| Yeah, the difference between the most (Kingman) and least (Bass) expensive
marinas is $1200/year! Assuming the extra for electic at Kingmand since it
is included at Bass for $30/month less, so the real cost of Kingman is $122/ft.
I guess you are trying not to go into too much detail, but these marinas are all
located a fair distance apart. Is commuting time a factor? I.e., why not just go
witht the least expensive?
Bass is relatively new. It isn't a country club, but it's nice than the public
docks I've seen. It is a fair distance up the Bass River from Nantucket Sound,
but well protected. Looks like they have to maintain a channel into the place.
jlg
|
| Thanks for the comments. I'm looking for people's experience with
the way these marinas are run, navigational idiosyncracies,
etc.
For instance, last year I kept my boat on "B" dock at Shipyard Quarters
in Charlestown. Some slips there are $65/foot and some are
$85/foot. The difference, even though these spaces are close to each
other, is that the $65/foot slips are next to a pier that is
disintegrating and so 20 foot 1'x1' timbers wind up floating into your
boat. Or else the protective boom they put around them threatens to wrap
around your prop. Shipyard Quarters does a good job of cleaning up the
debris and protecting your boat, but they are not perfect and that is
what the $15 difference is for.
I would also tell you that to have a boat over 33' in the B dock slips
is crazy, because you only have a few feet clearance backing in and
out. Overshooting means backing into some spikes that easily go all
the way through your hull. (No, I didn't do it.)
Otherwise, I was realy happy with Shipyard Quarters and consider it
extremely well-run.
Regards,
Ted
|
| During the summer I usually take a trip down to Pocasset and have
gone into Kingman Marina a few times for gas (only because I had
to). Their gas prices have always been the highest in the area.
Last summer, I paid $1.78 a gallon compared to $1.40 at other places.
From what I have heard from people that frequent this marina, I
is not very well managed either. They are expensive and have an
old Yankee attitude of "take it or leave it". On the other hand,
they have a lot of boats there and always appear filled.
If you draw more that four feet, be carefull. There are some
shallow spots and rocks in the area of the marina. Follow the
channel in there VERY CAREFULLY.
|
| Let me take a stab at this one.
I'll comment on the 3 that I'm familiar with:
1) Kingman Marine.
This is where we keep our boat. It's primarily a Marina Consult
effort now. This means Doco-miniums. The price that you were
quoted was the top price that "Kingman marine" would give you.
"Kingman Marine" owns a number of the doco-minimum slips as an
investment and they rent them out for that rate. If you are
interested in renting a slip at Kingman, the best way to do it
is to find someone that owns a slip there, but doesn't keep a
boat. You can often haggle the price down, and the owner can
rent you the slip for whatever he/she wants. It helps to know
someone that keeps a boat there. Off the top of my head, I can't
think of anyone who is currently looking for a rentee. But I've
seen good deals in the past.
We own our slip. We bought it a couple years ago for about
$60,000. This is a slip that will hold up to a 46 foot boat (we
have a 38 foot). The current price for a slip there now is about
$102,000. Insane! But as you will find out, slips are at a
premium. Check out Marina Consult's table at a boat show, or call
Marina Consult. They may be able to give you a listing of slip
owners who are willing to rent their slip to you. If so, try to
negotiate renting the slip DIRECTLY FROM THE OWNER. You will save
money this way...
As for services, well, we've had many problems there. However, the
service portion of the Marina was recently taken over by FAlmouth
Marine and it has suddenly become excellent. This is a big change
for a marina whose service dept has often taken a bad rap.
Falmouth Marine took over the gas pumps at the beginning of last
season and the results were competive gas prices. Unfortunately,
this only lasted for about 1 month, when it was decided that the
owner of the marina would like to make more money off the gas and
decided to make it independent and suddenly we became the most
expensive marina on the cape for gas (the cheapest being Cuttyhunk).
The marina also has bathrooms, showers, laundry and the best
seafood restaurant in the area [honest!]
The facilities really aren't the best, but we have a condo-assoc
that is working on improving that...
2) Onset Bay Marina.
This marina is located just off of the stone marker that you
encounter while entering the Cape Cod Canal from the West End.
Most of the slips were destroyed during the Hurricane of about 2-3
years ago, and they were all replaced with brand new floating docks.
It seems like a real nice marina. The downfalls that I have heard
of is parking. Plus, it's not real convenient to get to. But is has
sound ownership and a good gas dock. It's worth a look.
3) Bourne Marina
Ah yes. This would be my first choice. THe price is very
competive, and this is because Bourne Marina is owned by the state.
It's not private. A plus. It has excellent docks. Another plus.
Plenty of parking. Plus. Excellent boat ramp (the best on the
upper cape by far.) Plus. Clean facilities. Plus. Very easy
to get too [especially now that Rte 28 through Buzzards Bay is so
empty after the new highway went in]. Major plus. What's the
negatives you ask?
Waiting list. We've been on it for over 3 years. And I believe its
growing. It depends on the size of your boat too. Prepare to wait.
Another minus? Atmosphere, or lack there of. It's right off of Rte
28 and it's not too scenic. The whole marina is lit by bright sodium
lamps. (For a contrast to this, check out Kingman Marine at night)
Finally, the channel getting in to Bourne Marina is very tricky and
is constantly prone to shoaling. But if you have a smaller, lesser
draft boat this won't bother you. Oh yeah, it has an excellent gas
dock. Inexpensive. And they have a pump-out station for your heads.
Very nice.
Well, I hope this helps...
John
|
| I have been tied up at Half Tide Marina, Mashpee Ma, for the past four
years. It is called Half Tide as it gets pretty shallow at low tide.
The Marina is located at the head of the Pomponnessett (sp) River and
they currently have dock space. There is even a bulkhead space with
power. I believe that the max size boat is 33 ft. You can check with
them for pricing. 508-477-2681. If you by chance take me up on this,
pay a visit. Our boat is the BLU FOX. Happy boating !!!!!
Stan
|