Chapter 4

Marina Essentials

This chapter addresses key elements that contribute to safe, efficient, comfortable and enjoyable boating experiences at your marina.

Boating Community

A significant part of the boating experience is the camaraderie that develops among fellow boaters at a marina. I often tell my non-boating friends that marinas are a wonderful place to meet fascinating people from all sorts of backgrounds who dare choose the sea-going lifestyle, for recreation and sometimes to live aboard as their primary residence. Despite the diversity of personal backgrounds and prior lives, most boaters have terrific personal energy and amazing stories to tell about places visited, favorite experiences and challenging adventures on the ‘briny’, lake or river.

Another element of marina life in coastal areas is that people and boats are constantly moving around. Not all, but many boats in coastal marinas stay for a week or a few months then move on to their next destinations. Some return to the same marina each year as part of their seasonal cruising circuit and it’s wonderful reacquainting, hearing their stories and planning joint adventures. Lasting friendships often develop and people cruise together for companionship as well as safety gained from multiple vessels.

Boaters are sometimes saddened to hear that old captain Bill and his wife Alice bought the farm, which is boaters’ jargon for buying a home on land and selling their boat. Living in one place forever after is doom for many avid cruisers, especially knowing that Bill and Alice will have a limited number of neighbors who are probably less adventurous than all their past, fearless mariner friends.

When you’re searching for your optimum marina, of course you’re looking for a fine place to keep your boat but you mustn’t overlook the importance of selecting the right boating community for you. Ideally, you’ll find like-minded people with similar interests, energy levels and social graces.

Decide which of these boating communities would best suit you:

Look carefully when visiting marinas and try to make your visits on busy weekends so you can feel the pulse of the local boating community. It’s essential and you’ll thank yourself for making the right choice for many years to come.

Shore Power

Reliable AC (alternating current) electrical power is required by most vessels while docked in their marina slip. Depending upon the size and complexity of your vessel’s electrical needs, power may be required for any or all of the following uses: bilge pumps, battery chargers, lights, refrigeration appliances, security systems, air conditioning units, dehumidifiers, fuel polishing systems, etc. Vessels may require 115 or 230 volts AC and amperages of 30, 50 or 100. It is essential that your marina provide uninterrupted AC power to match your voltage and amperage requirements.

It’s strongly recommended that you walk the docks and speak with existing marina tenants to determine first-hand whether marina shore power is reliable, maintains a near-constant voltage and is rarely shut off, even for short durations. Any major deficiencies in shore power could put your vessel in significant jeopardy when unattended. It’s also wise to place an AC-powered light in full view from the dock so that owners of neighboring vessels could contact you if your AC power appears to be off when you’re away from the marina.

As you’re assessing a slip that may be assigned for your vessel, be sure to determine where the shore power connector is located. The best case is having it situated immediately adjacent to your slip but oftentimes it’s located as much as 50 feet away. It’s your responsibility to provide the AC cable from the shore connector to your vessel and marinas will not provide extension cables, except for purchase.

The next step is to locate the external shore power connector on your vessel (port or starboard side, bow or stern?). Start measuring to determine whether you have sufficient length of cable to make shore connection.

If you are new to boating and your yacht has an automatic, electrically powered, below-deck system for coiling your power cable (e.g., a Cable Master system), extend it fully to determine its length capability. In most cases, your on-board cable can extend sufficiently to reach the shore connector if your vessel is berthed ‘stern-to’ in the slip. Conversely, your vessel may need to be ‘bow-in’ for your cable to reach the connector. Beware that without an extension cable; your existing power configuration will most likely dictate how your vessel will be oriented in the slip. It’s a terrible fate when your cockpit can’t face the sunset at cocktail hour.

