Marina Terms Explained

As a beginning cruiser, navigating marina reservations can seem daunting. Lots of new boaters ask us questions about the many terms, policies, and facilities available at marinas. Here is an explanation of marina terms and some tips and tricks to help you make your marina reservations.

Marina vs. Harbor vs. Boatyard

Let’s start with “Marina!”

A marina is a facility designed for securing boats to docks. Marinas come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from small facilities with just a few slips to large marinas that can accommodate over 4,000 slips. Some marinas offer extensive amenities, such as swimming pools, restaurants, repair services, and resorts, while others serve simply as a place to tie up your boat. To qualify as a marina, the facility must have docks where boats can be secured. Additionally, some marinas also manage anchorages.

Harbor

Many marinas use the word “Harbor” in their names, like “Yacht Harbor Village” or “Harbor Town.” However, a Harbor refers to an area of protected water, not a specific place to dock your boat. An actual harbor may contain multiple marinas. For example, Charleston Harbor, in South Carolina, covers 8 square miles and has over 50 marinas and shipyards along its shoreline, from small marinas to huge container terminals.

Boatyard or Shipyard

Boatyards and shipyards typically refer to facilities where boats are built or repaired. Some marinas may contain a boatyard as part of their facilities. In Cruisier terms, a boatyard usually means a facility with a Travel Lift or haulout trailer that can lift a boat out of the water for repair or storage. Boatyards usually have facilities where boats can be kept for long-term storage or for protection during a storm. Boatyards may also have docks where boats are kept while being serviced or waiting to be hauled out.

The term Shipyard is synonymous with boatyard except that it typically refers to a facility that services larger vessels.

Terminal

While you’ll probably never dock your boat at a marine Terminal, it’s important to recognize the term as it’s a place that you want to be very aware of when passing. Terminals refer to the locations where large vessels are unloaded. These can be container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, or passenger ships. These are not good places for pleasure craft to hang around as there are frequently restrictions on how close you can come to vessels, and there can be lots of activity from tugs. Large vessels may not even be able to see you, so be aware when transiting these facilities.

Types of Docks

A “Dock” is a structure extending along the shore or out from the shore into a body of water to which boats may be moored.

Within a marina, there are various styles of docks that you will encounter and many different styles of construction. In marinas that cater to cruising boats, you will most often encounter wooden or concrete docks (yes, concrete floats!) in a few cases, you might encounter aluminum or fiberglass docks. However, these tend to be more common for smaller boats.

Floating Dock

A floating dock is most boaters’ favorite. Floating docks, as the term states, float, so they will rise and fall as the water level changes. Most frequently found in marinas with tides or where the water level rises during floods. Floating docks are attached to the pilings that are driven into the bottom or are attached to anchor weights with cables or chains.

Wood floating docks typically have a metal frame with foam or plastic floating cells under the docks. The frames are covered with wooden slats or composite (plastic) decking material similar to a deck on a house.

Concrete floating docks have hollow cores that contain air pockets, allowing the docks to float. You will find that concrete docks are much more stable to walk on and will usually fare better in stormy weather.

Tying up to a floating dock is pretty straightforward, as you don’t have to allow for long lines that will allow for rise and fall. Also, getting on and off your boat is usually easy because the height between your deck and the dock is constant.

Where the floating dock system connects to the shore, there is typically a ramp that adjusts with the rise and fall of the water. We’ve been at some marinas where, at high tide, you walk downhill to shore, and at low tide, it’s an 8-foot climb up the ramp.

Another advantage to floating docks is that the pilings are usually attached either on the ends or through a hole in the dock itself. This means that the surface where you will be docking your boat doesn’t have protruding pilings that you need to use fenders to keep your boat off of. Another benefit is that your boat is usually very close to the dock, without a large open water gap you must jump over when getting on or off your boat.

Fixed Dock

A fixed dock, as the name suggests, is fixed to the bottom. These docks are permanently attached to pilings and do not rise and fall with water level changes. You will usually find that most fixed docks have wooden pilings and either wood or composite decking.

These are the most common dock installations in areas where the water level doesn’t change very much. However, you will also encounter them in tidal areas as well, so it’s important to know how much the water level can change at the dock.

When docking on a fixed dock, we always ask the marina staff, “What is the tide rise, and where in the tide cycle are we?” This tells us how long we need to make our lines.

