Marina Rate Hikes

[svana]

I got a letter last week telling me that our marina has just increased the price “due to the rising cost of business” by 25%…absurd. Problem for me is that it’s the closest marina to me at 30mins away. There’s actually a new one under construction 5 mins away from me but I don’t think it’ll be done for another year probably (installing retaining walls and grading currently). I’m already unhappy with them cuz we wash the boat down after every time we take it out and every time I pull it back down it’s absolutely filthy. Unfortunately they’ve got me by the nads, but if I sign up for a 1 year contract it’ll lock in the price till hopefully the new Marina’s ready. Told them if I was doing it though they had to move me, which they did.

Anyways, aside from the mini rant-digression, any other marina users seeing the same price hike? I assume they’re taking as much advantage of the boat market as anyone…

 

[Elliott]

Fortunately, my marina is owned by my community (the HOA), and its pricing is set to pay for itself. There are some planned improvements, and that may lead to a modest price increase.

 

[1WetBoat]

I got a letter last week telling me that our marina has just increased the price “due to the rising cost of business” by 25%…absurd. Problem for me is that it’s the closest marina to me at 30mins away. There’s actually a new one under construction 5 mins away from me but I don’t think it’ll be done for another year probably (installing retaining walls and grading currently). I’m already unhappy with them cuz we wash the boat down after every time we take it out and every time I pull it back down it’s absolutely filthy. Unfortunately they’ve got me by the nads, but if I sign up for a 1 year contract it’ll lock in the price till hopefully the new Marina’s ready. Told them if I was doing it though they had to move me, which they did.

Anyways, aside from the mini rant-digression, any other marina users seeing the same price hike? I assume they’re taking as much advantage of the boat market as anyone…

I don't think it is only Marina's. I also received a 12% rate increase from my outdoor storage lot, luckily I had found another one already and was in the process of moving.
Are you referring to the new one being built on 301/Alafia? Have you inquired on prices yet or details?

 

[Miitch]

Thankfully no price hike here... My marina slip was the same down to the penny.

Insurance on the other hand, went up by $105?? No idea why... No claims filed, boat lost value (year older) and I'm a year more experienced. Maybe a correlation to all the new boaters?

 

[adrianp89]

Not even worth it in our area. They are trying to push people out for all rich people moving in, because they will pay $1000/month no problem.

 

[LakeErieJB129]

Our marina was actually running a special for first timers. We even get a great view of Cedar Point. Seems like there is a lot of price hikes in lots of industries.

 

[svana]

I don't think it is only Marina's. I also received a 12% rate increase from my outdoor storage lot, luckily I had found another one already and was in the process of moving.
Are you referring to the new one being built on 301/Alafia? Have you inquired on prices yet or details?

Ya, that's the one. They're quoting $15/ft if you sign a yearlong contract which is not too far off from what my marina's charging and may have better amenities.

 

[svana]

Not even worth it in our area. They are trying to push people out for all rich people moving in, because they will pay $1000/month no problem.

I hear you. Unfortunately my HOA won't allow boats to be kept in the driveway or lawn. Honestly it'd make working on it so much easier if I could just open the garage door and wrench away as opposed to making the 30 minute trip, making sure I've got every tool I'd possibly need, walk all that crap from the car to the work rack, etc...

 

[1WetBoat]

I hear you. Unfortunately my HOA won't allow boats to be kept in the driveway or lawn. Honestly it'd make working on it so much easier if I could just open the garage door and wrench away as opposed to making the 30 minute trip, making sure I've got every tool I'd possibly need, walk all that crap from the car to the work rack, etc...

I'm in the same "boat(pun intended). My HOA wont allow boats in our driveway or side yards. I can keep it for a day or two like when flushing etc.. but longer than that and I get the evil eye.

 

[svana]

I'm in the same "boat(pun intended). My HOA wont allow boats in our driveway or side yards. I can keep it for a day or two like when flushing etc.. but longer than that and I get the evil eye.