If you decide to purchase a shore-power extension cable to allow freedom to berth your vessel either way, consult with a marine electrician or someone with knowledge of which cable to purchase for interfacing with your power system and amperage needs. Selection of the proper cable is not as simple as the novice might think. For example, cables must be marine-rated with corrosion resistant materials and oil-resistant, UV-stabilized jackets. They also must have correct voltage and amperage ratings; the correct watertight, molded end-connectors for your usage; and heavy gauge stranded wire with four conductors rather than three for proper grounding of high-amperage cables. Sound confusing? It is. Marine components are special so ask an expert before you purchase the wrong cable and waste $500 to $800.

Fresh Water

A continuous source of potable fresh water should be provided on the pier adjacent to (i.e., within 50 feet of) your vessel for onboard dishwashing, showers, exterior hull washing, etc. For larger vessels with onboard toilets (heads), some use fresh water rather than salt water for their waste delivery to the onboard waste holding tanks.

The pier’s water supply should have a spigot with operable shut-off valve and a male garden hose fitting to accept your connection hose. If any deficiencies are encountered, contact marina maintenance personnel for repairs rather than do it yourself otherwise you may be liable for any leaks or associated damages thereafter.

Vessels have onboard freshwater tanks that vary greatly in capacity but are proportional to the size of the vessel (e.g., 30 gal for a small vessel; 150 gal for a 50-ft vessel; 500 gal for an 80-ft vessel, etc.). Typically, the onboard tank is filled by a portable hose then disconnected from the water source on the dock. In some cases however (primarily in live-aboard situations) the owner may shut off the water valve but leave the fill hose connected to his onboard tank. This is the easiest way to sink a berthed vessel because failure of any shut-off valve, either on the dock or aboard your vessel may result in constant flow into your boat that is often unnoticed until it’s too late.

Normally, the fresh water provided by the marina is city water that has consistent high quality and is adequate for cooking, drinking and bathing. It is however, wise to periodically check the water to see if it contains unwanted particulates or odd coloration which may be due to long residence times of the water in the plumbing lines of marinas. Before filling your vessel, run the water for a minute or longer to ensure that any contaminated water in your hose or nearby pipes is discarded. If other boats have not filled lately, it is possible that your water could have been sitting idle in pipes and hoses for many days or longer and/or in very warm temperatures that could result in particulates dislodging from the inside of old pipes.

Water purification systems of various sophistication and expense can be purchased for filtration of incoming fresh water. Small units can be set up on the dock adjacent to the marina’s fresh water spigot for basic filtering. Larger purification systems can be installed aboard large vessels to achieve much higher levels of water purity.

Many boat owners use the marina’s city water for all onboard functions except for drinking, as bottled spring water can be brought aboard quite simply and economically.

Note that if the quality of the freshwater from your onboard tank is poor or contains an offensive odor, the problem may reside in your tank rather than from the shore-side source. For minor mold problems in tanks, a small amount of household bleach can be added to a full tank for simple cleaning. Do this before you head out to sea so the bleach is mixed by the rolling action of the vessel. If this does not solve the problem, the tank should be opened and professionally cleaned.

Sanitary Pump-Out

Federal regulations specify that sewage (human wastes) generated aboard your vessel must not be discharged into rivers, harbors or coastal waters. In the Great Lakes, this regulation also includes water from bathing and galley wastes. Consequently, the majority of vessels operating in U.S. waters are equipped with below-deck waste holding tanks, which are classified by the U.S. Coast Guard as Type III Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs). See the Glossary for the website link to official MSD regulations.

Standard Procedures in Harbors

Boaters are required to keep all ‘black-water’ valves positioned so that toilet discharges flow directly into the onboard waste tank, rather than allowing overboard discharge. Some marinas that accommodate transient boats have special procedures to prevent accidental discharge of sewage waste into their harbors. In such cases, marina personnel attach a lock to the two-position (overboard or tank) valve for black water so that it can only flow into the waste tank while the vessel resides in the harbor. Dye can also be added to the waste tank to reveal if the vessel discharges waste into the harbor. Major fines are levied for violators of waste discharge guidelines so beware.