When docking on a fixed dock in a tidal area, you will need to make sure that your lines are long enough so that as the water rises and falls, your boat can rise and fall with it. Tying your boat with tight, short lines to a fixed dock can result in your tearing out the cleat on either the dock or your boat when the water rises and falls. We’ve seen boats heeled over or suspended off a dock because they have been tied too tightly.

Long lines crossed from port to starboard and spring lines tied from bow to stern will allow the boat to rise and fall with the tide.

Slips, Fingers, Face Docks, and T-Heads

Marinas typically offer various configurations of docks, whether fixed or floating, to accommodate boats of different sizes and meet diverse docking needs.

Slips

Slips are one of the most prevalent types of mooring space available at marinas. A slip is essentially a parking space, with each side bordered by pilings. Slips provide an organized and secure method for mooring vessels, allowing securing points on both sides.

Slips are typically accessed from a main dock that extends out into the water. The individual parking spaces (slips) are divided by pilings in the water that provide boats with a fixed point to tie to.

Finger Piers

Complementing slips are finger piers, sometimes called pontoons or jetties, which are narrow platforms that extend perpendicularly from the main dock to divide slips. These fingers provide additional stability and convenience, making boarding and maintenance tasks easier and more efficient. While you will occasionally find a slip with finger piers on both sides, most marinas will have a finger on only one side of a slip.

When making a marina reservation or when calling in to a marina when docking, it is important to know what side the finger is on. If it is more convenient to get on and off your boat from the starboard side for example, you will want to request that the finger is on that side.

It is also important to know whether you will be bow-in or stern-in (backing) into the slip. For example, on our boat, we have a side door on our starboard side, so we prefer a starboard finger pier. Knowing which side the finger pier is on and if you will be bow or stern in will also help you get your fenders on the correct side, and your lines ready to hand off on the proper side when entering the slip.

You will typically hear dockhands tell you that you are “Bow In, Starboard Tie” or “Stern In, Port Tie” to indicate where and how you will orient yourself in the slip. When making reservations, you can request your preferred docking configuration. However, marinas don’t always have what you want available. Also, due to the docks’ configuration, you will encounter marinas that only allow bow-in or stern-in docking, so you will need to be flexible.

The length of the finger pier is also important to note. Some marinas only have short, 10-foot finger piers. This means that to access the finger pier, you will probably have to back into the slip. Otherwise, you’ll be climbing over the railing on the front of your boat and using a ladder to get to the dock!

One final note about slips is to make sure you know where the Shore Power Pedestal is located. If you go bow-in on a slip and your shore power cord comes from the back of your boat, make sure that you have enough cord to reach the pedestal on the dock. In many cases, you will need at least the length of your boat and about 15 feet extra to reach it.

Face Docks

Face docks, also known as linear docks, are long docks where boats dock parallel to the dock. These docks are long, continuous platforms allowing larger vessels to tie up alongside. Face docks are especially useful for transient boaters who may not require a permanent berth within a slip and for accommodating boats that exceed the capacity of traditional slips. Additionally, face docks facilitate “rafting,” where multiple boats tie up alongside each other when there are not enough available slips.

A variation of the “Face Dock” is the Wall. Walls are simply the area right against the shore where a retaining wall exists to keep the soil on shore from falling into the water. Walls are basically just like fixed docks, except that one side is attached to the shore.

One of the more common places that you will encounter docking on a wall is when transiting the canals on the Great Loop. Many of the locks that you will encounter have large concrete walls leading up to the lock. The lockmaster may allow you to tie up to the wall for the night. Also, some municipalities with waterfront along rivers will have long walls for flood control that double as mooring spots.

T-Heads

Another configuration commonly found in marinas is the T-head dock. As the name suggests, T-heads are shaped like the letter “T” and are positioned at the end of a dock walkway. Essentially, they are the last two finger piers on a dock. These are particularly favored for large or wide vessels, as they provide substantial space for maneuvering and often have deeper water to accommodate greater drafts. At some marinas, T-heads are the only slips wide enough to accommodate catamaras.

Because T-heads are easy to get in and out of, marinas will tend to put transient boaters there. While they are easy to dock at, many boaters would prefer a regular slip to the T-head as they are usually the farthest from shore, meaning you will get in your daily steps. Because they stick out into the water the farthest, they are the most affected by waves or the wake from passing boats.

Dock Parts

Most boaters are likely familiar with the following terms, but for the sake of completeness, we will briefly cover them.

