Marina Operator International, Autumn 1998

Symbiosis and Marinas
by Damian E. Buckley

I had the opportunity to take my cousin with me on a recent trip to a marina. We had just taken over the management of the property and it was not visually attractive. It was messy, it was dirty, and some of the boats were of poor quality. My cousin Bill is a pre-eminent architect in Austin, TX and I was really relishing the visit because I thought that he would be able to give me some great architectural advice.

I was hoping for ideas on how to make the dry rack storage. I got what I was hoping for but what I also got was a comment that I will never forget.

Bill asked several questions about the work that was being performed in the yard. His questions ranged from bottom painting and hull repair to mechanical work in water and in the shop. “It would seem,” he said, “that you have a symbiotic relationship with nature.” I know about symbiosis, but was unsure as to where he was heading and asked him for some clarification. He went on to explain that industry is so technologically advanced that it should be able to come up with materials that can withstand the ravages of nature. Hence the symbiotic relationship that the marina industry has. Nature continues to destroy and the marina industry continues to have to repair and replace. With these deep thoughts in mind since his visit I had another look at the marina that we had visited. The ravages of time were quite evident, but could that be construed as that weathered, or even distressed look?

It is very important to keep any marina clean and tidy. Many marinas that are run down may be in financial distress, but there is no need for a marina to look disheveled and neglected. Sometimes employees lose the will to do anything at the property but sometimes they just lack direction. Lack of praise for jobs well done and lack of any recognition whatsoever has been compounded and the property as a result becomes neglected. Continue »