Re: Advice on mooring
Unwritten marina rules for instant acceptance.<br /><br />1. Get to know your neighbors. There are many good reasons for this other than the social factors that are always a bonus. Knowledge, the minute you think you know everything about anything you are in for a rude awakening. Sailors can learn from fisherman and vice versa. They also will supply security for your boat if they know who you are and who should be on your boat. Contacts, if you need a sponcer for a yacht club, here may be your in. The club usually provide reciprocity so, if you do any cruising this will assist in obtaining slips and services when you are away from your home port. Always remember to be twice as nice to your marina mates as you are to your neighbor. Noise and voices carry much better over water, and like it or not people will judge you on your manners, seamanship, condition of boat.<br /><br />2. Get to know the staff. Get to know who they are, and what they do. Use their services when you don't have to so they will give you priority when its an emergency. Good way to start is bring in doughnuts and bagels for the shop midseason at 8am. Do this for no reason. Cheap way to get to know guys. Get to know the first names of and tip the dock attendants when they pump your gas and pump out your head. Not 20 bucks but something that shows your appreciation. Now you have someone interested in watching over your boat. Give attendants a juice or soda when appropriate and thank them for the job that they do.<br /><br />3. If you have kids keep them under control. Screeming kids in the ships store is exactly what people don't want or APPRECIATE during their valuable time off to relax. Little feet running up and down the dock may be no big deal to you but it drives most people crazy. They should be on your boat, or your dock or in a designated play area and not on other people's docks.<br /><br />4. Keep your dock and boat in the best condition possible. Coil your lines, and hoses if applicable, and keep all debris away from your area. Maintain your boat to the best condition possible. A clean, waxed, and secure vessel will always be appreciated by everyone. Good lines, secured properly always make a good first impression of the boats owner. Make sure your systems are in good working order. A tripped GFI on a shared power box can really be a smelly mess for your friends and neighbors.<br /><br />5. Share information with everyone. Where the fish are biting, good vacation spots, good places to eat, technical skills, etc. You are now a resource to the group. Everyone brings something to the party, and it doesn't really matter what it is, but your experience will be better the more open you are.<br /><br />6. Politics... Marina's are like any work relationship. Newbies are on the bottom of the totem pole. Try to address any issues you have on your own and then call attention to them. A loose cleat on the dock, an board that isn't secure, dirty shower rooms. Just like work it is always better to do or fix something and then complain than vice versa. Most marinas want what is best for their customers and will do what is reasonable to attain that. The pump out for the head breaks, work with it, parking issues, garbage cans too full, noise from the shop, these things happen and don't try to be king arthur and clean up the place overnight. A professional will overcome most issues without saying a word. If they are intolerable present your issues calmly in a letter or to the manager. Telling a dock attendant to clean up the fish cleaning station will not earn you any favors.<br /><br />7. Be flexible. If you are going away for a week or more, let then marina know so they can use your slip for transient dockage. Yes, you may feel you own that slip and it is at your discression that someone is allowed to park there, but what's the difference. These thoughtful actions will be remembered when you buy a 32footer and will need a new, larger dock.
<br /><br />Whenever possible buy gas, ice, soda and beer from the marina. If the prices represent only a buck or three more to do so. Using their services helps to sustain the viability of the marina. Most small marinas live on fairly thin margins dispite what you think of that large slip rental payment.<br /><br />Just some random thoughts from an old marina rat. I think you will find the experience of having a slip very enjoyable and rewarding. Take full advantage of all that this has to offer