• Piling – A vertical post that is buried in the bottom that docks and boats are attached to. Typically made of pressure-treated wood, they can also be concrete or steel.
• Cleat – A metal fixture attached to a dock or piling that lines are secured to.
• Dock Lines – The ropes that attach the boat to the cleats or pilings.
• Power Pedestal – The power pedestal is the fixture on the dock that you connect your power cords, and in most cases a water hose if you need it. Power Pedestals come in all manner of sizes, styles, and conditions. Dockhands will usually assist you in connecting your power cords and water hoses if you ask them.
  
  If you are connecting or disconnecting your own power, here are a few safety hints.
  • Lift any covers SLOWLY. Hornets and Geckos love to make the inside of covers their home.
  • Inspect the receptacle for damage. Check if another outlet is available if it’s broken, loose, or burned.
  • ALWAYS turn off the breaker at the pedestal AND on your boat before connecting or disconnecting. Some older marinas may not have circuit breakers at the pedestal. In these cases, use extreme caution. I have been connecting power cords, and the receptacle has either popped off, leaving exposed wires or shorted out. Be safe!
  • Some marina water systems have either extremely high pressure or water that is of marginal quality. Also, some have fresh water spigots and boat washing spigots. Make sure you trust the water source before connecting your boat, and always put a filter in line. Read our Article on Managing Water On Your Boat for more tips.

Other Marina Facility Terms

At marinas, you will find many terms for parts of marinas or specific facilities; here are some of the most common terms you may encounter.

• Jetty – A jetty or breakwater is a structure usually made of rock or concrete sticking out from shore that protects the marina or harbor entrance from waves and currents. It is frequently used as a landmark when approaching a marina. When choosing a marina near an open body of water, look for jetties that protect the marina so that waves don’t bounce you all night.
• Wave Attenuator – Similar to jettys, wave attenuators are structures that dampen the effect of waves in the marina area. These can be wooden or concrete structures that are in the water off of the docks, or may be built into the outer docks at a marina. We’ve seen wave attenuator docks where the water on the outside has 2-3 foot waves, and the water on the inside, is flat calm!
• Anchorage – Some marinas will manage an area outside of the marina designated for anchoring. If you want to anchor in these locations, you will need to contact the marina and request a reservation and usually pay a fee. These are most common in municipal harbors.
• Mooring Field – A mooring field is similar to an anchorage, but it is located outside of a marina where you can secure your boat. The key difference is that in a mooring field, there are fixed cables or chains attached to permanent anchors on the bottom and to floats that you can tie your boat to. Mooring fields typically require reservations and may charge a fee. Some even provide a shuttle boat service to transport you from your boat to the shore.
• Dinghy Dock – Marinas near anchorages or mooring fields will often have a designated dock where you can dock your dinghy when coming to shore. If you are at a free anchorage, the marina may require a fee for the use of the dinghy dock.
• Fairway – The fairway is the water between the docks. It is how you access individual slips. Fairways are ususally wide enough to accommodate turning a boat the length of the slips along the docks, however we have had to back in or back out of narrow fairways at a few marinas.
• Basin – The Basin refers to the sheltered area of water in which the marina was built. You may get an instruction to “call us before entering the basin” when approaching a marina.
• Fuel Dock – The fuel dock is a separate dock where you dock your boat to take on fuel. Some marinas will request that you go to the fuel dock on arrival to register even if you are not buying fuel, then they will direct you to your slip. Fuel docks are typically face docks to faciliate easy in and out, and to accommodate multiple boats. At smaller marinas, you may be able to spend the night moored to the fuel dock as a transient if you arrive close to closing time.
• Pumpout Dock – At most marinas, the pumpout facility to empty your black water tanks is located at the fuel dock. Some marinas have the pumpout facility on a separate dock away from other boats.
• Marina Office – The marina office is sometimes at the fuel dock, but more often is located somwhere on shore at the end of the docks. After docking your boat, you will need to make your way to the office to register, pay for your stay, and pick-up keys or codes to access the marinas facilities.
• Boaters Lounge – The boaters lounge or boaters facilities vary greatly from marina to marina, and some marinas do not have facilities at all. Generally, a boaters lounge will, at a minimum, provide bathrooms so that you don’t have to go on your boat and fill your black water tank. Most also provide showers. You will also often find a relaxation room with chairs, couches, a TV, a computer, magazines, and a coffee machine. This is a great place to hang out while doing laundry or to escape your boat if waves are making the marina uncomfortable.
• Laundry – If you are a long-range cruiser or liveaboard, marinas with laundry facilities are a joy. While some boats have washers/dryers aboard, they take lots of fresh water, are typically small, and don’t do a great job. Being able to do your laundry at a marina is an excellent amenity. Most marina laundries are either coin or credit-card-operated; however, there are a few marinas where the facility is free!
• Hurricane Hole – This is a term that is an unofficial designation for marinas in Florida and the Carolinas. A Hurricane Hole marina is one that is in a protected area, usually in an enclosed basin, and has floating docks that are able to withstand the stresses of boats tied to them in high winds. Many hurricane holes are several miles inland from the coast. All of that said, if a marina takes a direct hit from a Category 2-4 hurricane, hurricane hole or not, there will be damage. In the past few years, several large marinas with modern concrete floating docks, concrete, or steel pilings were completely wiped out by direct hits from storms.

