Which location appeals to you more: the bustling heart of a Mediterranean capital or a serene, lesser-known harbor where you can find peace and tranquility within an hour of stowing your lines?
One of the key things to consider from the marinas on your shortlist is the range of facilities and services on offer. This practical checklist will help you determine essential marina amenities and services for your needs, as well as the desired ambiance for embarking and disembarking your yacht.
In this article:
Basic Services
Most marinas offer electricity and drinkable water at each berth. However, in remote locations, securing these services can be challenging. Before finalizing your lease, confirm the availability of these essential amenities. Additionally, inquire about any extra fees, as these services are often not included in the mooring contract. It's crucial to ensure that the electricity supply meets your amperage needs without encountering circuit breaker problems. Keep in mind that while some marinas provide 12-volt electricity, this may not suffice for yachts requiring 24 volts.
Maintenance
Marina facilities should prioritize cleanliness and maintenance, ensuring a clutter-free environment. Each berth should be equipped with sturdy cleats or bollards suitable for the size of the yacht.
Have you heard of the 'Med-style mooring'? In this approach, a yacht reverses into a berth and secures its bow to a fixed mooring buoy with a mooring line. It's essential to verify these buoys' maintenance and secure anchoring to the sea bed.
Additionally, assess nearby amenities such as gated parking for marina users, efficient rubbish collection, debris-free water, and environmental practices in marina operations.
Lastly, consider the overall aesthetic appeal. Is this marina a place where you'll enjoy spending time aboard your yacht?
Marina Security
Your yacht represents a significant investment, and a secure marina ensures its safety.
From well-maintained docks with security guards, to gated access and 24/7 surveillance, a secure marina provides peace of mind, safeguarding your yacht against potential risks and unauthorized access.
Fuel Availability
While not all marinas have their own fuel berth, it's a good idea to check the proximity of the nearest one. On-site fuel berths offer convenience, allowing you to fill up without waiting in line if the marina is serviced with mobile fuel tanks. Additionally, some marinas provide resident boats with discounted or even cost-price fuel, potentially saving you money.
For larger yachts, the convenience of bunkering within your own marina is a good selling point.
Shower Facilities
Marinas vary in the quality of their shower and toilet facilities. Some offer luxurious amenities akin to upscale hotels, while others may have less desirable conditions. Many strike a balance, featuring modern fixtures but potentially facing issues like low water pressure or lack of cleaning during peak usage.
Marina shower and washroom facilities are especially important for smaller yacht owners and guests, especially during extended stays onboard.
Chandlery and Yacht Supplies
While not a necessity, having an on-site chandlery can be exceptionally valuable, especially for hands-on yacht owners. Chandlers typically offer essential equipment and spare parts for minor repairs and maintenance, accompanied by knowledgeable staff providing valuable boating advice. Some chandlers even stock fishing tackle and provide bait.
Chandlers and general stores in marinas vary widely, catering to the diverse needs of the yachts in their area. In upscale marinas, you can expect to find not only daily essentials like freshly baked bread and butter but also the finest wines and champagne.
Lift Out Service
For smaller yacht owners, a marina offering a lift-out service proves beneficial. Ideally, a yacht should be lifted as part of its annual maintenance routine to remove marine growth, such as barnacles, from the hull. This process also allows for repainting the antifoul, replacing sacrificial anodes, and inspecting the propeller.
Some marinas even provide permits for yacht owners to perform their own maintenance or collaborate with established companies within the marina.
For larger yachts and superyachts, repair and refit works often require leaving the marina as only specific shipyards can handle the larger vessels. Nonetheless, a marina with access to yacht specialists and service companies can still offer convenience and support during these necessary maintenance periods.
In the US, dry stack storage has become increasingly popular. Unlike traditional wet storage, where boats are kept in the water at a marina, dry stack storage keeps boats out of the water on land. The boat is lifted into the water when needed.
Storage Facilities
Superyachts greatly benefit from having storage units near their home berths. These units allow for the secure storage of various items, from personal watercraft to provision-packed freezers for the season. Some storage units are equipped like full workshops, enabling repair and maintenance of movable sections to occur off the yacht, reducing inconvenience and the risk of accidents during work. While the presence of these facilities varies among marinas, modern developments often include yacht storage and workshop units as integral parts of their architectural plans
Technical Services
A proactive yacht owner can establish valuable contacts while staying in a marina. From marine engineers and engine service agents to life-saving equipment providers and maintenance companies, marinas can become social hubs for networking.
This can ensure that local yacht owners receive preferential treatment for the services they require over yachts and clients from outside the area.
Some marinas are a closed environment to external suppliers and full knowledge of their working is advised prior to securing a berth.
Some marinas have licensed companies operating within their confines or shipyard. These companies obtain licenses and permissions to work in the marina. The marina manages these services, creating a 'closed' shop environment. If a yacht owner wishes to engage companies from outside the marina, it can lead to additional, and often unforeseen, charges. These external suppliers may need to secure specific insurances to work in the marina. The marina administration team can sometimes pose obstacles to external suppliers, as they prefer to keep the work within their network of closely affiliated companies.
Permissions
If you intend to perform routine boat maintenance yourself, ensure that the marina is equipped for such activities. Does the marina have an area of hard standing where your boat can be placed out of the water while you work, complete with access to electrical power and water?
Additionally, ensure there are sufficient waste disposal facilities, including environmentally responsible options for disposing of oil, fuel, and antifoul paint. To carry out the planned works, ensure you have the necessary personal insurance coverage.
Pump Out Facilities
While not all marinas offer this service, it's certainly convenient if they do. The requirement for yachts to have black tanks, storing toilet waste to prevent direct sewage discharge into the sea, is in line with legal regulations.
While there are limits for discharging holding tank contents near the shore, it may not be practical for yachts that closely hug the coastline and pop into local anchorages. It is important to avoid 'accidental' discharge into the water, which not only leads to hefty fines but a heavy weight on a conscience.
Ensure you are aware of the service's hours of operation and use it promptly, as an overflowing black tank can create a highly unpleasant situation onboard. It is also adviseable to stand well clear when the pump out service is in operation.
Connectivity
While most marinas offer Wi-Fi, not all have sufficient bandwidth for reliable service. Additionally, some marinas may suffer from poor cell phone signal reception if sheltered and off the beaten path.
If internet access is crucial, then do investigate before committing to a contract. Ideally, perform a Wi-Fi speed test from the berth or slip you're considering and assess cell phone reception in the area.
There are many options for connectivity on yachts, see YachtBuyer articles for more information.
Marina Concierge
Some marinas, particularly those that can accommodate superyachts, excel in providing an unparalleled luxury experience to the yacht owner. At these prestigious destinations, concierge services offer a level of convenience to rival that of a five star hotel ashore.
The marina concierge, well-versed in the needs of discerning yacht owners and their guests, can effortlessly cater to a wide range of requests. Whether it's arranging for a private chauffeur to transport you to nearby attractions or securing top-of-the-line bicycles for onshore adventures, these services are designed to set the luxury marina apart from its competitors.
Live Aboard Options
Some marinas, particularly those located in major city centers, exclusive holiday destinations, and prime locations, have restrictions on how long their tenants can live aboard their yachts. In contrast, others are specifically designed to accommodate liveaboard owners and foster a vibrant resident community.
For many, owning a yacht serves as a pied-à-terre or holiday home, often offering both cost-effective and more enjoyable alternatives to traditional apartments. If this aligns with your plans, it's crucial to verify that your chosen marina doesn't impose strict limitations on the duration you're allowed to live aboard before finalizing your contract."
There’s a lot more to choosing the right marina than just checking the facilities.