Marina Pump-Out Facilities

Most new marinas have built-in sewage plumbing on all docks to facilitate connection to a shore-based pumping station for convenient removal of sewage from vessel holding tanks of tenant vessels. The optimum situation is a pump-out connection at each slip. Otherwise, a long (i.e., 70-foot) flexible hose coiled on a wheeled cart is moved to the vessel for pump-out services. One end of the hose is attached securely to a special sewage-waste spigot on the dock while the other end is inserted into the sewage pump-out line of the vessel, typically located on deck. Note that the diameter of your sewage discharge cap/line may differ from the diameter of the fitting on the waste pumping hose. Be sure to resolve this issue of size compatibility when you arrive in the marina because it may be necessary to purchase an adapter for connection to the marina’s pump-out hose.

When both ends of the pump-out hose are securely connected, the operator activates the shore-based pump and sewage is then vacuum-pumped out of the vessel. Some marinas provide staff for pumping while other facilities allow tenants to pump out their waste tank as necessary. The latter case is best because of schedule flexibility but either is certainly better than other means. Normally, the marina pump-out service is included in the slip fee rather than charged per pump-out event.

Mobile Pump-Out Services

If the marina facility does not offer dockside pump-out services, some locations have commercial sewage removal companies with on-road tank trucks or waste pumping vessels that can visit your vessel for pump-out. This service can be quite expensive, anywhere from $25 to $100 depending upon the size of your vessel’s waste holding tank.

In recent years, some states and many municipalities nationwide have chosen to establish free pump-out facilities and services to encourage boater use. This certainly will improve water quality in areas where boaters discharge illegally rather than pay the local pump-out fee.

Pump-Out Docks

Some cities provide a pump-out station on a city dock within the harbor to encourage responsible discharge of sewage waste. Normally this is free but quite often the systems are broken or unreliable because of excessive use and substandard maintenance. The fitting on the pump-out hose may not fit your discharge port so consider having an adaptor aboard your vessel. Also, do not assume the city pump-out station is working when your tank is full. Have a backup plan identified.

At-Sea Discharge

Only when vessels are more than 3 nautical miles offshore in federal coastal waters is at-sea discharge of sewage waste permitted. Discharge from the onboard sewage waste tank aboard a vessel is conducted using a special macerator pump that chops any solid wastes into small particulates while passing through the pump. Discharge into the sea is via a through-hull port beneath the water line of the vessel such that the waste slurry may be difficult to view unless the vessel is stationary. Guidelines on waste discharge at sea are given earlier in this section.

Warning

Vacuum pressure of pump-out systems can vary considerably. Everyone complains when the suction is so weak that it takes a long time to pump out their waste tank. This also can occur when the air vent line from the waste tank becomes temporarily clogged. At other times, the vacuum system can drop its prime and the nozzle will need to be submerged in the harbor water to reestablish suction. These are not problems – just inconveniences.

Real problems arise during pump-out if the suction of the system is too strong. Under extreme circumstances, it’s possible for a weak waste tank to implode – this is a big problem. In other cases, excessive suction can cause any of the numerous waste hoses and hose clamps of the waste system to begin leaking. A third problem that can arise is a rupture of the check valve in the hose that leads from the waste tank to the macerator pump that pumps wastewater overboard, when operated. If the valve or pump is damaged by the excessive suction of pump-out, and the through-hull valve is left open, then seawater is free to fill the waste tank – another big problem. This may start slowly but if the level indicator of the waste tank continues to rise without use of the onboard heads (toilets), suspect that the valve and/or pump have been damaged. Test these components and get the problem fixed soon.

Vessel Fuel

This discussion pertains to relatively large vessels that remain in the water either year-round or an entire boating season and cannot be trailered to a fueling station. Best options for purchasing vessel fuel are dependent upon the volume you intend to purchase. Always try to negotiate, especially if you intend to purchase hundreds of gallons at one time. For purchases of one thousand gallons or more, you should be able to negotiate a price that is much less than the small-volume (retail) price. Remember however, that fuel quality must be your highest priority, over price.