Marina Staff

The staff at marinas can make or break your stay. You’ll find marinas with large staffs and lots of dockhands and small marinas where everything is handled by one person. In general, the marina staff are helpful and pleasant. After all, they are in the business of serving the boating public. As with any business, you will find the occasional person who is having a bad day or is just plain curmudgeonly. Bear in mind that working at a marina is typically not a high-paying job. Many marina staff work for retail wages, and dock hands may rely on tips for most of their compensation. Check out our article on Tipping for more information.

• Harbor Master – The Harbor Master typically has responsibility for a larger enclosed harbor which may contain one our more marinas. Harbor Masters are typically municipal employees. If the municipality operates the marinas you may deal directly with the Harbor Master.
• Marina Manager – The marina manager is the person in the office who makes the rules. They are responsible for ensuring that the marina makes money and they manage the rest of the staff. Typically found in larger marinas especially those run by the big marina operating companies like SafeHarbor and Oasis.
• Yard Manager – Yard managers are typically found in the boatyard where repairs are done and are responsible for the smooth operation of the boatyard. They will also supervise the haul-out of your vessel to ensure that it is done safely.
• Dock Master – The Dock Master is in charge of the smooth running of the marina, including ensuring that space is used efficiently, the marina is run in a safe and ecologically responsible manner, and in general keeping the peace. At marinas with larger staff, the dock master is responsible for training and supervising dock hands. Frequently the Dock Master is responsible for reservations.
• Office Manager/Reservations – This may be one or two people. This is the person who takes your reservation and processes your payment.
• Dockhand – Dockhands are the hard-working folks who run back and forth on the docks, catching your lines, handing you the fuel or pump-out nozzle, and generally keeping an eye on your boat while it’s in a marina. If you are going to leave your boat for an extended period, befriending a dockhand and slipping them a tip will go a long way toward having your boat watched and lines adjusted while you are gone.
  
  Dockhands are usually well trained. However, especially during summer months, you may get a brand new dockhand with little experience. Don’t assume they know what they are doing or how your boat is best secured. Give them polite directions on what lines you would like and where. Also, don’t rely on a dockhand to properly tie your boat for the tide swings. They are just responsible for getting your boat into the slip. It is your responsibility to make sure that your lines are properly secured and adjusted.

Marina Reservation Terms

When making your reservation, there are some common terms that you will need to be aware of. These questions and terms will be used when you make your reservation.

• Length – This is the length of your boat. Typically, for transient reservations, you will be charged by the foot. They are looking for “Length Overall” (LOA) from the tip of your bow pulpit to the back of your swim platform. If you have a dinghy hanging off the back, then it’s to the back of the dinghy. Most marinas are pretty easy going about length for slips as long as you are close. Our boat is called the Swift Trawler 42, so we use 42 feet for our length in most cases, even though our true Length Overall is 46 feet. That 4 feet saves us money in slip fees! Accurate length is more critical if you are going on a face dock since boats are docked end to end. We’ve had a Dock Master come out with a tape measure to make sure that we got charged for our entire length.
• Beam – The beam is the width of your boat. Knowing your beam is important to ensure that you fit into a slip with enough room for fenders. For catamarans, it is especially important to know your beam. According to the specs, the beam on our boat is 13 feet, 11 inches. We once were booked into a 15-foot slip and got stuck between the pilings because the advertised space didn’t include the diameter of the pilings.
• Draft – Draft is the amount of water you need to float your boat. Marinas need to know your draft as some slips, especially at low tide, may only have a few feet of water. You don’t want to end up with your boat sitting on the bottom, as when you run your air conditioner, you may suck up mud into your system, or if the bottom is hard, you could damage your props or other running gear. A good rule of thumb is to add a foot to your minimum draft when making reservations to ensure that you have enough water under your boat.
• Air Draft – Some marinas will ask you for your Air Draft. The Air Draft is the distance from your waterline to the tip of your mast or the highest point on your boat. Some marinas have covered slips, and your air draft will let them know if you will fit in. Watch the tide difference. We were put into a covered slip in Mobile, AL, once, and we just fit in. I asked the dockhand where the tide was, and he said, “High tide, you’ll be fine.” It was actually low tide, and when the tide started to rise, we got trapped in the slip, and we had to drop our mast in a hurry to keep from hitting the roof!
• Power Requirements – You will need to let the marina know your power requirements: single 30-amp, Dual 30-amp, 50-amp, Dual 50-amp, etc. Many newer marinas only have 50-amp power receptacles, so if you have 30-amp power cords, make sure that you carry adapters. Likewise, if you use 50-amp power, some older marinas may only have 30-amp receptacles, so you will need an adapter to join two 30-amps to connect your 50.
• Water – Water is available on the power pedestal or a dock fitting at most marinas.
• Transient – A Transient is a boater who does not have a permanent mooring agreement with a marina. When you are cruising and stopping at a marina, you will be considered a transient. Marinas may set aside a number of slips to accommodate transients or rent out slips where the owner is away. Typically, transient reservations are from one to ten nights.
  
