Marina Dock Age, May/June 1995

Not all slips are created equal
by Dennis P. Kissman

Have you ever wondered why a customer will choose one slip over another when given a choice, even though the slips are identical in size and price? The answer is simple. It better suits that customers boating needs. Imagine yourself in a similar situation. You walk into a hotel and are given a choice of rooms: a room with an ocean view and an identical room overlooking the parking lot with the trash containers below. Which would you choose? Without a doubt you would go for the ocean view. Lets add a little catch. The room over looking the ocean is $200 per night while the other room is $89 per night. Now that we have attached an economic value to the room, the decision may not be quite as clear.

This same rationale can apply to your marina. You may have 20 slips all the same size, but are they all equal in value? Most certainly not. Just as in a hotel where certain rooms command a higher rate, so should your slips. What makes one slip more valuable than another? Location, Location, Location.

Many factors can make one slip more valuable than another. If your marina has a current running through it, boaters prefer to head into the current when coming into the slip as opposed to running with the current or into a cross current. Check the prevailing winds in your marina. Boaters prefer to head into a wind as opposed to heading into a cross wind or running with the wind when entering a slip. This is especially true with sailboat owners. Are the fairways throughout your marina the same ratio to slip length or are some wider than others. Boaters prefer any extra maneuvering room they can get. How far are the slips from the restrooms, parking lot and other amenities? Slips situated far from these amenities are less desirable. This also holds true for slips that are right next to them. Most boaters prefer slips that are near but not adjacent to these amenities. If the marina utilities vary for the same size slips, this definitely has an impact on their value. Continue »