Is This a New Trend?

[GZigmont]

Mid September of last season, we're sitting on the boat with some marina friends and I happen to say: "Wonder when they're sending out winter contracts, because I haven't got mine." One of my friends said they were sent out at the beginning of August(which is when I used to get mine). For a little background: I had been at this particular marina as either a mooring customer and then eventually a slip customer with our 40 foot sailboat for 16 years, and then as only transients a couple times a year for the next 6 years due to putting the boat closer to home - kid schedules, etc. We had a great relationship with the family owned boatyard and told them we'd be back full time when we could. Fall of 2021, I called the boatyard and asked if they had a spot for us for winter and Summer 2022. They said yes - we have a spot for you. Moved the boat back there and spent about $600.00 on extra heavy duty dock lines due to the exposure there.

So after not getting the winter contract, I e-mailed the office manager, who in turn passed me along to the owner who basically said: "Well I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but you only pay for a summer slip and electricity, winter storage and shrink wrap and that doesn't fit in to our new business model. You either have to start spending a lot more money on service and things like compounding and waxing, or you have to go." I guess spending about 12k year wasn't enough.

The guy could have told me this before I moved the boat 40 nm and bought the heavy duty dock lines, and of course could have had the courtesy to let me know, without me having to chase them and find out why I didn't get a contract. This of course is beyond the fact that I had been a 20 plus year customer. And by the way, there are not hidden details here. Never was a problem or a slow pay with these folks and actually did have them do some significant fiberglass work over the years.

Is this the way things are going in your area? Or is this just greed at it's finest?

 

[William Sanborn]

Had a similiar issue. Have had a boat in the N Portland Harbor since 1978. and in the last slip since 1994 with our 30 ft. Sailboat. In 2021 we bought our Ranger Tug 27 with every intention on moving the sailboat and mooring the Ranger in that slip. Under stand the the slip is out the back door of our home, across the street and down the Ramp. Found out the Marina owner would have no part of a non-sailboat in his marina. So we secured a slip at our Yacht Club's Moorage, a block away still easy walking distance from the house, sold the sailboat, it left the Marina and for the last year plus he has been unable to rent that slip.

 

[knotflying]

The pendulum swings. I remember during the great recession there was no problem getting a slip and negotiating a price much lower than asking. We now feel the pain of no availability and gouging. Hopefully it starts to swing back to some sense of normalcy.

 

[mlanger]

The pendulum swings. I remember during the great recession there was no problem getting a slip and negotiating a price much lower than asking. We now feel the pain of no availability and gouging. Hopefully it starts to swing back to some sense of normalcy.

Raw economics of supply and demand. A marina that valued its existing customers wouldn't screw them over like this, though.

 

[GZigmont]

You’re right that a marina that valued its customers wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t do that to my customers or tenants in my rental home either. This was just a way of trying to strong arm more $$ out of some customers. The pendulum will eventually swing. I’ll bet there will be open slips this year and I’ll see it, because I am at a nearby marina now.

 

[Martin610]

Glad I'm in a municipal marina.

 

[DMD3]

The pendulum is beginning to swing… we will likely see one, maybe two more rate increases by the fed. Recession should start to be felt in Q4 this year. 2024 is gonna be tough. Likely there will be plenty of availability in the marinas as demand plummets.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

If you don’t have any idea what the cost structure of the marina is, you have no idea whether they are “gouging” or not. Maybe their taxes went up, based on much higher property values. What exactly are they supposed to do? Inflation impacts them, too.

Sheesh…


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[knotflying]

If you don’t have any idea what the cost structure of the marina is, you have no idea whether they are “gouging” or not. Maybe their taxes went up, based on much higher property values. What exactly are they supposed to do? Inflation impacts them, too.

Sheesh…


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I think you need to read the post again. It was more about not even notifying him that there was no renewal for him. Additionally, many places post requirements to be a customer, such as minimums etc. They did not raise the price, they arbitrarily did not renew based on an unknown requirement by Gzigmont. If a business raises prices due to increased costs, a good business owner will usually explain the increase and not just arbitrarily decide who to cut and then not notify them.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I was responding to the post before mine


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[GZigmont]

As an update, The owners of this particular marina have just purchased the remaining interest in a marina nearby that they owned 50% of. The other owner has recently become ill and sold his interest to them. As soon as they got the full ownership of the other marina, they changed the "business model " there as well. My sources tell me that they are getting rid of boats less than 50 feet and requiring all slip customers to also contract for winter storage, as well as all service. Hmmmm

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Lots of consolidation in the industry going on. Just look at Safe Harbor. Reminds me of skiing. Here in New England, years ago, every mountain was different and had their own culture and personality and all were affordable. Now most have been bought out, had new services and amenities installed, and the owners jacked up prices that prevent a ton of people from skiing any more. All that said, high skiing and boating prices are a quality problem to have. #;-)