Marina's - A Dying Business?

          While cruising this summer I couldn't help but notice the number of boats that chose to anchor instead of tieing up at a marina for the night.

 I know many boaters love the peace and solitude of anchoring and with great reason, but it seemed that this year more than ever coves and bays up and down the coast were full of boats on the hook.  Could this be a reflection of the poor economy we wondered, people trying to save money on moorage fees. After all, the bigger the boat the larger the cost to spend the night.

 And not only that, when one is at the dock it's easy to spend money - lunch or dinner at the restaurant, a drink at the pub, ice cream for the kids, books, souvenirs etc. If you are anchored in a quiet cove then you have to make do with what you have on board and unless you're attached to a mooring ball in a park it is Free. And free is great!

But there is a problem with too much free.

I've done a little research and I was shocked to discover how many Marinas on the coast are for sale. I guess you could make the point that most properties, like boats, are for sale if the price offered is right. But, and here's the big but, if boat owners are not supporting a marina's revenue by staying there and buying their products, then the marina owners have to look
at either closing, or selling, or taking revenue from another part of the business - their very valuable waterfront land.

One has only to look at the sadly short list of private campgrounds in the Okanagan as an example. When we first started going to Westbank twenty years ago there were about 10 campgrounds on the lake, now there is only one. The campers who don't get into that one are out of luck!

And though some of these marinas will sell to someone who will enjoy the lifestyle and keep the docks open, maybe some will just close the marina down, the land will be bought by a wealthy individual who wants the view, or to a development company who will sell it off piecemeal, or perhaps a private yacht club who will keep it for members only.


The last alternatives are not good ones for boaters in the long term. Where are you going to fill up with the essentials like water and gas when you're on summer holidays cruising the gulf islands, or sunshine coast, or desolation or the broughtons? It is hard enough to get water now without losing any of the following marinas.

Here is the list of Marinas that are for sale, some current and some this last summer:

Telegraph Harbour Marina  Thetis Island $ 2.3 million (rumours of a private yacht club, members only, are interested)    I love this marina, it is one of the best, clean, dog friendly,     well kept, great ice cream and little Wylie Corgi dog. Sure hope this one stays open!

Port Browning  Pender Island $ 5.9 million

Fulford Harbour $ 2.5 million - almost sold recently but deal did not go thru because of storm damage repairs that were delayed.

Montague Harbour Marina  $3 million - owners are ready for a change after 8 years.

Garden Bay Hotel Pub Marina   Pender Harbour  $2.6 million

Desolation Sound Resort   $2.9 million

Lagoon Cove Marina    Broughtons  $2.6 million

Farewell Harbour    Broughtons   $2.8 million

So if we think long term, as in years down the road, or are planning an extended boating trip soon, at some point we will need the services of these businesses. Fuel. Water. Ice. Supplies. Mechanical/ Parts. Phone/Internet. A night off from cooking or a safe harbour in a storm. Lets give Marinas our support financially (at least some of the time) and with a big thanks, for the things we sometimes forget they provide.

Kalena

But not Painted Boat Marina who take boater's money and give nothing - not even a garbage can for trash!!