Slip Unavailability

[AlastairLC]

The two marinas on Lake Pleasant where I sail in Arizona have long waiting lists for slips, and when I checked out San Diego last Spring almost all the marinas there were similarly over subscribed.
As a result boats are very hard to sell without a slip attached and it’s impossible to buy a boat unless one has an empty slip waiting for it.
Is this pervasive? It wasn’t true a few years ago. What happened? COVID? Misleading sailing videos? People being paid not to work?
It's a puzzlement.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Traditionally it was almost always possible to get a slip in San Diego, San Pedro and Channel Islands/Ventura with waitlists everywhere else. Recently Channel Islands and some others are full for first time, waitlist for 35' slip in Dana Point is 10 years now. The Log newspaper publishes annual guide to all slips on the west coast and has weekly ads for available slips.
Slips & Moorings | The Log Classifieds
2023 Slips Guide – Digital Edition – The Log

 

[Scott T-Bird]

There are over 100 million more people living in this country than when I graduated college 45 years ago. Do you think the number of slips has out-paced the population of slip renters in the same period? Especially in Arizona, I suspect that the pressure for slip rentals has drastically changed and the areas where slips can be rented has not. Simply put, you have a supply shortage ...

 

[rgranger]

There are over 100 million more people living in this country than when I graduated college 45 years ago.

Yes... actually 109.3 million more....

United States of America - Data Commons

Data Commons aggregates and harmonizes global, open data, giving everyone the power to uncover insights with natural language questions

datacommons.org

 

[dlochner]

There are a number of factors contributing to slip shortages and it is probably somewhat regional.

With a 3.5% unemployment rate, I doubt there are many being paid not to work who took up boating instead. However, given the increase in and acceptance of remote working there a likely some who choose to work on a boat.

In 2020 there was a huge change in how people spent their money, people went from spending on experiences (vacations, restaurants, theater, etc) and bought things, especially outdoor recreation and home improvement things. By June of 2020 in Central NY it was not possible to buy a kayak, canoe, or smaller powerboat, marinas filled up.

Another factor is the trend towards taking waterfront property and converting it from marinas and boatyards to more lucrative condos and residential property.

With reservoirs drying up out west, people will be looking for places with water to put their boats and there will be fewer slips available.

Finally, as others have mentioned with a larger population there will naturally be a larger number of boaters and boaters looking for slips. As they say, they're not making more waterfront.

 

[JoeWhite]

In San Francisco Bay area 3 marinas have closed and converted into waterfront homes. Each housed over 400 slips, one had a boatyard.
Slip rent has gone from $.50/ft to $2.00/ft.
Enjoy while you can.

 

[rgranger]

However, given the increase in and acceptance of remote working there a likely some who choose to work on a boat.

I would if I could.....

 

[dlochner]

I would if I could.....

Wasn't that a theme on Breaking Bad, a chemist working remotely in a land yacht?

 

[rgranger]

Wasn't that a theme on Breaking Bad, a chemist working remotely in a land yacht?

YEAH! What could go wrong ...

 

[RoyS]

Another related problem around here, South of Boston, is Winter storage in a boat yard. Sailors who keep their boat on a Yacht Club mooring all summer are having a difficult time finding a yard that will take their boat for the winter. One marina I was at a few years ago had a few slips available but would not let me keep my boat in their yard for the winter. Some marinas do not want boats that are over ten years old. Some marinas do not allow you to work on your own boat. Slips and yard storage spaces are indeed drying up. Also, advise that waiting lists are often lost or compromised.

 

[sail sfbay]

Slips available in San Francisco Bay and California Delta.

 

[rgranger]

Also, advise that waiting lists are often lost or compromised.

I got on three lists when I first got to Charleston in 2020.... have not heard back from any of them. At one of the marina's the dock master told me to "check back often... the squeaky mouse gets his bread buttered". I had not heard that one before but I kind of like it.

 

[AlastairLC]

Scorpion Bay Marina, AZ, where I am, has a 500+ name waiting list.
This is a recent phenomenon. I got in quickly a few years ago when they added a new dock.
They're adding another one now but that won’t reduce the waiting list much.

 

[Brian D]

If I remember correctly, the further south you go in San Diego Bay, the better slip availability increases. I would try Chula Vista South marina. Not sure what is available now, but when I was there 2005~2007, they had a lot of openings. South Bay sailing isn't bad. But North Bay sailing (north of Coronado Bridge) is nicer since there are many visitors who will envy you on your boat. LOL

Unfortunately I have to move my boat by Jun 2023. The marina I am in (military) is redoing all their docks. So there is very little options for me. By the way, cost here is $15/ft. Very, very expensive.

 

[TimFromLI]

Same problem on the north shore of Long Island. Not enough slips and the ones that are available are way too rich for me. The town dock has a 10 year waiting list, even if I did get one there's not enough water or space for my boat. Most boaters on the north shore use moorings.

 

[dLj]

When I lived in Spain, I bought a boat with a slip. This was 1980's. If it hadn't had a slip the wait times were in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 years for a slip to become free. Pretty much you couldn't buy a boat if it didn't have a slip, at least a boat that stayed in the water.... Today I imagine it's the same or worse... And a "slip" there is a rather loose term. Boats were all tied together. You had your "spot" meaning your boat was tied to boat A on starboard and boat B on Port. I only used my "spot" in the port during the winter and preferred to create a mooring out in the bay in front of the port. That made it a lot easier to sail. It also kept my port side in a lot better shape as there was a tour boat that went in and out of that side of the port all summer - they would bang into all the boats going in and out. They had no choice, the tour boat was almost wider than the channel...

There were sailboats that didn't have space in the port and for the winter had to travel up a nearby river and get pulled out for the winter (no real reason other than there was no place else to keep the boat) - that was a real pain to do as you had to drop your mast and time the river ascent just right with the tides so you could get under the bridges AND have enough water to not hit bottom.

dj

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

I guess I am one blessed man with a boat slip.

I know that there is a huge corporation (maybe bluewater) buying what appears to be every marina on the east coast. I figure we will have the same problem here as they shut down the ones that do not operate with a massive profit. This insures those the are profitable stay profitable.

 

[kappykaplan]

I know that there is a huge corporation (maybe bluewater)

Safe Harbor purchased Zahnisers a couple of years ago.

 

[jssailem]

With more boats than slips the Puget Sound is becoming a gold mine for marina’s. They are now playing the my marina cost more than your marina game. Deposits and annual fees to be on a multi year waitlist for a slip.

We just got a notice. 2023 price increase 25%. This on top of the reduction in services, no WiFi, limited parking, pay for parking if over 96 hours, restrooms open to general public, lax security.

It will be a burden for many.

 

[dLj]

25% increase... that's substantial! And of course - what are you going to do? All the other boat yards are equally expensive. I see a future in a trailerable boat!

dj