Etiquette - Someone else's slip

quote:
Originally posted by In the know

While I would not have a problem with it (so long as it was left as found), my marina certainly would. There is a reason they charge for transient slips - by the hour.

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Ditto. I'm at a private club. Tying up here requires permission, otherwise, it is trespassing. The same should legally go for a privately owned marina. I think the correct thing to do is to get permission from the marina.

On a side note, our place does rent our slips out to visiting approved transients. Nothing burns me up more than to come back and not find things the way I left them. When I go in somebody else's slip, I leave it exactly the way I found it.
 
A rented slip is also private property and every commercial marina usually has a fuel dock or dock masters dock where someone could be dropped off. The plus side is that it is supervised so you will have to move or be charged.
Look, I am not saying you can never do it but a wholesale agreement, as posted in most of the previous replies, that it is OK to use an empty dock is just plain wrong. If folks know it is wrong they are less likely to linger or cause problems.

I guess using someone’s reserved parking space must be allowed as well though I know places in NY city where some might disagree, strongly.
 
At my marina they have both slips and high/dry. I have a permanent slip and there are designated high/dry slips for people taking out or bringing back their boats. I have no problem with someone who uses my slip temporarily but I do have a bait pen that attracts attention. I have come back to my boat at the end of the day only to find a high/dry boat in my slip and no one around from either the boat owner or marina employees...I now have to dock my boat in another slip and break out more lines, move the offending boat and possibly retie my existing lines if they undid them and move a boat that I have no keys for...the same high/dry customer did this to me twice even after being told no to. Last thing I want to be saddled with after a day of fishing. I probably have another 1.5hrs of work to do once I get back into my slip from cleaning fishing, boat, rods and reels...so, I have no problem with a temporary dock but don't touch my lines or take more than an hour.
My .02
 
A quick drop and go, SHOULD be OK, but for someone to tie up for a quick dinner or lunch - no way. Though I hadn't considered the liability issues. Why not drop you guest(s) at the fuel dock? Yes, you may have to wait to get in to drop and wait some more to pick-up for folks fueling up. It's the pick-up you need to be careful of. Sitting in a slip (or the fuel dock) for 10 - 15 minutes waiting for your guest(s) to arrive is not "etiquette"
 
When I read the thread title, my answer was a very clear concise unambiguous "no".

However, after reading what is actually being asked, I say "sure, why not". However, there is ripe room for abuse and any grey area easily puts you in the areas of being wrong. This is akin to pulling over to the curb, leaving the engine running. As soon as you put the car in park, you wear out your welcome. If I need to do a touch & go, I don't even tie up generally. I'm just there to drop off and go, and I mean right now. Anything more, get a transient slip.

I don't even use a slip for this maneuever. Most times I just back the swimstep to within 6 inches of a figer pier and have the person just step off in a leisurely manner. As said, if you need more, get a transient slip, use the dingy or something else reasonable. If you need to get out the lines, then I'd guess that you are taking too much time.

I've often seen people use the "we'll only take a minute" routine and then 30 minutes to 3 hours (really, no kidding) later they are still there, inconveniencing everyone and having that "I don't get it, why are you mad at me?" look on their faces, while perceptably smirking when they think nobody is looking. Good riddance for these "pretend clueless" ilk.

On second thought. No, don't do it. There are too many people in this world who are inconsiderate who will take advantage of this if we so much as think about offering an inch of reason. If you have to ask, you shouldn't do it. Those who understand what being considerate really means will continue to have courtesy priveleges without having to ask because when somebody see's you proactively doing everything you can to inconvenience no one, they often proactively come out and ASK you to tie up to their dock, offering dock carts, and even offering to take you to town in their car. It's really amazing how much grace is offered on the water if you simply handle yourself in a certain manner. It's all in how you present yourself. I'm constantly impressed by most people on the water.

On the other hand, assume, expect or demand somebody elses good graces and plan to be shown the door in a forceful rude and permanent manner. I'm so sick and tired of the "entitled generation" that I look for any excuse to kick these folks wherever and whenever possible. I don't stop harassing them until they have reason to continue their dinner conversation many hours later about "that jerk". I don't just honk the horn, I lay on it continuously until they start howling and I can't help but start smiling. Ya just can't let the entitlement generation get the best of ya.

They are out there. Everyone needs to do their part in ridding the water of a menace much more threatening than zebra mussels, those eel things, that weird seaweed grass they warn against at the boat ramp that came from some ship from Asia or Africa or some other place. No...this is a threat, a danger, greater than any small craft advisory. Yes, the "North American Entitlement Moron (NAEM)" is a real threat. Give them no quarter and inspect your boat often lest you, your boat or marina experience an infestation. They are absolutely terrible to get rid of, seasons are short and you can only use live traps for them. Prevention is key.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Gregory Saracco

I think it's fine except when they tie up with my pre set docklines and change them. Then I don't think it's OK!

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A guy pulled into a slip down from mine one day. I'm friends with the person who leases the slip. Like the nice guy I am, I went down to help him into the slip. No lines on the boat (makes it a little harder to help). Once he got in I told him it was someone's slip and they would be back later in the day. He said that was OK, he would only be a couple of hours. Then I asked him if he had any lines. He said no, he would just use these ((my friend's lines). Yes, he changed them.

Then he took my friend's hose and rinsed the boat. Some people!
 
quote:
........... the same high/dry customer did this to me twice even after being told no to. .......
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Now that would be a real problem for me. If the management couldn't take care of it ......... I don't want to say what might happen.
 
Emergency yes; otherwise, go discharge/pickup at the fuel dock. If I wanted to wait and share I would have paid for a wait and share slip.
 