  If you are staying at a Yacht Club marina, you may or may not have access to some amenities, such as the restaurant, clubhouse, or pool. Be sure to ask if those amenities are important to you.
• Daily/Weekly/Monthly Rate – If you plan to stay at a marina for more than 3 days, be sure to ask about extended stay rates. Many marinas heavily discount the slip rental for weekly or monthly rentals. Often, the weekly rate is less than paying for 4 or 5 individual days. We’ve paid at the weekly rate, and only stayed 4 days on a number of occasions and saved money! Be aware, however, of liveaboard surcharges for longer stays. Some marinas are starting to charge an additional fee if you are on your boat for more than five consecutive days. We have seen an additional $150 per week liveaboard fee. If you are staying more than 5 days, always ask if there are any additional fees.
• Resort Fee – At marinas that are operated by resorts or attached to hotels, you may be charged a Resort Fee on top of your slip rental. We were surprised by this in Key West, where in addition to the $5 per foot slip rental, power, water, and tax. We were charged a mandatory $25 per day “Resort Fee” for access to the pool, and onsite restaurants.
• Liveaboard – A liveaboard is a boater who stays on their boat full time and typically has a longer-term (monthly, seasonal, or yearly) contract at the marina. More and more marinas are no longer offering liveaboard facilities due to insurance and tax complications. When making reservations, avoid the use of the term “Liveaboard.” Ask about long-term rentals, but be aware of the limitations in the contract, such as how many nights aboard you are allowed and if there are extra fees involved.
• Insurance – Some marinas will ask for a copy of your insurance when you make your reservation. This is most common for longer (weekly or monthly) reservations. I keep a PDF copy of my current policy document showing the liability coverages on my phone to send, and printed copies I can give them onboard.
• Registration – As with insurance, some marinas will request a copy of your US Coast Guard or State registration document when making a reservation. Keep a PDF on your phone and a couple of paper copies onboard.
• Rental or Docking Agreements – We’ve seen more and more marinas require that you e-sign an agreement when you make your reservation. Be ready to oblige. You may also need to provide a credit card to guarantee your reservation, just like you would at a hotel.
• Docking Direction – When you make your reservation, if you have a specific preference for Bow In or Stern In or what side the finger pier is on, be sure to let the marina know. Many marinas won’t give you a specific slip assignment when you make your reservation, so you might have to make your requests when you call upon arrival. Make sure to ask whoever answers the radio or phone, what configuration the slip is so that you can prepare your fenders and lines in advance.
• Working Channel – When approaching a marina, you typically hail them on VHF radio channel 16. In some areas of the country, like the Great Lakes, channel 9 is used. Once you make contact, they will usually ask you to switch to their “Working Channel.” When you make your reservation, ask in advance what their working channel is so that you can be ready to switch quickly, or check Waterway Guide. I keep my main radio on 16 and use my handheld for the working channel. Be aware that some marinas don’t monitor VHF radio, so you will have to call them on the phone when arriving. Our usual protocol is to hail them first on 16. If there is no answer and we know the working channel, we try that next. (Sometimes dock hands forget to switch back or are talking to another boat on the working channel), if that fails, we always have the marina’s phone number handy to call. In a few cases, we’ve had to pull up to the fuel dock and toot our horn to get someone’s attention.
• Dockwa/Snag-A-Slip – Many marinas use one of these phone apps/web services to manage their reservations. Using these services typically does not cost you more and makes reservations easy, as all of your information is pre-filled for the marina. In some cases, you can even pre-select your slip!
• Rafting – Rafting refers to a boat tying up to another boat. Many times, this is done when anchoring to facilitate security or fellowship. Occasionally, during busy periods, marinas or “walls” may require that boats raft to each other, where one boat is tied to a face dock or wall, and another boat (or two) attaches to it, stacking them up. When rafting, it’s best to have the largest boat closest to the dock. Also, you may not be able to run your power cords. On the Great Loop, Bobby’s Fish Camp on the Tenn-Tom Waterway is famous for having boat rafted 2 and 3 across!

