My marina started a new policy this year by charging $8.00 per foot additional if you winterize your own boat. Does anyone else have a similar experience with this? How do you feel about it? Anything I could do? I think it is very unfair. Jack B-37
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not much
About all you can do is complain and take your business elsewhere. For what they are charging, you might as well have them do the work, which is what they wanted in the first place.
About all you can do is complain and take your business elsewhere. For what they are charging, you might as well have them do the work, which is what they wanted in the first place.
IMMEDIATELY shop for a new marina
It is unbelievable how greedy some marina owners are. I think that these guys believe that there is no bottom to our pockets. I would not only complain, but look for another marina. Depending upon waiting lists, it may take a year or two to go somewhere else. I truly believe that it will be marina owners that will eventually "convince" me to stop boating. Rich (in name only)
It is unbelievable how greedy some marina owners are. I think that these guys believe that there is no bottom to our pockets. I would not only complain, but look for another marina. Depending upon waiting lists, it may take a year or two to go somewhere else. I truly believe that it will be marina owners that will eventually "convince" me to stop boating. Rich (in name only)
What do they charge to do it for you?
They would charge you about $300 if YOU winterize your own boat. What do they charge to do this? Many owners do not REALLY winterize their boats because the use them during the winter months. If the marina does it for you what do they charge for the service? What do they do for the price they charge?
They would charge you about $300 if YOU winterize your own boat. What do they charge to do this? Many owners do not REALLY winterize their boats because the use them during the winter months. If the marina does it for you what do they charge for the service? What do they do for the price they charge?
Time to find another marina
Fortunately, I am still allowed to do my own winterizing and most work above the water-line. I'm not allowed to paint the hull or repair most of the freeboard, including removing the old name or adding a new one. They claim this is to maintain their "Clean Bay Marina" status. However, I was allowed to put new numbers and registration stickers on the hull, and new zincs on the prop shaft. Also, they were going to store my outboard for free, but I decided to take it home anyway. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Fortunately, I am still allowed to do my own winterizing and most work above the water-line. I'm not allowed to paint the hull or repair most of the freeboard, including removing the old name or adding a new one. They claim this is to maintain their "Clean Bay Marina" status. However, I was allowed to put new numbers and registration stickers on the hull, and new zincs on the prop shaft. Also, they were going to store my outboard for free, but I decided to take it home anyway. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
I'm flabbergasted!
I can see not allowing "toxic" work on your boat but charging to do your OWN winterizing?!?! Being "allowed" to put your own *&$%!# reg numbers on?!?! Boy, I guess I live a sheltered life over here on the Left Coast (I guess the "Right" Coast isn't so right after all). LaDonna
I can see not allowing "toxic" work on your boat but charging to do your OWN winterizing?!?! Being "allowed" to put your own *&$%!# reg numbers on?!?! Boy, I guess I live a sheltered life over here on the Left Coast (I guess the "Right" Coast isn't so right after all). LaDonna
Tell them to shove it.
Bottom line is that marina's are businesses & the best thing you can do is give them a reason (from a business perspective) not to charge you. If enough people refuse to pay the fee, and business suffers, then they'll retract that policy. Short of that, though, and they'll keep charging. After a while, other marinas will follow suit & it will become the norm. Let's nip this one in the bud & tell them to shove it. Make them exempt you from the fee or take your business elsewhere. Allen Schweitzer s/v Drambuie C-30 Hull # 632
Bottom line is that marina's are businesses & the best thing you can do is give them a reason (from a business perspective) not to charge you. If enough people refuse to pay the fee, and business suffers, then they'll retract that policy. Short of that, though, and they'll keep charging. After a while, other marinas will follow suit & it will become the norm. Let's nip this one in the bud & tell them to shove it. Make them exempt you from the fee or take your business elsewhere. Allen Schweitzer s/v Drambuie C-30 Hull # 632
Do you have a written agreement?
If so, you might want to review it. Maybe the owner has to give you some amount of notice before it changes terms.
If so, you might want to review it. Maybe the owner has to give you some amount of notice before it changes terms.
Fudge it
If by winterizing you mean putting in the anti-freeze, here's what I'd do. Motor into the chute for hauling, and say, "Hold on a minute." Then pop below and, with the engine still running, simply remove the raw-water intake top and use a funnel to load in 2 gallons of anti-freeze as if it were raw water. Takes a minute, literally. Then kill the engine. Voila.