Fuel Docks

Some harbors offer only a single authorized fuel dock; this is certainly the worst case for boaters with regard to price as there is no competition. Such limitations on harbor fuel docks are greatest in California where environmental considerations supersede boaters’ price concerns. Similarly, at most California marinas, boaters are not able to transport fuel in jerry cans due to concern about small fuel spills during fueling of vessels.

In comparison to this worst case, many harbors in other states have multiple fuel companies with their own docks and competition keeps fuel prices reasonable. However, don’t be surprised when you see that all fuel dock prices are much higher than those at roadside fueling stations, regardless of gas or diesel. This is primarily a case of boaters being a ‘captive audience’ in the eyes of the dockside fuel retailers who often set prices high. Yes, they have additional challenges with delivery inconveniences, difficult fuel storage issues, etc., but when their prices are $1 to $2 per gallon higher than roadside filling stations, the boater has to wonder if it’s price gouging.

Note that if your marina has a fuel dock, tenants are often given a discount from quoted retail prices. Ask for a discount even if you don’t see one advertised.

Fuel Tank Trucks

Some cities and marinas allow fuel deliveries to vessels by truck or via floating fuel barges (for very large deliveries). This is the best-case scenario because it increases competition with suppliers at local fuel docks. It is recommended that boat owners contact the various suppliers to determine the source of their fuel, price per gallon for various quantities, any filtration capabilities on their trucks (a positive) and whether they add biocides or fuel stabilizers in the case of diesel fuel (very important).

When obtaining phone quotes per gallon, verify that they include all fees because you’ll be peeved later if they add federal tax, city tax and a marina surcharge for delivery at their facility (totaling another fifty cents per gallon, often). In contrast, prices at fuel docks normally are quoted with all fees included but verify this.

Also before purchasing fuel, it is strongly recommended that you speak with other boaters to determine whether any suppliers have provided poor quality fuel to vessels. This happens and it can cost the boat owner thousands of dollars for various remedies, including pumping all of the contaminated fuel from the below-deck tanks, paying for disposal of this hazardous waste, professionally steam cleaning the tanks and repairing any damage to engines caused by use of the bad fuel.

The most common problems with bad fuel on vessels are:

Most major cities have laboratories where fuels can be tested chemically so if you suspect a problem with purchased fuel, have a laboratory analysis conducted on a sample of your fuel so you can ‘negotiate’ with the supplier; hopefully having them pay for removal of the bad fuel and reimbursing you for the initial purchase.

Fuel ‘polishing’ systems and other techniques have been developed in recent years to clean and condition fuel that resides in vessel tanks for more than a couple months but this topic is beyond the scope of this marina guidebook. Note that these systems are typically designed to remove water and particulates from the fuel but they do nothing to resolve chemical problems with fuel.

Shower and Bathroom Facilities

For boaters who do not have adequate bathing facilities aboard their vessel, marina shower facilities are an important aspect of life quality. During your on-site evaluation of a new marina, view the shower and changing facilities for size, cleanliness and hours of accessibility. Are the facilities stark or preferably, like a with towels and bathing products provided, as found at some high-end resort marinas? More importantly, during morning ‘rush hour’ is there a sufficient number of shower stalls to prevent a waiting line with frustrated, towel-holding tenants. Years ago I had been a tenant at a medium-sized marina were many of the boaters were still gainfully employed five days per week. Each morning the guys had to wait in line up to 30 minutes for a shower stall to become available. Two operational showers certainly were insufficient.

The number and cleanliness of the marina’s bathroom facilities for tenants also are important issues for boaters, likely under differing circumstances. For example, some boats do not have adequate toilets on board, others may have their waste tank(s) full, while an unlucky few may have inoperable sanitary systems. Regardless of the size of your vessel, it’s likely that you’ll be using the marina’s bathroom at some time or other. If your partner or guest is very particular about his/her ‘sanitary facilities’ then you had better select a marina with clean, well-maintained bathroom facilities or you’ll catch hell for sure.

