Questions to Ask a Marina. Your boat is just like your car. It needs a nice spot where it can be parked and kept safe from all external elements. You have plenty of docking options as we mentioned in “Part 1” of this article. However, choosing a marina for docking your boat should depend on what facilities they offer in your budget.
We have come up with five more questions that will finally help you choose the right marina. Let’s continue:
Do You Offer Both Wet and Dry Docks?
A wet dock is a standard dock where you back your boat between two slips. On the other hand, a dry dock is like a drive on dock where your boat is parked on land. The latter dock rental is cheaper. However, you will have to inform the marina’s staff before coming out to the dock that you plan to drive your boat, which can be quite the hassle if you take it out regularly. One of the biggest advantages of dry docking is that you can load supplies on the boat easily.
How Strong Is Your Security?
No matter how affordable the slip rates, your money will go to waste if the dock doesn’t have specific security protocols in place. A few things that a marina should offer include:
- Well-lit parking lots
- Nightguard supervision to prevent any burglars from breaking into your boat
- Assurity that the marina will be responsible for any damage that might come to your boat
To find out about the crime rate in the area and talk to some of the boaters to know if the dock is as safe as the marina claims or not.
Do You Have Long Finger Docks?
This is an important feature of a dock, which allows you to safely embark from the boat. The finger dock is the path that extends from the main dock and follows the line of the slip. Depending on how you back your boat into the spot, a longer finger dock will remove any worries of slips and falls.
Do You Have Bigger Boat Slips That Can Accommodate a Dinghy?
Many boating enthusiasts like to keep dinghies for spending some alone time on the lake. It’s also quite convenient for a quick boating trip when you are not in the mood to take out your boat. Make sure that the slip you are renting has enough space for your dinghy to park beside the boat.
Are There Any Penalties for Improper Docking?
Last but not the least; make yourself familiar with all the docking rules so that you are not charged a penalty. Some marinas have quite strict rules and breaking them might even terminate your docking contract. At one point or another, you will make a mistake so find out how much you will be charged for it.
If your boat is small, we suggest looking into floating docks and if it’s large, then you will find covered floating docks much more to your liking. Whatever you choose, remember to ask the ten questions to cover all the docking bases.
Have more Questions to Ask a Marina? Contact us at EZ Dock Texas. You can also socialize with us on Facebook.com.
