How much does your slip cost per foot and what is included

Apex

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Jun 19, 2013
1,210
C&C 30 Elk Rapids
30ft slip: $2.9k includes slip, power, water, cable TV, bathrooms with showers, day room and laundry facilities. Propane grills are fueled to use, and of course ice/fuel/pumpout docks. There is also an event pavilion
 
May 17, 2004
5,542
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
$150 / foot, but that’s for an annual contract including haul out, pressure wash, and winter storage. City water and use of bathrooms/showers is included. 15A electric would be included but 30A is metered.
 

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,216
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I pay by the year - $2200. So if you are looking for a cost per foot on a monthly basis that's about $4.47 per foot per month. But that's based on my boats length not including bow sprit and aft platform. So if I included those it would be about $3.82 per foot per month. I get water, basic bath house with showers and toilets. Electric is metered. Electric is pretty low cost, think my worst month was when I spent two weeks on the boat in the middle of winter running electric heaters 24/7 - might have paid around $30 that month for electric. My electric bill is usually a bit over $10 per month. Pretty basic Marina but I like the place a lot. Has a lot of DIY folks and the marina owner is really knowledgeable and he freely shares his knowledge. Another aspect I like is it's mostly sailboats in this marina, very few motor boats. Nice low key marina with a lot of support network.

dj
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,048
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Our marina just went up 20% , $6.25 per foot per month, year 'round for a 36 foot slip.. That includes shower rooms, and toilets and water. Electricity is from the local co-op (about $18/month running a dehumidifier constantly) but the dockside hookup belongs to the marina. Oh.. parking is slipside.. a nice perk.
Rental Rates - Prieto Marina
 
Apr 8, 2011
772
Hunter 40 Deale, MD
So mine works out to $11.57/foot per month, or $5,000 per year (we pay year round here). I haul out every other year which runs around another $1,500 (haulout, blocking, land storage, launch) to do a slew of things including iron keel maintenance, bottom painting and hull waxing. When I do that I"m double paying to keep my wet slip, and the haulout/storage. I also rent a small storage shed onsite for $500 a year (totally worth it to keep all the stuff you need occasionally nearby and don't want to haul from home - or more usually forget at home).

That includes indoor and outdoor showers, bathrooms, salt water pool, multiple grill/picnic areas, fire pit, multiple pavilions, bicycles, kayaks, disposal for all "hazardous" waste like oil, etc., pumpout facility, wi-fi, laundry facilities (for a small fee), and dinghy storage (for a small fee). Electricity is billed as used (I think I've gotten two tiny bills in 3 years). They also hold around a dozen free slipholder events a year with food and beverages, and beer is free every Friday at the pool. The staff is excellent, and very helpful, and whenever there's a weather event they're there lengthening and shortening docklines. No idea if there's a liveaboard fee, but they do allow it and the guy next to me does live aboard. It would be kind of miserable in the winter, but the rest of the year its a great place to live.

That does hit the wallet, but the amenities are really nice and we do use them - the wife really like having a relaxing place to be slipped at. I was at a "no frills" marina (the unheated/un air conditioned toilets barely worked - that was the extent of amenities) and it wasn't a whole lot less, and not welcoming to family or guests. I remember 15 years ago it was kind of a dump. But slip fees have remained relatively stable in the 4 years I've been there. The marina was bought a few years ago by a much larger conglomerate and they've really poured money into it to fix it up. That's happening all around the Chesapeake - large conglomerates buying up old marinas. Many of them are, or were, family owned for generations. In general its been a good thing as the new owners are really modernizing the marinas with floating docks (one could wish) and really nice amenities. Its making it a little more expensive, but very pleasant, to cruise around the bay to really nice facilities. My marina is in Deale, MD, south of Annapolis.

Shipwright Harbor Marina | Deale, MD | Herring & Chesapeake Bays
 
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dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,216
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
No idea if there's a liveaboard fee, but they do allow it and the guy next to me does live aboard. It would be kind of miserable in the winter, but the rest of the year its a great place to live.
There are several liveaboards where I am also, I don't know if there is an extra fee for them, I kind of doubt it. The liveaboards are really nice folk and I like having them around. Several of us look after each others boats - very handy when some of us are far away. I'm 4 hours from my boat.

