Buying a boat is much like buying a ticket to see a movie: it’s just the entry fee. From that point onward – like buying buckets of popcorn and colas – you need a place to keep it. A good marina will increase your boating pleasure and can become your floating vacation getaway.
Tampa Bay is blessed with a multitude of marinas to suit every taste, from large boats to small, power or sail. How do you choose one?
Location: A marina close to home encourages drop-by boating, from cocktail cruises to just sitting aboard enjoying the fresh air. But location is more than distance from home: how far is the marina from your fishing grounds, your favorite sandbar, or waterfront restaurants? Do you have to wait for drawbridges?
Size: Every marina sets a length limit on boats accepted, but check also for depth. If your sailboat draws eight feet and the marina is just seven feet deep at low tide, well, uh-oh.
Shelter: Perhaps even more important than location is shelter. We live in hurricane country, so the marina should be protected from storm surges and waves. Can the marina take care of your boat in a storm? Storm waves cause damage, but, on an everyday basis, you also want shelter from passing boat wakes because a constantly rolling boat isn’t much fun and can snap your dock lines. Even worse, it spills the daiquiris.
Condition: Go to the marina and walk the docks. Are they well-maintained or do they have loose planks or wobbly side piers? Overflowing trash cans? Lights for night use?
Cost: Oh, yes, that. The more amenities and best locations are going to be more expensive and, also, whether you are charged monthly, yearly or are a buy-in condo-style mooring. Read the contract, too—can you sublet if you sell your boat?
Amenities: A marina is more than just a parking place for your boat; it should offer added features. A necessity is good electrical power (called shore power) of sufficient voltage to run your air conditioning (and daiquiri blender!). Fresh, drinkable water to refill your tanks, as well as rinse off a salty boat. A fuel dock is a bonus, as is a pump-out for your toilet tanks. Providing storage for your tender (usually at an extra cost) is a plus, too. Security should be a minimum of CCTV cameras, while guards and gates are a bonus. Parking should be ample and, hopefully, close to your boat.
Extra Amenities: Having access to a pool, picnic tables and onshore grills allow alfresco meals ashore (most marinas prohibit gas or charcoal grilling on board). You may be boating to get away from the Internet, but having Wi-Fi access is useful. An ample quantity of dock carts will make getting your groceries and gear aboard much easier. A dock box at each slip will help corral those cans of WD-40 and varnish. Some marinas offered covered slips (sorry, sailboaters) that keep the boats cooler, reduce sun damage to paintwork and protect from rain, too.
Neighbors: It’s hard to explain, but talk to friends with boats. Great marinas have a strong “community” with other boaters willing to help you dock, hold a wrench when needed or enjoy social gatherings sponsored by the marina. I can honestly say that I’ve made lifelong friends at every marina where I’ve kept my boats.
Rules: These are going to cover obvious issues such as pets and noise, but check also if you can have outside service technicians work on your boat.
Six Great Tampa Marinas
Vinoy, St. Petersburg, has 74 slips with privileges at The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, with full electric, water, Wi-Fi and pump-out. Dockmaster Wesley Stevens says water depths range from 10-12 feet to accommodate up to 135-footers. Ice and dock carts are ample and there are showers in the resort health club.
IGY Maximo Marina, St. Petersburg, has 200-plus slips for boats up to 110 feet in length and 9-foot-4-inch depth. A mix of covered and uncovered slips, it also has 24-hour security, Wi-Fi, laundry, private showers, fuel and pump out.
St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, St. Petersburg, offers 640 slips and 10-foot depth adjacent to the St. Pete Pier. It features electric and water, plus fuel and pump-outs. Shower and laundry are ashore, and restaurant and entertainment venues are walkable.
Lands End Marina, Apollo Beach, has over 100 wet slips plus dry storage. The wet slips have full electric and water, and the on-site Circles Restaurant and Tiki Bar are popular. Full security with gated docks and cameras, plus mechanic services.
Little Harbor Marina, Ruskin, has 99 floating slips plus dry storage. The slips have 24-hour security; fuel and pump-out stations; electric; water and Wi-Fi. Two restaurants are on-site, as well as a ship’s store and hotel.
Marina Pointe, Tampa, has 159 slips for vessels up to 90 feet, with up to 12-foot depth, for owners and guests of the Marina Pointe condos. Full power and water, plus pump-out, showers and pool.
There are more, of course, but this gives you a starting point to find your perfect boating home. Ask around, check them out in person and save a daiquiri for me!
Chris Caswell is an award-winning writer and the former editor of several yachting magazines. He has appeared on Oprah as a boating lifestyle expert and hosted the Marine Voyager series on the Speed Channel.
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