Marina Dock Campground

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bobalong

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We have moved to our new marina for the year. We are next to two friends from a former marina. (which promped us to choose this particular marina) Just my observation / question. There are many slip-patios, (full kitchen, patio tables, TV's etc) nearby. Is this a trend many of you on here see at your marina? Most of these folks seldom go boating, it's more like a marina campground.

I believe it is partly because of the age of some of these folks (easier to just hang at the dock than untie, unplug ) or possibly the price of fuel. or ?

We get up, do coffee, a little socialize,make a plan with our buds and then hit the water, go see what there is to see. Too each his / her own, I'm not complaining, just curious if this is a trend or a local thing. We are on the largest body of water between the Great Lakes & the Gulf (Kentucky & Barkley lakes) 210,000 acres of water without traversing a lock, so it's not like there aren't places to go or to raft up.

I must add, one of those patio golf carts would be nice on a hot day, and neighbors have offered their use. I thank them and refuse, the hikes to the parking lot may be my only exercise besides 12 oz. curls for the weekend.
 
Three clubsmarinas on our river are like what you say. It is not allowed at ours. We can put a patio canopy for the weekend but it has to come down when you leave. In the area around my dock we have 2 of those 10’X10’ crank-up umbrellas but they are down when not in use. We do have a replica of a light house that contains a refrigerator. Here in Ohio if it is allowed people have them. I was over in Canada last weekend and I didn’t see any there.

Niles
 
I don't know if it's a new trend. but more and more of us are spending the entire weekend on the boat. We think of it as a floating shore house and after doing it for 10+ years, we wouldn't dream of being at a marina where we couldn't set-up a table behind the boat. After a nice long ride or spending a day rafted-up with friends, it's nice to be able to come back, have dinner, socialize with our dock neighbors and share an adult beverage without the worry of driving/docking under the influence.

Lady C
 
Our marina allows a picnic table on the gravel between the blacktop and the dock as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone walking on the dock. No barbecues are allowed, either on the dock or on the boat. Very few people "hang out" at the marina. As a matter of fact, over two dozen slips out of anout 80 are vacant. Blame it on the economy. Hy
 
Here in Cullman they have a strangly laid out park and ramp.
The Ramp is on an old slough, the camp ground is nearly 1/4 mile away, a long drive around a huge Green area to the edge of the lake. Amazing thing to see. There is a small picnic table area near the ramp.
I guess it's one of those problems a guy should be glad he wasn't responsible for solving!
 
We had a 12'X20'covered deck built on our slip and it is pretty much as you describe with grill, dinning table/chairs, occasional lounge chairs and tables, sink with hot/cold running water to wash dish's and a satitilte 32" television. They do not allow refridgerators but Ice chests are OK.
The routine at our dock involves going out on the lake durring the day and comeing back for the evenings to cook and socialize with all our dockmates, it's like a home away from home and we have developed very strong ties with others on our dock and consider our "patio" social time with them to be every bit as enjoyable as going out on the boats.
 
I have noticed the trend in this area the last few years. I think it has more to do with less people having traditional summer homes
 
What you describe is very common on Texoma.
Everything from just a table and chairs to $250K floating apartments.
Folks that stay the week-end usually have the improvements.
Great places to party.
 
At Bethel Island, Calif Delta, most of the docks have these kind of improvements if the boat owner uses his boat regularly. It is a great way to socialize and make lasting friendships, especially if you don't know anyone when you first move into the marina. Some places have certain restrictions, usually due to insurance liability issues. Check with your management prior to investing in special equipment.
 
Improvements? At my old marina, I saw all this and had to move the slipholders chair, cooler, dog, kid, etc...to simply pass through to get to my boat or the end of the pier. God forbid you were carrying something or wanted to use the cart....All would sneer at the mention of leaving a path for others, as if the dock was now theirs. Nothing was ever cleaned up or picked up, cups, empty cans and light things blowing in the wind and ending up in the water. Then the string lights showed up and now with all the above, you have to duck under them to pass.

I am glad that you all enjoy it, but like yappy little dogs that do their business on the dock, and heathen kids running all over and throwing crab and fish bait all over MY boat, I don't enjoy it and I have chosen solitude over this chaos and gone elsewhere.
 
Behavior like that at your old marina would never be tolerated where I have been! I'm glad you left for a better location.
 
kd3pc that sounds like the 4th of July weekend I has at Bay Creek marina in Cape Charles, Va. one group of boaters blocked the whole dock right down to having those d##n water misting things..needless to say we won't be back.
 
Been that way at most the marina's on Eufaula that allow it since we have been here, 18 years. Young, old, new boaters, experienced, nor fuel cost does not seem to matter much, a general observation is if ones Admiral can handle being on the hook for the night.

It is a to each his own kinda thing and we have a number of fiends set up as such that we go visit and then leave for the night and anchor out.

For us, I can count the times we have stayed in the slip over night on my fingers and toes, probably add in some of the admiral,s fingers also :-) and usually when the weather does not allow us a safe period to get somewhere to set the anchor in a protected location, or a mechanical problem.

We love the sound of water slapping the hull, the privacy, beauty of sunsets, sunrises as well as the many of gods creatures that we get to see in a bit of isolation :-)

The lake house on Lake of the Ozarks, after spending 25 years on a 60 foot house boat which was sold to another family memeber who still keeps it at the Moorings Yacht Club on Lake O, are completely different experiences.

Stan
 
quote:
Originally posted by Estimator

We love the sound of water slapping the hull, the privacy, beauty of sunsets, sunrises as well as the many of gods creatures that we get to see in a bit of isolation :-)

Stan

Click to expand...


Stan,

VERY well put, our thoughts exactly
 
I have seen marina's on Clear Lake in Texas where people on one finger rent a slip, cover with treated lumber and make a party spot. Comeplet with thatched umbrellas, stainless steel gas grills, bar, chairs, ect. After a dip in the pool, they hit the docks in the evenings and dock hop between parties. It's a good way to spend weekends and socialize with like minded people.
 
DSC_1363.jpg


Is this what it looks like?
 
We spend many nights and weekends on our boat or socializing with slip neighbors. We only leave a few times a year, mostly for a few days at a time. This is directly behind our boat:

370709038.jpg


I don't know why I didn't pick up the rags before I took the photo.

Recently some of the folks at the end of the dock have been putting up the four posted canopies. They take them down when they leave. We put our umbrella and chairs away when we leave.
 
The ones on Clear Lake do not have a metal top. They have thatched covered umbrellas and covers.
 
People have parties on top those coverd decks here on Smith lake.
 
It is becoming more common on Lake Ontario, and has been creeping into our marina.

We have a 45 yr old, recently divorced guy who lost his house, and is living full time on his 32' cruiser.

He has three kids who stay with him on weekends and some weekdays.

No one said anything about them running around. Nobody said anything when they started drawing with chalk on the side walk.

Nobody said anything when they put a huge float behind his boat. The boat never leaves the slip, so why not let the kids swim in the marina with all the power cords dangling over the water?

Finally this week when he set up a grill and tiki bar in the walkway to the dock near the dog area, some of the people who have been here 15yrs or more complained.

All ht e stuff is gone, but the kids still swim around behind his boat in the marina with boats coming and going. Remember my backup camera thred ;)

Btw, his power cables are very old and are hanging in the water literally inches from his swim ladder.
 
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