Marina Gripe - - beware!

[Docked Wages]

What's your take???

Here's the situation... Docked boat last year for 3-4 months at a Marine facility in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Fairly convenient & reasonable price. Make another reservation this year well in advance, and commit to 3-4 months again.

The place runs a restaurant, with slips to accommodate patrons in the summer, spring and fall months, but it's dead in the winter with just a Happy Hour crowd so they rent out the slips. As a side note, there were several large motor yachts last year up and down their fuel dock (to make a point about the view)

Come November, I show up on the exact date promised, only to find I need to wait until 9pm to get into my slip (which they choose), and was different than where they put me during last year winter's stay... No biggie. I'm over the inconvenience of having to wait.

I come back to the boat over the christmas holiday, pay for 3 months dockage, all seems well and so we depart on a week-long trip and return exactly when I said I would... but there's another boat in my slip (same thing happened last season on one occasion). I politely pull rank, ask dockmaster to move the boat... he does, but only after asking me if it would be a problem to come back or sit on the face dock and I can just move the boat later (I was on a deadline and had to get on the road for a long-trip back home on a holiday weekend, had two young kids about to go down for bed and the boat needed a thorough cleaning before we got on the road that evening).

So I get a call last week from dockmaster telling me he loves my boat being there, but he needs it moved because it is blocking some of his patron's unobstructed view of the waterway from either the bar (which is elevated) or the 2nd floor restaurant. I suggest my slip from last year, but alas, the owner of a much smaller boat that is already docked in that slip does not wish to move either, and conveniently there are no other options for us, exception being one very bad slip with only a mid-piling and being one which I've witnessed several boat "hits" last winter (from drunk boaters coming to and from the establishment). No way in hell I'm taking that spot.

Fast forward to today... "establishment's owner is back in town and we need to have you move the boat". Forget the fact that I'm 10 hours away, and winter weather can make travel along I-95 a real b*tch from the northeast. They did offer to refund my unused portion of pre-paid slip fees. But now I'm scrambling and really soured by the whole ordeal. Oh, and last year they had much larger vessels than mine which definitely blocked the view, when my boat (in my opinion anyway) does not.

Any suggestions on safe, protected, secure dockage for a *reasonable* price in the Wrightsville Beach area? While I'm not going on a smear campaign, this place has lost a customer for life and I'm trying to be an adult about it.

[hubris 1]

I read your story........I look at your name...........When can I stop laughing? See why I always call myself Hubris? No one, I mean no one........gets in your slip. Or your underwear.
I know Im no help, but perhaps a name change would be a start.

[seapower]

Would be my guess. I believe the name is Village Harbor Marina (past the South Port Marina, heading south). I generally fuel or stay overnight there when moving my "regular" boat north and south. Dockmaster's have alway's been more than helpful, good fuel, no problem's experienced by me. Frank

[Curmudgeon]

Southport Marina, South Harbor Marina, or St James Marina. All are no more expensive (and probably less), offer all amenities, and aren't near as snotty as most everything about Wrightsville ...

[scalez]

Just down the ditch 2 miles -- Masonboro Yacht Club and Marina - 910 -791-1893

First class docks, clubhouse with all amenities and the best dock master in Wilmington.

[perfectscore]

What's your take???

Here's the situation... Docked boat last year for 3-4 months at a Marine facility in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Fairly convenient & reasonable price. Make another reservation this year well in advance, and commit to 3-4 months again.

The place runs a restaurant, with slips to accommodate patrons in the summer, spring and fall months, but it's dead in the winter with just a Happy Hour crowd so they rent out the slips. As a side note, there were several large motor yachts last year up and down their fuel dock (to make a point about the view)

Come November, I show up on the exact date promised, only to find I need to wait until 9pm to get into my slip (which they choose), and was different than where they put me during last year winter's stay... No biggie. I'm over the inconvenience of having to wait.

I come back to the boat over the christmas holiday, pay for 3 months dockage, all seems well and so we depart on a week-long trip and return exactly when I said I would... but there's another boat in my slip (same thing happened last season on one occasion). I politely pull rank, ask dockmaster to move the boat... he does, but only after asking me if it would be a problem to come back or sit on the face dock and I can just move the boat later (I was on a deadline and had to get on the road for a long-trip back home on a holiday weekend, had two young kids about to go down for bed and the boat needed a thorough cleaning before we got on the road that evening).

So I get a call last week from dockmaster telling me he loves my boat being there, but he needs it moved because it is blocking some of his patron's unobstructed view of the waterway from either the bar (which is elevated) or the 2nd floor restaurant. I suggest my slip from last year, but alas, the owner of a much smaller boat that is already docked in that slip does not wish to move either, and conveniently there are no other options for us, exception being one very bad slip with only a mid-piling and being one which I've witnessed several boat "hits" last winter (from drunk boaters coming to and from the establishment). No way in hell I'm taking that spot.

Fast forward to today... "establishment's owner is back in town and we need to have you move the boat". Forget the fact that I'm 10 hours away, and winter weather can make travel along I-95 a real b*tch from the northeast. They did offer to refund my unused portion of pre-paid slip fees. But now I'm scrambling and really soured by the whole ordeal. Oh, and last year they had much larger vessels than mine which definitely blocked the view, when my boat (in my opinion anyway) does not.

Any suggestions on safe, protected, secure dockage for a *reasonable* price in the Wrightsville Beach area? While I'm not going on a smear campaign, this place has lost a customer for life and I'm trying to be an adult about it.

not to be nasty, but how aethetically pleasing is your boat. I'd doubt they would ask to move a pretty carolina dog. screw'em get out of there, u can find another slip.

[gottaflylee]

not to be nasty, but how aethetically pleasing is your boat. I'd doubt they would ask to move a pretty carolina dog. screw'em get out of there, u can find another slip.

Sounds just like what the Dock Side would do...

Talk to the Bridge Tender Marina, ask for Tripp and tell him I sent you, if you want or need to be near a restraint, if not Seapath or Wrightsville Marina Motts Channel ( ask of Gene and tell him I sent you) are on the beach proper. Feel free to give me a callas I live here...

[Robja]

Damn Lee you beat me to it. When I was reading it I knew it had to be Dockside.

[seapower]

Tell em' "Gottaflylee" sent cha. You'll be lucky to get a mooring ball. I made the mistake of asking on of the area bridge tenders if they knew Lee. Guess what I waited 2 hour's instead of one for the next opening!!!! Lee who?????? Frank

[Docked Wages]

YES, DOCKSIDE. Any my boat is a real eye-sore... Viking 45. They told me they love the boat being there, but...