Is a "First Year Surcharge" common?

[Minnesota_Slick]

Hi folks,

A couple of days ago, my wife and I received our first invoice from the Marina where we keep our 29' Ericson.

To our shock and dismay, the amount due was twice the amount we expected. Reading each line, we discovered something called a "First year surcharge", which matches to the penny the annual slip rental.

I haven't been able to talk to the Marina yet about this, as they are closed for MLK Day.

Is this surcharge common for first year sailors at city-owned marinas?

I'm feeling a bit gouged right now. It can't be for a damage deposit, because we're all required to have liability insurance. Just wondering what the rationale might be for this surcharge, other than fleecing new sailors.

 

[mitiempo]

Never heard of that before in 40 years of boat ownership. Change marinas.

 

[Jackdaw]

Dig out your contract. Is the marina a club? Joining/initiation fee?

 

[NotCook]

Not unless it is a "yacht club".You indicated "first invoice from the Marina where we keep our 29' Ericson." So, it isn't clear how long you have been there. I'd love to hear their justification for it, before I tell them to shove it. Considering that you are in MN, you aren't in the water now, so I don't see how you can just now be receiving an invoice.

Please give us some more details.

 

[Minnesota_Slick]

Not unless it is a "yacht club".You indicated "first invoice from the Marina where we keep our 29' Ericson." So, it isn't clear how long you have been there. I'd love to hear their justification for it, before I tell them to shove it. Considering that you are in MN, you aren't in the water now, so I don't see how you can just now be receiving an invoice.

Please give us some more details.

We purchased the boat from a gentleman who kept it in this marina for all 8 years of his ownership. In fact, I think our boat has lived its whole life at this marina, and we are the 4th owner. Manufacture date of 1977.

The marina has a yacht club, but is not a yacht club in itself. In other words, you don't have to belong to the yacht club in order to rent a slip. The yacht club membership is separate from the slip rental. We are not members of the yacht club.

We purchased the boat last August, so since the PO had already paid for the 2013 sailing season, we got a nice chunk of summer sailing included with the boat.

On Lake Pepin, there are only three marinas to choose from, two on the Minnesota side, one on the Wisconsin side. We live in Rochester, MN, so we would prefer to be based on the Minnesota side if possible. The other marina on the Minnesota side has a poor reputation within the boating community here, and we have been very happy with our marina and its employees.

So, this surcharge is the only sticking point. Maybe we'll get it back when we leave, maybe(probably) not. My guess this is what might be termed "you gotta pay to play", which is fine...except that this surcharge has no real plausible reason for being, IMO.

Btw, the invoice we received is for the upcoming 2014 season. We are currently frozen right now, literally.

I am going to give the marina on the Wisconsin side a call, and see if they also have a surcharge for newbies.

Minnesota is the land of a bazillion lakes, of course, and we "could" base the boat elsewhere to sail. But Lake Pepin is ideal because it is a short 45 minute drive away from home, and it's large. The only other option is to base it way up in Northen Minnesota where all the other big lakes are.

Hope that's enough info to clarify our situation.

 

[Jackdaw]

I would find your contract and look into it. Its a city facility. It has to be run by the book.

But you are without a doubt at the NICEST marina on the lake. You do NOT want to go to Hansen's Harbor. The place is a dump. And the rates you have there are amazingly reasonable; less than 1/2 we pay up on Minnetonka.

 

[NotCook]

Thanks for the additional info. Makes me wonder if the PO was a member of the yacht club, and they are assuming you are rejoining that as well. Like Jackdaw said, best dig out the contract, if you have one already. At the very least, go in assuming it is an error that just needs to be corrected. The PO might be able to shed some further light on it as well, such as if he had to pay a "First Year Surcharge" as well.

I understand your predicament regarding the other marinas. There are trade offs. However, I'd sure seek an understanding before paying the bill. Never heard of such a thing except as a yacht club initiation fee. Let us know how it works out.

 

[Minnesota_Slick]

You do NOT want to go to Hansen's Harbor. The place is a dump. And the rates you have there are amazingly reasonable; less than 1/2 we pay up on Minnetonka.

I didn't want to name names, but yes, that's the place with the bad rep.

Yeah, I would never consider Minnetonka. Far too crowded IMO. We were actually considering Lake Mille Lacs, too, because I like to fish. But facilities there are not sailboat friendly from what I found out.

I'll check the contract and see what the deal is. I'll also contact my rigger and see what he can tell me. He's been at the marina for 20 years. The PO has moved to the Carolinas, I believe. He's hit or miss with communication.

 

[Jackdaw]

I didn't want to name names, but yes, that's the place with the bad rep.

Yeah, I would never consider Minnetonka. Far too crowded IMO. We were actually considering Lake Mille Lacs, too, because I like to fish. But facilities there are not sailboat friendly from what I found out.

If you live in Rochester you are sailing in the right place. Our big boat is in the Apostles but that's 4.5 hours away. Minnetonka is on the way home from work. It actually is NOT a great sailing lake. Not a lot of open water, millfoil, and tons of power boats on the weekends.

Mille Lacs is interesting but for you a drive as well. Terry's Boat Harbor takes sailboats (at least 5 there every year) but you have to be able to launch, retrieve, and deal with your mast all on your own. No support or gear.

