Marina Going To Charge Vendors For Access

Check with your state Attorney General's consumer protection office. Many states prohibit such practices but few people are willing to file a complaint. It is really immaterial what the slip contract states if in fact either the law or a regulation prohibits the practice. As a general rule, they can require the vendor to show proof of liability insurance as that affords protection to the marina and adjacent boats in the event of damage.

These regulations are outgrowths of the old trailer park laws where the land owner required trailer owners to pay them a commission if the trailer was sold, even though the park owner was not involved in the process. The theory was you cannot charge for doing nothing.

Gene
 
Greed is another word that comes to my mind. I think I would exercise that right to leave if had to keep my boats at a marina. It really begins to hurt the average working man in his local economy. I know a lot of folks around here that will take their boats to yards quite a few miles away so they can do their own work or have their boats hauled at a decent price. That would send a message to me that they did not want my business and I would be happy to let them know that and probably would go elsewhere. If on a landlocked lake where I would not have a choice I guess it would be different. I don’t know any business owner that could operate without insurance to protect himself so I don’t see that as an issue.
 
There are plenty of small business owners that don't carry insurance. Especially in the contractor/repair field.

We require insurance (as well as our customers require insurance from us). But we do find contractors that want to do work with us that can't provide insurance.

At least for us its stupid simple to provide proof/letter for a customer. A call to the main secretary or her backup at the insurance broker, she has a computer program and it sends a fax while you're still on the line.

Somebody brought up they thought insurance was unfair, but I can tell you if something happens sh)*t will hit the fan. I for one would be bitter if a slipmates worker ruined my boat and didn't have insurance to cover.

As far as charging a percent to work on your boat....that is just crap especially considering when a boat is broken its not easy to move.

There are other ways to make money (all that involve work
 
Wow, even though I think my monthly slip fees are out of control, I feel lucky to be where we are. Vendors/contract labor are only required to provide their proof of insurance ($1m liability - I think),with the marina named as "additional insured" and then they have full 24/7 access to the docks with a special vendor key code. I even had my starboard engine yanked right at my slip for a rebuild and the harbor master came down to watch the action.

Our marina doesn't have a lift or yard, but I suppose it won't be long before we have to pay a premium or percent too though...
 
I had a for sale sign in my car. The owner saw it and yelled, "I GET TEN PERCENT". I was revved up with many answers but I bit my tongue.
 
Huge difference between 1 million and 2 million coverage. ( also depends on how the vendor is classified ) Premiums could be double. A hospital we do work for rented space in an office building . The Landlord wanted his people to serivce the NEW equipment the hospital installed. The hospital stance that they installed the equipment they will maintain it . The landlord wanted us to retain a ridiculous amount for liability ins. This went back and forth... Landlord won.

So its a good firewall requiring high insurance.

Rob
 
Maybe its different in my line of work, but $100k isn't much different than $1M much different than $2M.

Getting any insurance is definitely a pain and expensive. At least for us it stems from the fact of an employee doing something stupid and somehow hurting somebody somewhere.....probably for that person doing something stupid too....i.e. tripping over tools/cords etc, finding you have insurance (with a lawyer) and suing.
 
Our marina gets a big cut like 10-15% and also they get that cut on warranty work even if done by the original dealer. Plus the vendor needs a Million dollar insurance policy to cover the vendor in the marina.
 
Here in NJ I am in a large municple marna. I know that he marina charges all vendors a nominal fee to be listed as an approved vendor. I ams sure that there is also some insurance requirement. I really have not problem with the policy as it seems that all the local vendors are on the list; and to be honest they get some good advertising as well. Anyone that asks at the office get a copy of the list broken down by category.

On the other hand I would have a huge problem paying a percentage to a yard for having a vendor provide a service that they could not provide; I would also extend this to not being able to provide it with the same time frame and cost. Our old marina charged $135/ hour for wokr to be do 80% correct after having the pleasure of waiting 2 or 3 weeks.
 
I'm right with you NI. I wouldn't mind if they charged a nominal fee even if it was $50 a year, kept insurance and kept even a list of references.

I could see vendors complaining but so what.

But charging for every job....no way.
 
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

Prospective,

How far into the water does marina own. I really don't know how they could keep you from keeping someone from coming in by dink. Then again, you are homeported in my birth state so nothing surprises me.

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The reason that the contractors I mentioned don't come into the yard isn't because they are legally prohibited. It's because I live in a small town and the folks I mentioned don't want to tick of the Marina manager. At least that's what I've been told by the reluctant contractors. The guy getting $65 to inspect the head and the guy getting $30 to clean my gear don't have enough incentive to piss off someone they know personally. But my mechanic is from out of town, makes more money off me, and could care less about the marina management.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jpowell

Blackmail and rackets pretty harsh words. Marina has right to set own rules, leasee has right to leave.