Laundry Facilities

Similarly, most marinas are obligated to provide machines for clothes washing and drying. Because they’re normally coin-operated machines, inquire at the marina office about self-service machines for change – you’ll need one for sure. If the marina has a good security program, only marina tenants may use the laundry facilities. Conversely, if the facility is open to the public, theft and damage to machines may become a significant deterrent to using the marina’s laundry facility. Ask other tenants whether they have encountered any problems in the laundry area; if so, have your laundry done offsite.

Marina management personnel can normally provide a list of dry cleaning facilities and/or wash-and-fold laundries. Some businesses even provide free pick-up and drop-off at larger marinas so be sure to inquire about this helpful service.

Car Parking and Security

Marinas that are city-owned typically do not provide safe, secure parking for tenants’ automobiles and trailers. Similarly, small privately owned marinas with minimal facilities rarely have secure parking. Vandalism can be a problem at these locations so ask boaters at those facilities what precautions they take to protect their vehicles when parked on-site, especially when cruising for a few days or longer.

Larger, privately maintained marinas normally have gated parking facilities, good lighting and security cameras around the facility to protect the property of tenants. Depending upon the neighborhood, these may provide sufficient protection for your vehicles. If, however, you plan to cruise away from your marina for an extended period of time (say weeks or months), investigate options for long-term storage rather than leave your vehicle unattended.

Some marinas (typically those associated with a condominium facility) offer garages for tenant lease for vehicle storage. Other less-robust facilities have securely locked parking lots for long-term storage, which certainly are better than leaving a car in a transient lot with significant risk of damage. The last option is to investigate local commercial facilities for long-term vehicle storage.

Tenant Pets

Marina tenant agreements often specify what types of domestic pets are permitted aboard berthed vessels. New boaters typically don’t have much concern about this clause because they don’t expect to see pets aboard vessels. A seagoing cat or dog may seem odd to some people but they’re actually quite common among boaters.

The flexibility that marinas demonstrate with regard to their pet policy can vary greatly. For example, some marinas discourage pets and permit only a single small dog or cat aboard. They also can specify many types of mammals, birds, reptiles and other species that are disallowed. Fish seem to be permitted aboard vessels, not surprisingly.

In contrast, some marinas welcome pets aboard tenant vessels because they acknowledge pets can be a significant part of life for many boaters, especially some that live aboard permanently. While marinas have clearly defined pet policies, most are flexible and do not enforce the rules unless a tenant’s pet causes a nuisance. Marinas are most lenient about pets of good tenants. Remember my early statement that cooperation can yield gains for the good tenant?

Having been a tenant in numerous marinas on the east and west coasts, I have seen many surprising pet situations — some of the most memorable are given below (each on single boats):

It is surprising how well most dogs and some cats take to living aboard a boat. The excitement demonstrated by the dogs as they jump onto the dock for their twice-per-day ‘runs’ is wonderful. They have their time to play with fellow pets from other vessels but most walk slowly when returning to their floating homes, forlorn with the reality of more confinement. Cats don’t care about shore-time nor socializing.

For tenants without pets, the marina situation is typically okay unless the dogs and birds on a neighboring vessel make excessive noise and their owners don’t take action. The worst case is when dogs bark excessively when their masters are off the boat. Marina management should be notified of any recurring problems as everyone is entitled to quiet living.

AUTHOR RECOMMENDATION

If domestic pets are an important part of your life and you plan to have them aboard your vessel, it is very important that you assess a marina’s ‘attitude’ toward pets on your first visit. Reading the tenant agreement should be step one but there are other things to assess during your walk around the marina facility, including:

Also, if you hear from boaters that one vessel has many cats aboard, you probably don’t want to be their neighbor. There have been instances when cats have left their home vessel to temporarily board a neighboring vessel to attend to bodily functions. This is not a good situation to return to after a week away from your vessel.

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