My understanding of Marinea Laws allows the Marina to charge you for a full day if you or your boat while afloat touch their dock. I would not do it without permission unless a real emergency. I would be very unhappy to find anyone in my paid slip without my express permission. A friend ok but an unknown boater would be very unwelcome. Likewise, I pay extra for a reserved spot in my office building's parking lot. I have it clearly posted & marked. Those who dare park there are very unhappy when they return. I pay extra for that immediate availability. If you take it it's theft. I do get even in spades. Some people get really pisssed with these things & I would not take any chances? In my neighborhood this is an insult.
 
I am not a slip renter but if I was I would not have a problem with a situation as described by the OP. As long as the slip borrower is prepared to vacate when I return, no problem.

If I return to find an unoccupied vessel in my slip THAT is a whole nuther situation that I would not be pleased about.
 
Ron, and the guy is a feakin' moron with zero sense. On one hand I commend him for taking time to take his kids fishing but in the years I've know him his kids have fallen off the dock out by the canal multiple times(if anyone knows Shinnecock's canal) and the dad is completely ignorant. They've climbed on boats, opened my bait pen without asking...in front of me...as they leave the marina typically the oldest boy stands on the gunnel and puts up the antenna on the T-Top while dad exits into a busy, 5-6k current...but they always seem to come back. Boat, not so much...poor mako.
 
As part of a club with pens that have a significant waiting list we are required to notify if we are going to be out of our pens for 48hrs or more so that others who are on moorings can utilise the pen for maintenance etc.
I am not aware of any issues that have been raised above occurring but the club mentalitiy is usually more cooperative, some members now prefer to keep their boats on a mooring knowing they will get occassional access to a pen for a few days at a time every so often.
 
We have a spanking new 55 slip public, transient only dock right in downtown Lake Charles at the Civic center. Docking is free, unless you want elect., then you have to swipe your credit card at the power thingy.
We also have a casino with free floating docks, unless you want power. Then you have to pay.
There is also a hotel and resturant with free docking but no power.
I am at a very old boat yard, with nothing close by, nothing fancy, but it is only a couple blocks from our house. It is fenced with coded entry. You can get out, but not back in. Due to where it is located, I am not much worried about this issue. However, I don't mind anyone backing in and dropping anyone off. I am not opposed to someone using my slip overnight, with my permission and the permission of the boat yard. The yard requires proof of libiality insurance for everyone who comes into the yard. The elect. is a flat fee, so I won't be losing anything.
I am all for helping out a fellow boater, as long as they respect the yard, me, my slip and the the other boats and property at the docks.
 
<"...the power thingy...">

I always wondered what the technical term was.

Agree with the fuel dock or similar for drop off and pickup. I too have home port dock lines and power cords affixed to the dock and travel lines and power cords that go with the boat. Mess with my lines or take my power, without my permission is theft. My marina has transient slips and does not rent permanent slips to transients.
 
I haven't had this problem at my current marina but about ten years ago we were returning from several days out and found another boat in our slip. I had to use the guest dock. Turns out the harbormaster rented out our slip for the day to make some extra money while we were gone. I guess this is a legal procedure in CA. The other boat was using our dock lines and I never got one of them back.

I moved to a better marina a few weeks later. Since then I always keep all dock lines with the boat.

Keep in mind it's a PITA when you rent a slip and can't use it because someone has jumped your claim. If you can't find a gas dock or guest dock then at least make sure you stay with your boat so you can get out of the slip if the owner needs it.

Another factor is already discussed in this thread. The private slips in many marinas are gated or otherwise secured for the slip renters. Many marina thefts involve thieves arriving by water so don't be surprised if unfamiliar outsiders are greeted by defensive and snoopy slip holders.
 
quote:
Originally posted by yzer

I haven't had this problem at my current marina but about ten years ago we were returning from several days out and found another boat in our slip. I had to use the guest dock. Turns out the harbormaster rented out our slip for the day to make some extra money while we were gone. I guess this is a legal procedure in CA. The other boat was using our dock lines and I never got one of them back.

I moved to a better marina a few weeks later. Since then I always keep all dock lines with the boat.

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First, check your lease. This probably provides that the marina can rent your slip if you are away.

That said, I would be pretty upset if I came back and couldn't get in my slip because it had been rented.

If the renter stole my lines I would expect the marina to pay for replacements.

I leave my dock lines at the slip to make it easier to dock when I return. I used wire ties to secure them to the cleats so they are not easily changed or removed.

My marina has few transients as such, but many dry stack boats that the owners want in a slip for a weekend. These boaters seem to think that hoses and nozzles are "public" property and will move them or take them with them if possible (I suppose they somehow don't see thaat as theft). I strapped my hose to the dock and I remove the nozzle. A few other slip holders are following my lead.
 
Yeah, the hose nozzle issue is a marina staple. I ended up keeping mine locked up in the dock box.

The harbormaster of the marina where I've been for the last ten years sees eye-to-eye with me on the sub-rental issue. He won't rent out my slip, period. In my book any marina that sub-rents my slip doesn't deserve my money.
 
The OP was very specific, the boat would pull in, drop someone off, then pull out and wait until the person returned.

No mention of tying up, using electricity, going to town for hours, washing the boat, helping himself to lines, hoses, dock box contents, or putting up a tiki bar on the end of the dock and hiring a band to play.

Under the OP's circumstances, I can't see why anyone would have any problem with it.

BTW, there are marinas that require you to notify them when you are going to out of your slip for more than a day or two - so that they CAN rent it to transients. If you don't notify the marina, they can evict you.
 
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