If by winterizing you mean putting in the anti-freeze, here's what I'd do. Motor into the chute for hauling, and say, "Hold on a minute." Then pop below and, with the engine still running, simply remove the raw-water intake top and use a funnel to load in 2 gallons of anti-freeze as if it were raw water. Takes a minute, literally. Then kill the engine. Voila.
would you believe?
my marina charges $5/foot if you DON'T take the mast down - supposedly, it creates more work for them to check the poppits after a storm. Don Illusion
my marina charges $5/foot if you DON'T take the mast down - supposedly, it creates more work for them to check the poppits after a storm. Don Illusion
not allowed
Some marina's on long island don't allow any work at all not a thing in thier yard ,they say it's insurance rules and they charge you to death .I guess some people have alot of money and the marina's are all doing very well here . This was my first year winter storeing and I did alot of shopping around and they all charge different most charge extra for every thing because its a sail boat ,I added it up and it came out cheaper to store at the marina here in new suffolk and they let me do the rest except paint the bottom ,shop around for space.
Some marina's on long island don't allow any work at all not a thing in thier yard ,they say it's insurance rules and they charge you to death .I guess some people have alot of money and the marina's are all doing very well here . This was my first year winter storeing and I did alot of shopping around and they all charge different most charge extra for every thing because its a sail boat ,I added it up and it came out cheaper to store at the marina here in new suffolk and they let me do the rest except paint the bottom ,shop around for space.
There was little advance notice!
I appreciated everyone's responses. It has confirmed my beliefs that my marina is doing me wrong. 1. The only advanced notice was in a mailer in September to remind everyone that the season is coming to a close soon and to start thinking about winter storage at the marina (because if you don't winter there, you may not have a slip for next summer) and in the letter it mentioned mandatory winterizing or $8.00 per foot. 2. I wrote a letter to the manager vigorously expressing my disatisfaction with the new policy. Manager told me that the boss insists on new policy. (boss is absentee type boss, cant talk directly to him) 3. Made deal with manager to charge me a few bucks to winterize engine. (that would satisfy the new policy and be $120.00 cheaper than the $8.00 per foot charge) 4. The day the boat came out of the water, manager informed me that he would be unable to honor our deal, since the new policy does not explicitly spell out what winterizing on the boat must be performed.(hinting that fresh water tanks and heads would be included in the new policy) 5. Got my winter bill the other day, found out that they are charging me the $8.00 per foot anyway. 6> Good customer who alawys paid his bills as soon as I got 'em, is very unhappy
Thanks to all who responded!
I appreciated everyone's responses. It has confirmed my beliefs that my marina is doing me wrong. 1. The only advanced notice was in a mailer in September to remind everyone that the season is coming to a close soon and to start thinking about winter storage at the marina (because if you don't winter there, you may not have a slip for next summer) and in the letter it mentioned mandatory winterizing or $8.00 per foot. 2. I wrote a letter to the manager vigorously expressing my disatisfaction with the new policy. Manager told me that the boss insists on new policy. (boss is absentee type boss, cant talk directly to him) 3. Made deal with manager to charge me a few bucks to winterize engine. (that would satisfy the new policy and be $120.00 cheaper than the $8.00 per foot charge) 4. The day the boat came out of the water, manager informed me that he would be unable to honor our deal, since the new policy does not explicitly spell out what winterizing on the boat must be performed.(hinting that fresh water tanks and heads would be included in the new policy) 5. Got my winter bill the other day, found out that they are charging me the $8.00 per foot anyway. 6> Good customer who alawys paid his bills as soon as I got 'em, is very unhappy
Thanks to all who responded!Market Forces - Free Enterprise
Several forces are at work here. Supply and demand is one of them...basic economic theory where supply is low demand is high so the price goes up. I et a lot more boats are produced each year then new boat slips...who has the statistics? Secondly waterfront property is outrageously expensive and in demand. How many homes can be built on the acreage your marina occupies? So the owners want to make the same money they could make by pursuing other available options with their property. Dave
Several forces are at work here. Supply and demand is one of them...basic economic theory where supply is low demand is high so the price goes up. I et a lot more boats are produced each year then new boat slips...who has the statistics? Secondly waterfront property is outrageously expensive and in demand. How many homes can be built on the acreage your marina occupies? So the owners want to make the same money they could make by pursuing other available options with their property. Dave
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