The marina was bought a few years ago by a much larger conglomerate and they've really poured money into it to fix it up. That's happening all around the Chesapeake - large conglomerates buying up old marinas. Many of them are, or were, family owned for generations.
This really worries me honestly. I really like the family owned aspect of my marina. The owner is at least second generation, I know his parents owned this marina and he inherited it from them. I don't know if it goes further back than that. Because of this, he is incredibly knowledgeable of boats, boating, the Chesapeake, local crafts people etc. There is no way some large conglomerate can replace this "family" feeling...

In general its been a good thing as the new owners are really modernizing the marinas with floating docks (one could wish) and really nice amenities. Its making it a little more expensive, but very pleasant, to cruise around the bay to really nice facilities. My marina is in Deale, MD, south of Annapolis.
I guess it's kind of a good and bad thing. Nicer amenities, but more expensive. As I prefer to cruise around and find great anchorages that are free, I'm afraid of the escalating tendency to "control" the anchorages and to have more costs associated with all things sailing.

For example, I am looking at attending the festivities in Rock Hall in August. To put my boat in a slip for the weekend would cost me over $500 just for 2 nights. I simply won't pay it. Therefore, I will have difficulties to actually be certain I can attend the event from my boat. There is a small anchorage nearby, but I'm sure it will fill up quickly. So I'm going to shoot to go a day early but I'm not assured of space to anchor and if that doesn't work, I'll have to leave and won't be able to attend. It's not the end of the world for me, but trying to plan for other folk to join me on my boat, that's kind of a bust for them and makes for difficult planning.

There is an ever escalating commercialization of boating/sailing that I frankly find rather contraindicated to allow this sport to continue to grow across all levels of our society. How can a young person get into sailing just for fun and freedom? The costs are just becoming too excessive. What about retired folk that are living on fixed incomes? I can foresee that I very well may have to leave sailing in a few years as the costs will just become prohibitive once I'm on a fixed retirement income...

dj
 
Apr 8, 2011
772
Hunter 40 Deale, MD
dLj I have a lot of the same feelings you do about losing "family" feel, and the increasing price of participating in the sport. I'm fortunate to be able to afford it, but it is expensive, and getting more so. The price of maintenance if you don't do it yourself, for example, is just exorbitant. I couldn't afford to get into sailing without a partner years ago, and that boat cost $3,500 and was 30 years old. Adding up all of the other costs associated with the sport are SIGNIFICANT.

But I will say many of these "family" marinas have really gotten into disrepair, and they're often not sinking profits into improvements. I stayed at a "family" marina 2 years ago in Solomon's Island that was (is) a LONG time fixture there, and very well known and frequented by cruisers. But my 13' beam was nearly impossible to fit into my rented slip, and it was the same for our entire club who spent the weekend there. Those slips hadn't been renovated or modernized in so long that they predated relatively modern boats with their beamier designs. The new owners were replacing ALL the very old docks and slips with modern floating docks. When i returned last year it was AWESOME. That ain't cheap, but its worth paying for. And honestly, the older marinas are still benefitting from higher rates than they charged in previous years in many cases without making improvements - slips are getting hard to come by, and waiting lists are very common so they may feel they don't have to.

Anchorages are still free, as they should be, and I did see one instance on the Rhode River where a bunch of pay-to-stay moorings that suddenly appeared one year in a popular anchorage were gone in a year or two. Not sure what happened there, but I was glad to see that a bunch of prime space we used to anchor in was "reclaimed" for everyone to use.
 
Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
$26 per foot, year round. Crumbling docks, 50 year old electric, and mediocre toilets/showers included.

