Relinquishing your moorage for "events"

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 >> Stay informed about: Relinquishing your moorage for ""events"" 

On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 04:24:46 +0000, Karl Pollak wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
> Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
>
>>Well, JUST before I signed an agreement with River Rock Casinos in
>>Richmond for annual moorage, they tell me they want the option to move my
>>boat at any time to make room for "events", at their discression. They say
>>other marinas do this all the time.
>
> I didn't realize that they had bought the marina with the property or that
> they are operating it themselves.
>
>>I've moored boats at marinas for 25 years and have never heard of this.
>>It's like leasing an appt and having the landlord reserve the right to
>>kick you out for a weekend if he's having friends in from out of town.
>
> It's not exactly the same thing, and most likely, they would try to arrange
> moorage for you at another location on the Middle Arm for the duration,
> like nearer the Delta Hotel.
>
OK, but apparently they want ME to move my boat (with no compensation for
my inconvenience, apparently). Other options are even worse: suppose I'm
out for a few weeks and return to find one of these "events" happening and
someone else in my slot?

>>It's just the last in a string of heavy-handed, uncaring issues that
>>River Rock Casinos have thrust upon me since I've been there. First it was
>>the atrocious parking, then they turned the water off, now this.
>
> Lloyd, you have moved into a place under a huge construction project. Some
> disruptions are inevitable.
>
If I was Project Manager, I'd have myself fired. They had NO provisions
for "normal operations" (read: a place for marina users to park!) while
construction was going on. AND they didn't seem to care! That's NOT how to
run a project, and certainly not how one should treat a customer.

>>It's
>>about respect for the customer, and respect for the boats. I'm REALLY not
>>getting any from River Rock Casinos.
>
> I hate to tell you but you would not have got any fom the previus operator
> of the marina either. And that was after the Bridgeport Market died and
> the place was a ghost town. They could not care less whether you rented
> there or not. I did not. I found The Steveston Harbourmaster much easier
> to deal with.
>
I was in there when Bridgeport Market was there, and was quite pleased
- one reason why I returned. But What a Difference now!

>>They even once said they don't bother giving us parking
>>because "we can make more money from one customer at the
>>tables than a moorage customer for a month".
>
> Which may give you a hint what they want to use the marina for: courtesy
> (ehm) moorage for their gambling (pardon me, entertainment) customers. You
> have to admit that they do have absolutely top notch entertainment acts
> coming into the casino.
>

You may be right there: they talk about "boat shows" but there aren't any
in the summer! I was thinking they wanted it to please the boat broker
they're catering to, but yeah, maybe transient moorage for "guests"...

>>Thanks but no thanks: I'm taking my business elsewhere. And I would advise
>>others thinking of mooring there to do the same.
>
> It is a nice marina, but the operators are not particularly friendly. I
> woudl still recommend it to out of town visitors though.

The actual operator (Gary) is a Shining Light in the darkness of this
marina. He's a Good Guy, really cares about the boats, the customers, the
marina. But he's constantly fighting "the management".

The marina itself is good/bad. Not well protected, open to currents and
wind, subject to silting so you don't know if you'll be touching bottom
next low tide... and apparently the water system was not "winterized". And
based on how little Management cares about the marina customers, I'm
guessing it's going downhill fast.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36
 >> Stay informed about: Relinquishing your moorage for ""events"" 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Relinquishing your moorage for ""events"" 

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Well, JUST before I signed an agreement with River Rock Casinos in
> Richmond for annual moorage, they tell me they want the option to move my
> boat at any time to make room for "events", at their discression. They say
> other marinas do this all the time.
>
> I've moored boats at marinas for 25 years and have never heard of this.
> It's like leasing an appt and having the landlord reserve the right to
> kick you out for a weekend if he's having friends in from out of town.
>
> It's just the last in a string of heavy-handed, uncaring issues that
> River Rock Casinos have thrust upon me since I've been there. First it was
> the atrocious parking, then they turned the water off, now this. It's
> about respect for the customer, and respect for the boats. I'm REALLY not
> getting any from River Rock Casinos. They even once said they don't bother
> giving us parking because "we can make more money from one customer at the
> tables than a moorage customer for a month".
>
> Thanks but no thanks: I'm taking my business elsewhere. And I would advise
> others thinking of mooring there to do the same. Also: has anyone
> knowingly SIGNED a contract that allows the marina to move their boat out
> for "events"?
>
> Lloyd Sumpter
> "Far Cove" Catalina 36


Until recently, I had a side-tie slip at Shilshole in Seattle, (down on
the recently departed "V" dock- where they have now relocated the
Corinthian Yacht Club). I arrived at my boat one late summer morning
when the Floating Boat Show was in full swing up on J, K, and L docks
and found two boats normally moored on K or L dock just rafted off into
the fairway. I was entirely stuck, as were all folks on the south side
of "U" dock who were unable to back out into the fairway. It happens.

I can tell you from experience that the cost to a broker for putting a
boat in a floating boat show in the Seattle area is about $3-4/ foot,
but that's figured on a Sq. Ft. basis
(LOA X beam). A modest 30-foot boat with a 10-foot beam can easily run
$1000 in moorage costs for a 3-5 day show. It's no wonder the marinas
are willing to inconvenience their regular tenants. That $1000 isn't
all pure income of course. There is the considerable cost of producing
and promoting the show to consider, but even if half the boat show fee
is spent on promotion the marina operators are collecting the same fees
in a couple of days that the typical tenant might pay for the same
space in a couple of months....PLUS: the displaced tenants are still
paying as well so whatever is left after the show expenses is pure
gravy.
 >> Stay informed about: Relinquishing your moorage for ""events""