Ya, problem is I don't even have a trailer for it or I'd bring it home for a day or two and work on it then take it back. What's worse in that regard is my marina a few months ago implemented a $25 fee to put your boat on a trailer (along with no longer allowing me to hire outside mechanics, but they let me skate by since their in house mechs don't know jet boats). It's not so much the cost of things that bothers me, but the principle of nickel and diming me on everything.

 

[Beachbummer]

After 3 years of no price increase, mine went up by $20 per month to $277. I put it on a trailer for the winter and store it elsewhere, so I only pay 6-9 months a year depending on how it goes. There is a small discount for yearly lease, but it's not significant enough to offset the savings of a single month, so it's not worth it to me. The Marina is not "grand" but does the job, and they have made some nice improvements over the last 3 years, so the price increase seems warranted, and certainly worth it. (they are the least expensive dry stack option in my area)

Best of Luck, It's an odd year, certainly shop around.

 

[Scuba_ref]

I won't ever live in a neighborhood ruled by an HOA - too many bad stories! Keep my boat in my driveway!

 

[AZMark]

I hear you. Unfortunately my HOA won't allow boats to be kept in the driveway or lawn. Honestly it'd make working on it so much easier if I could just open the garage door and wrench away as opposed to making the 30 minute trip, making sure I've got every tool I'd possibly need, walk all that crap from the car to the work rack, etc...

It’s a Yamaha, you shouldn’t be working on it that much anyway!
I’d love to have my boat at a marina if I lived near a large body of water like you guys. The ramps are just a guaranteed pain in the ass every time.

 

[svana]

It’s a Yamaha, you shouldn’t be working on it that much anyway!
I’d love to have my boat at a marina if I lived near a large body of water like you guys. The ramps are just a guaranteed pain in the ass every time.

I hear you...I've often considered the alternative and the Admiral is quick to point out the benefit of not needing a ramp lol. I will say that the work I've done is almost always either maintenance or mods (usually the latter lol).

 

[Beachbummer]

I have a humble counterpoint...My niece arrived at my father-in-law's property and saw the new paint scheme on the house 3 shades of pink..... she was maybe 10 or so...and told grampa.... So Grampa, you don't live in a HOA uh?

goes both ways.

 

[Elliott]

I grew up on a farm. If I can see or hear my neighbor, I want some restrictions.
However, I do not want to live in a small community controlled by an HOA run by insiders.

Fortunately, I live in a community with over 4000 home sites, and the HOA directors are directly elected by property owners. Nearly all of the HOA board members, since 2003 (when we moved here), have been retired professionals from major companies or some other position of responsibility. The HOA is more of a corporation with a $15M dollar yearly budget; it is professional and impartial.

 

[mrcleanr6]

No rate hike here at my marina. My cost did go up but because the boat got bigger. $75 per ft for the season. Thats from apr1 to oct 31st

 

[sleek98]

I was surprised our rate didnt go up this year. Its $1,650 a year if we prepay in November for the next year. I was expecting them to go to $2,000 due to so many new boaters on our lake last year. I bet the amount of boats have almost doubled from 2019.

 

[Babin Farms]

With no power, fresh water, gas, cameras or liability by the Park District that runs our marina, our rates have gone up just over 61% over the past few years but there is still a waiting list to get a slip. We were hesitant about getting ours again this year due to traveling to different waters constantly but our home river is the one we frequent the most. I only use it for the weekends, put the boat in the water Fri or Sat and pull it out on Sunday. If we go during the week we'll just put in for that night. More than a few days in our river and the hull will start to turn brown, get lime scale built up and I have to acid wash it.. This might be the last season for us and the slip if prices continue to rise and there is nothing other than a place to have the boat on the water.

 

[Weeb]

My Marina went up $500 three years ago and now went up $400 this year citing the same thing in a letter. It’s getting to the point that I should have just bought on the lake. I use the boat year round but you can’t pull out for the winter or you’ll loose your slip now.