But 5 min from the slip to the ocean... :)
 

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,216
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
dLj I have a lot of the same feelings you do about losing "family" feel, and the increasing price of participating in the sport. I'm fortunate to be able to afford it, but it is expensive, and getting more so. The price of maintenance if you don't do it yourself, for example, is just exorbitant. I couldn't afford to get into sailing without a partner years ago, and that boat cost $3,500 and was 30 years old. Adding up all of the other costs associated with the sport are SIGNIFICANT.

But I will say many of these "family" marinas have really gotten into disrepair, and they're often not sinking profits into improvements. I stayed at a "family" marina 2 years ago in Solomon's Island that was (is) a LONG time fixture there, and very well known and frequented by cruisers. But my 13' beam was nearly impossible to fit into my rented slip, and it was the same for our entire club who spent the weekend there. Those slips hadn't been renovated or modernized in so long that they predated relatively modern boats with their beamier designs. The new owners were replacing ALL the very old docks and slips with modern floating docks. When i returned last year it was AWESOME. That ain't cheap, but its worth paying for. And honestly, the older marinas are still benefitting from higher rates than they charged in previous years in many cases without making improvements - slips are getting hard to come by, and waiting lists are very common so they may feel they don't have to.

Anchorages are still free, as they should be, and I did see one instance on the Rhode River where a bunch of pay-to-stay moorings that suddenly appeared one year in a popular anchorage were gone in a year or two. Not sure what happened there, but I was glad to see that a bunch of prime space we used to anchor in was "reclaimed" for everyone to use.
Yes, like I said, there is good and bad. Costs are constantly going up, and at a disproportionate rate, seems to me. I do prefer the family run businesses. My marina is older, but decent enough for me. We don't have floating docks. I'm fine without them, I'd prefer to keep my costs down. I've actually never been at a marina with floating docks other than as a transient. They are nice. I still prefer a lower cost.

There is also this tendency to have things listed as "marine grade" with added 0's on the price tag when in reality there is almost nothing that is truly "marine grade". Almost everything is made from some form of commercial product and then attached to a "marine grade" label, with it's corresponding price increase.... That one just drives me crazy.... If they actually did something to make the product marine grade, now that would be a different story.

Electronics are the worst from my perspective. I actually know of a process that makes electronics completely water proof but there is absolutely no one in the marine industry doing anything like that. If they were, our electronics would not have corrosion problems. That process is rather expensive. If it were being performed on our electronics, then their current price tag would certainly be worth it.

I should stop ranting...

dj
 
Oct 26, 2008
6,239
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Montrose and Belmont harbors are actually closer to home, about a 2 or 3 mile bike ride, but I much prefer Burnham.
@Dalliance , I have fond memories of Montrose Harbor, too. It's a scenic place on the lake and a good neighborhood. A friend from the office kept his Merit 26 there and I joined for Wednesday beer can races frequently. What marina has a golf course for an amenity? Waveland golf course is right at the front door and Wrigley Field (and Wrigleyville) is also close enough!

I miss those days. I lived in Sauganash until 1989 and worked downtown. It seems like a dream now. What neighborhood is yours? I did use LSD for my daily commute much of the time. Nothing like running LSD with the radio on (XRT) singing "Lake Shore Drive" .
 
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dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,216
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Well, I've never taken any psychedelic drugs, so there has to be another reason for the acronym! :biggrin:
Hey, I'm not holding judgement....

If you had said "I did drive LSD...." instead of "I did use LSD...." it would not have tripped my tilt button...

LSD, as in the drug lysergic acid diethylamide, is currently being used extensively in mental disorders research/treatment. Funny how the world goes round...

dj

p.s. Of course, in the song, they were doing a play on words .... as was often the case back then...
 
Oct 6, 2007
1,119
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
@Dalliance , I have fond memories of Montrose Harbor, too. It's a scenic place on the lake and a good neighborhood. A friend from the office kept his Merit 26 there and I joined for Wednesday beer can races frequently. What marina has a golf course for an amenity? Waveland golf course is right at the front door and Wrigley Field (and Wrigleyville) is also close enough!