Specialty Terms For Boatyards

Boatyards have yet another set of terms that you should be aware of. At some point, we all will need to have our boats hauled out of the water for repairs or maintenance. Knowing the terminology can make your boatyard experience smoother.

• Boatyard – Sometimes called The Yard, it is an area on land where boats are placed while being repaired or stored.
• On The Hard – A term used to refer to boats being repaired or stored on dry land.
• Travel Lift – This is a specially designed crane that is used to lift your boat out of the water. Straps are placed under your hull, and the Travel Lift lifts the boat out of the water.
• Lift Basin – This is an area similar to a slip with finger piers on each side, on which the Travel Lift will drive out to pick up your boat.
• Staging Dock – This is a dock, typically a Face Dock, near the Lift Basin where boats that are being lifted with the travel lift will wait for their turn. You may be asked to tie up on the Staging Dock when you are going to be lifted out of the water.
• Haul-Out – A haul-out is when your boat is lifted out of the water. Most often, this is done with a Travel Lift. A haul-out trailer is used at some boatyards or for specific styles of boats. This is a special trailer that is backed into the water (similar to a smaller boat trailer), and then hydraulic pads are adjusted to cradle the boat, which is then driven out of the water. Typically, haul-outs are billed based on the length of your vessel.
• Blocking – After a boat is hauled out, it is brought to a space in the boatyard, where large blocks of wood are placed under its keel. The boat is then set down by the lift on the blocks. Adjustable metal stands are then set on each side of the boat to keep it stable. Once properly secured, the lift is disconnected so that it can be used for other boats.
• Short-Haul – A short-haul is when your boat is pulled from the water but is not blocked in the boatyard. This is done when the work required on your boat is quick, such as removing propellers, marine surveys, zinc replacement, or quick repairs. In this case, the boat will remain in the slings of the Travel Lift (or trailer) while the work is done and then put back in the water. In cases such as propeller repairs, this can be advantageous as it will allow you to stay on your boat in the water while propeller repairs are done, saving hotel fees as most boatyards will not allow you to stay on your boat in the yard.
• Splash – The opposite of a haul-out, the Splash is when your boat is put back into the water, typically the reverse of the haul-out process.
• Power Wash – Also called a washdown, is when the boatyard staff will clean the bottom of your boat with a high-pressure sprayer. This is required by law in many areas to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic plants and critters, and will keep plants and marine life from drying on your hull, causing damage.
• Tug – Short for tugboat, a tug is a small boat used by the boatyard to shift boats in the water. If a boat comes to the boatyard disabled, it may be put into a slip until it is time for repairs. Then, the boatyard staff will use the Tug to move the boat to the lift basin for hauling out.
• Hurricane Club —A Hurricane Club reserves a spot in a boatyard so that a boat can be removed from the water and stored on land before an approaching storm. In this case, after being hauled and blocked, the boat is typically strapped to the ground with ground anchors to limit the possibility that it blows over or floats away if water rises. Most boatyards offering hurricane haulouts require you to join their Hurricane Club in advance (usually in January) to reserve your spot. Membership in the club ranges from $500 to several thousand dollars and simply reserves your spot. You will still pay for the haul-out, blocking, and strapping. If you don’t use the service or can’t get your boat to the yard, your money is rarely refunded. Many insurance companies will cover part or all of hurricane haul-out fees.

While there are a lot of terms, most make sense just by the name. The rest you will quickly become familiar with as you make your first few marina reservations. Marinas are used to dealing with all levels of boaters, and they’ll be happy to help you navigate their reservation process.

Are there marina terms that we missed?

Let us know in the comments below!

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