Ouch!

[Orbweaver]

I'm not sure if anyone else on here had a slip on Flathead Lake (doubtful), but the marina I've been in for the last couple of years was sold at the end of the season last fall. I was surprised that it sold, but that's nothing compared to what we found out this week. The new owners have more than doubled the costs, they set up an association to regulate things, had attorney's draft up 50 some pages of contracts etc. Mind you this has been a very low-key marina, fairly tight knit community for people who enjoy boating, but typically are NOT trust fund babies.
The season is based on when the lake level is brought up enough to fill the marina, typically though it's maybe 4 months total. If you need to make use of the crane service, then you get maybe 3 months. At the new prices I know several of us have been priced out of the marina. A few folks with more experience in contract legalese have pointed out that the new association can assess fees for essentially whatever they want, with no limit, and no recourse if you decide you want out.
For me, I'm VERY happy that I sold the bigger boat last summer and bought my H235. IF I still had the H265 I would be trying to figure out the best way to sell it. So, my question: If your marina doubled your slip fees would you walk away? There's not a lot of other options at the lake for sailboats, so this spring I suspect the price of sailboats in this area will be pretty low.
Sad, but in a year or two I see this marina being californicated like so much of the rest of Montana.

 

[rgranger]

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

That sounds like a bugger. Mind my asking what you were paying for moorage on a one year contract ? I have an H-310 and this is my cross to bear for the next year:

It seems like a lot but without it, I'd probably be on the streets and up to no good.

 

[RoyS]

I feel your pain. The marinas around here are all full to capacity. Some of them take advantage of that fact and raise prices while at the same time becoming more restrictive. Some of the restrictions I have seen in nearby marinas are; no owner work (including bottom painting), no in water bottom cleaning, no winter land storage for sailboats, no boats over ten years old!, Etc. My marina is also full but has minimal restrictions and the charges seem reasonable to me, given the slip supply and demand situation. Look around and assess the situation in your area. BTW, I have never seen a marina get a new owner and the boaters' situation improve.

 

[rgranger]

Slips at Charleston city marina run north of $800/mo

 

[shemandr]

Looking at that rate sheet I mis-read it as "Mortgage Rates." Not so far off!
Of course, I don't know that market but I'm seeing this situation occurring in basically all areas I have some interest in. The only governance of the price raises is the market. When folks go out of boating and the marina's need to fill up, prices will moderate. In the Flat head Lake situation, as the OP stated, money coming in from out of state will take a long time to exhaust. On the East End of LI there is an inexhaustible source of money flowing from "Up West" and I'm hearing howls from the local sailors. Those who can put 5 engines on the back of a day boat don't care what moorage costs. The hope is that they will tire of going around in circles and go away. I will continue respiration until then. South Florida might be worse.

 

[stickinthemud57]

Our marina in Grapevine, TX charges me $3400/year for my MacGregor 26S. Because it is a floating dock and winters tend to be mild here, sailing season can range from 9 months to almost year 'round. Entry to the slip areas are by keycard entry. This and 24/7 cameras make for good security. I do not lock my boat or my storage locker (not that either one contain anything of real value). The marina hosts lots of fun activities (most recently the chili cook-off in which I won a trophy for "Most Original"), including an annual fireworks display. They have had one price hike in the 2.5 years we have had our boat there. I expect more, but nothing on the order of what the OP is reporting.

Were the cost to double overnight, I would definitely be out. Fortunately, our little lake has three major marinas and several small marinas, private anchorages, etc., so these alternatives help hold prices in check. Worst case, I would take my boat out of the water, keep it on the trailer in my side yard, and hone my launching skills so as to make afternoon sails feasible.

Another alternative would be to join the "Sail Away" program and have access to that small fleet.

As to the fear of "Californication", it seems to be a shared sentiment among many in Montana. Gearing up to accommodate the influx will take years and strain the state's resources.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Looking at that rate sheet I mis-read it as "Mortgage Rates." Not so far off!

Close. Very close .

 

[leo310]

Campbell river marina $400/month or for you $275 US

 

[WayneH]

My old marina got bought out last year. The new owners are catering to powerboats. Not just any powerboats but big ones. They redid all the slips to 50 foot slips and charged per slip length, not boat length. We moved because I couldn't see paying for 13 feet of slip that I didn't need. And they moved out the rigging vendor so they could use the space to build a stack house for 500 fifty foot boats.

