winter DIY marina they make a big thing of owners having tarps down etc when doing bottom painting. All this in the name of EPA requirements. But I watched the yard people do a bottom job month and they didn't put down any tarps, catch any chips, use the dustless sander, or anything.

Just saying that when you pay the yard ti do the work the environmental concern goes away.

 

[justsomeguy]

I am still going to complain about a new thing that I am starting to see.

Move to Mexico!

 

[Bad Obsession]

The move to MD is tempting, but I have ties to the community where my boat sits. I grew up there, my parents still live there, and I know every boater in my marina. It is hard to find that.

One of the local watermen told me that he is allowed to do his own work in the yard. It may be worth while figuring out a way around this whole thing but, for now, I will just do my yard work in my yard while the boat is on the trailer.

 

[uncledom]

Funny that towns and municipalities can "accidentally " release thousands of gallons of sewerage with nary a repercussion. Or that the same marina can overfill a fuel tank without the coast gaurd getting involved. Just saying.

 

[JamesG161]

I think that this is also a money making scheme.

or a flimsy excuse!
I live in area of the biggest oil spill in history (BP). Guess what? They couldn't find any oil residuals after a year long study of the area. Nature should be respected and a simple collection system, like most oil change garages, can collect, sample, treat, and permissive release.
US waters have consistently improved year after year.
But...
There should be restrictions on inflammable chemical use to prevent fires for sure.
Jim...

PS: Fishermen can till put fish cleanings in the water to feed our pet pelicans, sea otters, crabs, etc.

 

[fstbttms]

They couldn't find any oil residuals after a year long study of the area.

Who is "they"?

 

[Rick D]

OK, large liabilities exist for yards for violations of increasingly complex regulations. Yards have closed because of them and the related cost of compliance , monitoring and insurance. Even if insurance companies try to exclude coverage for the yard owner and/or operator, they will take a shot at collecting from them. Besides, the yard wants the protection. The only rational step is to try to price it out at some level and offer it. It won't be cheap. And, of course, a claim will, at best, result in a premium increase. So, if you were a yard owner, would you allow DYI? Anyhow, I think those days are toast or soon will be. A yard can only fly under the radar for so long. In my SoCal marina, sanding so as to leave any residue is not permitted. We're talking varnish here. To have my boat polished, the tech must tarp off the water exposed around the slip and vacuum an dust constantly. These are common requirements. There is no turning this back that I can see. Recall, for another example, efforts to disallow DYI on automobiles. Geesh, I'm fully depressed.

 

[RoyS]

Why do ablative paints suggest sanding with 80 grit paper before applying new paint? If you read the directions on a can of multi-season paint that advertises "no sanding" it states clearly to sand with 80 grit paper before applying. Is sanding really necessary?

 

[JamesG161]

Who is "they"?

Several independent well funded groups (water depth was ≈4000') searched/sampled the ocean bottom. They were looking for tars, oil, dead ocean etc. Found no impact!!
Web search I am sure, will reveal names of groups and their results.

My point was, man can prevent/reduce chemical damage from a marina work area. You flush your wastes daily.
Jim...

 

[woodster]

Why do ablative paints suggest sanding with 80 grit paper before applying new paint? If you read the directions on a can of multi-season paint that advertises "no sanding" it states clearly to sand with 80 grit paper before applying. Is sanding really necessary?

i think the no sanding statement is a marketing ploy ......as for sanding before painting goes ...it's always best to sand the surface in order to get a good bond of surface to paint ratio ......on the other hand if you don't sand using their paint it increases their sales in the long haul....even if you were to use milk paint like in the days of old you should always sand the surface...this is called a mechanical bond .....

 

[rgranger]

Write your congressman... or keep complaining..... that is really the only two choices available.