Marina Dollars and Sense

By Phil Cole

Rising moorage costs in recent years have resulted in much grumbling among boaters. Yet, at the same time, many marine facilities have been in serious financial trouble; some have been closed; and some which have been destroyed by fire, are not being rebuilt because past records do not justify the capital outlay.

We are reminded of an often told tale concerning a man who owned a marina and inherited $1,000,000. When asked by his friends what he would do now, he replied, "I'll just keep running this marina as long as my money holds out!"

Unfortunately, this is all too true a story for many of the marine operations. If these facilities disappear one by one, what will we do as boaters? Where will we buy fuel, fill with water, find moorage, provisions, and that good meal we like to eat ashore occasionally?

When paying moorage, it would be well for us to keep in mind that the docks and facilities must be paid for (that is, the indebtedness which built them retired with interest) along with the costs of operation and maintenance plus, hopefully, a modest profit for the owner. All this must be done within a very short season - often only two or three months out of the year. Government taxes, shore lease charges, and bureaucratic regulations add substantially to these problems.

Northwest Boat Travel has taken great pains to provide information about recommended marine facilities where we believe the boater can enjoy a stop over on his cruise. We suggest that in planning a trip a variety of overnight stops be planned including, not only anchorages and government docks, but also recommended marinas, restaurants, and other facilities for boaters. In this way you will not only have an opportunity to enjoy a variety of experiences, but will also help support the facilities needed by all boaters.

It is easy for us boaters to take for granted such services as water, garbage, and restrooms. In marinas, particularly those marinas located in out-of-the-way places, such "free" services are often expensive and difficult to provide. Wells go dry, and drilling new ones is expensive. Garbage must be hauled away by truck and/or boat and dumped at a substantial cost. Restrooms seem to take a big beating each season, and must be continually cleaned, painted, repaired, or replaced.

Part of the moorage fee, is, in reality, a fee for access to the shore-side facilities. We can not expect to anchor out or moor at the free, or nearly free, government docks, and then go to a near-by private marina to use the facilities without cost.

Some marinas are establishing day moorage fees for those who wish to anchor-out, at night, but who want to use shore-side facilities during the day. Other marinas are establishing a script-purchase requirement. This assures that a minimum amount is to be spent for fuel, groceries, food and beverages ashore, while we are using the establishment's valuable and limited access space on the water. We think that these approaches are necessary to assure that everyone shares in the costs. Perhaps we could think of the payment of moorage as our investment in helping to assure that we have the facilities we need in the future. We invite readers and marina operators to comment further on this important subject.

---The Editor