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Marinas do have the right to set rules but those rules can not violate the law or the legal rights of other individuals, in this case the rights of the leasee. At least in the case of RI, the courts determined that the Marinas did not have the "right" to prohibit leasees from bringing in outside contractors. So they concoct other rules and use their personal influence to intimidate the contractors. Maybe it's not with guns and clubs but it's still a racket.
 
quote:
Originally posted by In the know

quote:
Originally posted by Prospective

This is one of my biggest pet peeves with my marina and I realize it is a common issue. And the courts in RI have determined that Marinas don't have the right although they still get away with it. My marina requires any outside vendors to carry a $2million dollar liability policy. Far in excess of the standard amounts carried by vendors. They do this because the RI courts determined that Marinas did not have the right to prevent outside vendors from coming to boats to do work. So they institued this policy as a back door lock. I now sneak my guy in early in the morning and if anyone asks he's my uncle.

RI has a new head inspection law. You must have your head inspected and it costs $65. I asked for 3 months for my marina to do it and they never did. So I called the harbor master to ask him to do it. He informed me he couldn't because my Marina Manager would not allow him on the property.

The same guy who hauls my boat also cleans bottoms and running gear in the water for $30 buck. He makes me come out of my slip and jump onto a mooring about 25 feet away because the marina manager won't let him on the property. Despite the fact the only way the marina will clean my boat is to haul it and power wash it to the tune of $350. Yea right!

The argument that they should have some kind of monopoly over who I choose to use because it's their liability or there water or electric, or because it private property is BOGUS. It's no different then if I had an apartment and hired someone to come in to fix my fridge. I pay rent for the space. That shold not restrict me to whom I can have come and do work to what I keep in that space. And at least in RI, the courts have recognized this fact. But it does not keep marinas from continuing to try to keep out the competition. No wonder boating is becoming a hobby only enjoyed by the wealthy. Because boaters as a whole put up with this rb2rb2rb2@gr5tgr5tgr5t#$%. And I include myself in that.

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Brewers Cove Haven?

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ITK, I am reluctant to answer as I would hate to find out my slip for next season is now unavailable.
 
I'm also at a Brewers (not Cove Haven). I needed what turned out to be a minor repair to one of my Volvo diesels last summer. It was under warranty. The marina mechanics were certified for Volvo gas engines but not diesels so the manager of the yard didn't charge for the Volvo diesel certified mechanic's visit. If it had been a gas engine, he would have charged me. On the other had, I've seen the work the marina mechanics do and I would have used them happily.
 
I would rather the marina charge a vendor fee than to sell out to a dock-o-minium. The prices of everything especially insurance are rising would you rather they increase your slip fees? My marina has great certified mechanics I don't need to bring anyone else in. Regards Bill
 
My marina requires all outside mechanics to report to the office before beginning work. I assume that's to check on insurance and charge a fee. The mechanic at the marina is good, reasonable,and fast, and helpful when I do my own work. What more could you ask for? Getting my boat detailed required using their approved cleaner, at a price that was ridiculous for washing and waxing a 20' foot. I'll do it myself in April. I was also told by the marina that next winter I can't tarp over my boat; I have to pay them hundreds of dollars to shrinkwrap it because "other boat owners have asked why they couldn't tarp over too." It's not in the storage contract and if they put it in the contract, I may fight it. I can't afford to throw out hundreds of dollars for one-time-use shrinkwrap. P.S. Thay won't let anyone shrinkwrap their own boat either. I understand they must make a profit to stay in business, but come on, people are leaving boating because they can't afford it anymore in this economy. Try to keep the customers you've got!
 
Bookworm they wont let you use a custom made winter cover eother just there shrinkwrap? ive got a friend who has reused his shrinkwrap 4 years now. they probly wouldnt go for that either. ive got one marina here who only will let in one canvas guy and they also tack on there fee per job also so its pay ihs price even if they could get a better deal on it from another shop.
the thing that get me is the 20 - 30 % they add on . A large boat with a $7000 job be it canvas or upholstery for me would add $1400 - $2100 to the price posibly blowing the deal.
 
The question of a custom winter cover hasn't come up yet, but that is my plan for next year. They can't force anyone to cover their boat, and some people have just left their regular canvas up, hoping the snow load won't destroy it. I'm hoping to earn enough extra money (fat chance) before the winter to pay for a cover. Time will tell. I'm semi-retired and just got a $725 home heating oil bill. Needless to less, boat expenses have gone down low on the list.
 
Our marina requires a 100,000 liability insurance and charges $6.00 per hour for off site mechanics. They have to sign in and out and off course settle up the hour charge. I think alot of the outside folks sneak in and out. We do have a full service boat werks dept, so this is a more than fair.
 
In these days of lawyers and liability (the blame game) having a contractor have 1 million dollars of insurance is nothing compared to the cost if a real mishap occoured. Imagine the scene of a fire caused by a mechanic, wind blowing the flames jump from ship to ship it wouldn't take long before you would reach the $1 million mark in liability.
Regards Bill
 
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