I miss those days. I lived in Sauganash until 1989 and worked downtown. It seems like a dream now. What neighborhood is yours?
I’m in Roscoe Village. Just a 20 minute walk west of Wrigley Field. If I didn’t want to be downtown, Montrose Harbor would be my most likely choice. It’s a nice harbor and in Lincoln Park.

Some Burnham Harbor perks you alluded to that I didn’t mention:
With Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island, Burnham boaters get complementary tickets on request for the concerts. We can also just listen from our boats. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your taste in music and who’s playing.
Burnham Park Yacht Club at the end of my dock.
12th Street Beach and Del Campo’s tacos.
Soldier Field, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Grant Park & lakefront bike path literally next door.
Water Taxi from Shedd Aquarium to Navy Pier.
Wednesday and Saturday Fire works at Navy Pier from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
All the best restaurants in downtown Chicago nearby.

If someone wants a quiet harbor to commune with nature, or they’re freaked out by sometimes having to plan their schedule around concert or game day traffic, Burnham Harbor is not the place for them. For me, it’s like spending every summer weekend at a resort in the heart of the city.

Edit: Noticed others mentioned Wi-Fi, fuel dock and pump out dock as amenities. Yes, have those too, plus a public outdoor bar/cafe on the opposite side of the harbor I forgot about. Also an optional (added fee) service called HoneyJug that pumps out your holding tank for you at your slip.
The harbor Wi-Fi, my only complaint, unfortunately has been a real sore point with inadequate bandwidth for 1,100+ boats. Some have set up mobile hotspots or satellite services. I’ve just embraced the irony of 3rd world harbor Wi-Fi being one of my 1st world problems and go up to the yacht club if I really need Wi-Fi service. I’m not gaming or streaming videos in my boat. Too many other more social things to enjoy in this harbor.
 
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Oct 6, 2007
1,119
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
Hey, I'm not holding judgement....

If you had said "I did drive LSD...." instead of "I did use LSD...." it would not have tripped my tilt button...

LSD, as in the drug lysergic acid diethylamide, is currently being used extensively in mental disorders research/treatment. Funny how the world goes round...

dj

p.s. Of course, in the song, they were doing a play on words .... as was often the case back then...
Most Chicago sailors take LSD on the way to their harbors. Though, as of last year, it’s now officially named Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Yes. Really. JBPDSLSD. Still just LSD to us locals.
 
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Oct 26, 2008
6,239
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Some Burnham Harbor perks you alluded to that I didn’t mention:
With Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island, Burnham boaters get complementary tickets on request for the concerts. We can also just listen from our boats. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your taste in music and who’s playing.
Burnham Park Yacht Club at the end of my dock.
12th Street Beach and Del Campo’s tacos.
Soldier Field, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Grant Park & lakefront bike path literally next door.
Water Taxi from Shedd Aquarium to Navy Pier.
Wednesday and Saturday Fire works at Navy Pier from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
All the best restaurants in downtown Chicago nearby.
Oh yeah! Count me in!
 
Feb 18, 2022
440
Catalina 36 Port Orchard
I pay $285 for a 32’ slip. Currently no power ($50 more when I do), no charge for water. I get use of a restroom but showers and laundry are pay per. No internet to speak of really either. Live aboard fee is another $50 but I do not plan on staying at this marina when I move onto my boat.
 
Aug 17, 2013
920
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa/Gatineau
I pay around 10$/ft/year, 295$ per year for my 30 foot sailboat, winter storage is 225$ and cradle storage is 75$.
It is a coop style yacht club, so we have to help with running the place, we have a nice club house with a fully equipped kitchen, showers and bathrooms, electricity at the docks. Water and pump out at the service dock with a masting crane on site
 
Aug 19, 2021
505
Hunter 280 White House Cove Marina
I pay around 10$/ft/year, 295$ per year for my 30 foot sailboat, winter storage is 225$ and cradle storage is 75$.
It is a coop style yacht club, so we have to help with running the place, we have a nice club house with a fully equipped kitchen, showers and bathrooms, electricity at the docks. Water and pump out at the service dock with a masting crane on site
A coop style yacht club that is a cool idea.