I would try and sort it out with the City Marina. It's the best marina on the river.

 

[Lee Coller]

Never heard of a first year surcharge, but a deposit is normal (just like for an apartment), even with liability insurance. Like others said, check your contract. The deposit at my Marina in CA is 2 months, about $1,600 for me, but I know a lot of you in the midwest pay less per year than we pay out here per month.

 

[shemandr]

...Maybe we'll get it back when we leave, ...

That's so cute ….

 

[Caboteur]

Hi,
I had the same type invoice from a non-profit Marina run on City land and docks: they called it an "entrance fee" or "droit d'entrée". It was for 690$ in 1997 and I only leave the boat there in the winter: I have a mooring in the summer...
I wouldn't change places for such an item especially if space on the water is scarce... Here you would had difficulty selling a boat since I couldn't if garantee a good spot to leave the boat! The better places have a several year-long waiting list and charge a "welcome" fee. Boats, especially in northern climes last too long and inland lakes and rivers are full so space is at a premium and must be paid for! If you stay there long enough and everything else is OK you won't feel you got ripped!
Pierre

 

[barnstormer]

I am at the marina you mention and there is an 'initiation' fee which is the cost of one years slip fees. I'm not sure how they justify the fee but I know it discourages people who would like to come and go each year(turnover). It's a wonderful marina and I was at the 'bad' marina before coming here and I wouldn't be at any other place.I'm on the 900 dock and hope to see you on the water!

 

[Minnesota_Slick]

I am at the marina you mention and there is an 'initiation' fee which is the cost of one years slip fees. I'm not sure how they justify the fee but I know it discourages people who would like to come and go each year(turnover). It's a wonderful marina and I was at the 'bad' marina before coming here and I wouldn't be at any other place.I'm on the 900 dock and hope to see you on the water!

Thanks for the reply, barnstormer! That makes me feel a little better, anyway. We do love the marina.

We're on the 900 dock, too! Small world.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Lake city marina charges you the price of two years summer dockage the first year that you are in the marina. After that you get charged for one season each season. It is a municipal marina and less expensive than others in the area. It is one of the best run marinas anywhere and they have been recognized as such too.

 

[barnstormer]

Thanks for the reply, barnstormer! That makes me feel a little better, anyway. We do love the marina.

We're on the 900 dock, too! Small world.

I think I know which boat is yours on the 900 dock, it's on the right when you first walk on the dock, an ericson29. I used to own a 25catalina which is on the right a few slips away from yours. I'm farther down on slip 968 on the left, my boat is now a 30catalina trbs that I take out as much as possible. Give me a shout out when your down there sometime.

 

[Minnesota_Slick]

I think I know which boat is yours on the 900 dock, it's on the right when you first walk on the dock, an ericson29. I used to own a 25catalina which is on the right a few slips away from yours. I'm farther down on slip 968 on the left, my boat is now a 30catalina trbs that I take out as much as possible. Give me a shout out when your down there sometime.

No sir, ours is way down, almost at the very end of the dock, on the left hand side. I think it's slip 980 if I recall correctly. I think I have a picture of her in my wallet. Let's see...

 

[barnstormer]

No sir, ours is way down, almost at the very end of the dock, on the left hand side. I think it's slip 980 if I recall correctly. I think I have a picture of her in my wallet. Let's see...

I was wrong about your boat but I think there is another boat like yours on the 900 dock. Very well found boat by the looks of the picture and I bet you couldn't be happier(- initiation fee!)

 

[Rick486]

We purchased the boat from a gentleman who kept it in this marina for all 8 years of his ownership. In fact, I think our boat has lived its whole life at this marina, and we are the 4th owner. Manufacture date of 1977.

The marina has a yacht club, but is not a yacht club in itself. In other words, you don't have to belong to the yacht club in order to rent a slip. The yacht club membership is separate from the slip rental. We are not members of the yacht club.

We purchased the boat last August, so since the PO had already paid for the 2013 sailing season, we got a nice chunk of summer sailing included with the boat.

On Lake Pepin, there are only three marinas to choose from, two on the Minnesota side, one on the Wisconsin side. We live in Rochester, MN, so we would prefer to be based on the Minnesota side if possible. The other marina on the Minnesota side has a poor reputation within the boating community here, and we have been very happy with our marina and its employees.

So, this surcharge is the only sticking point. Maybe we'll get it back when we leave, maybe(probably) not. My guess this is what might be termed "you gotta pay to play", which is fine...except that this surcharge has no real plausible reason for being, IMO.

Btw, the invoice we received is for the upcoming 2014 season. We are currently frozen right now, literally.

I am going to give the marina on the Wisconsin side a call, and see if they also have a surcharge for newbies.

Minnesota is the land of a bazillion lakes, of course, and we "could" base the boat elsewhere to sail. But Lake Pepin is ideal because it is a short 45 minute drive away from home, and it's large. The only other option is to base it way up in Northen Minnesota where all the other big lakes are.

Hope that's enough info to clarify our situation.

What they are trying to do to you is probably illegal in most states. If you have a lawyer, ask them.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Hehe. The pride of the marina right there. Not that I'm inclined towards an Ericson you understand..