There was also a mandatory $5000/year fee for hurricane haulout. The admiral figures the monthly rate would have been $1200 when you added in the haulout fees.

 

[Tally Ho]

I am in a municipal marina on Lake Michigan, about 20 miles south of Chicago.

I just paid my slip fee for 2023…up to a 35’ boat (mine is 32’ feet)…$2,500 for the summer…about 6 months.

No-frills marina, but I am fine with that.

A few slips open if any of you want to mover over here

Greg

 

[dLj]

I am in a municipal marina on Lake Michigan, about 20 miles south of Chicago.

I just paid my slip fee for 2023…up to a 35’ boat (mine is 32’ feet)…$2,500 for the summer…about 6 months.

No-frills marina, but I am fine with that.

A few slips open if any of you want to mover over here

Greg

Yeah, no thanks. I like sailing for more months out of the year... Come to the Chesapeake - Lower rates than you have and you can sail almost much year round.

dj

 

[Orbweaver]

Quick update: this is a season lease, not a year. The season is dictated by when the tribe raises the lake level enough to get into the marina in the spring and drops in the fall. Last year that was June 11 to mid September (+/- a couple days depending on boat draft). Previous fee was $1500 for a basic slip, and $1800 with water/electric. I think there's a total of 52 slips, all essentially the same size at ~28'. The new owners doubled those fees. Several of us in the group are meeting to review all the new bylaws/rules and decide if it's worth a group counter offer or not. I'm planning to participate in the discussion but I've already got my name on the waitlist for another marina just up the road. BTW, the other marina is at $1200/season. It's less well protected, so there is a little more risk if we get a good storm. But, I also have the option now of just loading my boat on the trailer. In the end, I still have options. I am already seeing some of my slip neighbor's boats on CL now, so the bleeding has definitely started.
GH

 

[dLj]

I ran a trailerable sailboat for years. Saves on marina fees, saves on bottom paint, you just have to launch and retrieve when you sail. I used to find free launch ramps, all the tricks to keep costs down. If your sailing area/desires work for a trailerable boat, it's a great way to go.... You work out the launch details over time, not really a big thing once you have it all set up.

dj

 

[Dalliance]

I feel for you and those still in your harbor. A 100% increase is a painful shock. I have a sad feeling of deja vu about this thread.


Edit for additional comments:

I just paid $4,335 for the 2023 season, including a 10% surcharge for my convenient T-head assignment, plus $700 for two additional parking passes, and I paid $1,875 for winter storage this year plus around $650 for shrink wrap. If I was not a city resident, I would also be paying a 25% non-resident surcharge for Chicago harbors, so I actually consider myself lucky. I pay less than most people on my dock.

I’m in what I believe to be the best harbor in the city, only 25 minutes from my home. Sure there are cheaper harbors outside the city. We’re renting little pieces of gated urban waterfront real estate here. It’s about location, location, location.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I suppose the trend in Montana is beginning to mimic Idaho! You may not have many locational options, I'd guess. How is pricing at Pend Oreille or Coeur d'Alene? Flathead Lake may be trending in that direction. My daughter keeps her boat in Hebgen Lake, down near West Yellowstone and it appears to be pretty reasonable still, but soon changing, I suppose.

 

[capta]

Slips at Charleston city marina run north of $800/mo

I was paying in the neighborhood of $700 for a 33' boat (all inclusive including dock services and golf carts) there and I thought it a great deal. Living right on the famed waterfront, Ft Sumter out in the distance and a small market within walking distance. The downtown night action just a bit farther, and one could hoof it with no fears of a DUI, lol. To put a crown on it, the freeway was minutes away, which made access to the bigger stores not all that inconvenient.
We were also in a very exclusive (read "wealthy" here) voting district and voting was as easy and quick as could possibly be.

 

[rgranger]

I was paying in the neighborhood of $700 for a 33' boat (all inclusive including dock services and golf carts)

How long ago was that?

 

[BigEasy]

My old marina got bought out last year. The new owners are catering to powerboats.

Wayne,
what marina was it that was bought and by whom?

 

[capta]

How long ago was that?

At least 13 years back.