www.iFourWinns.com

Well, got the boat delivered at Burham Harbor. It looked great and ran like a champ. It was a nice day and my mechanic and I got it on plane in the Lake, went through the lock and down the river to River City to where I have my slip. But when I got there there was a boat there. I called the guy that I have dealt with (I paid him a fee and wrote a separate check to the condo unit owner that owns the slip). He allegedly tried to figure out whose boat was in the slip. In the meantime I met and spoke with some people in the marina who told me that my contact was not exactly straight and narrow (although they also acknowledged he rents a lot of slips in the marina). However, the also confirmed that there is not really any central contact person for managing the marina, which is crazy to me. After sitting around for several hours one of the residents told me that he knew that one of the slips would be empty for awhile. So, I put a note on the boat explaining the situation and have left it in the wrong slip (I also gave my # to another owner that planned on sleeping in his boat and he said he'd call me). In the meantime, the broker wants me to tie-down outside the wall on the river itself rather than using the empty slip. This seems crazy to me since the wake from the sight-seeing boats will pound it and the barges might not even see it at night. I told him he needs to get rid of the squatter in my slip. Obviously this is not a good situation. In the next few days I will either move it into the spot I leased (and have already paid for) or ask my mechanic to trailer it back to storage and try to get back into the Harbor system. I am not willing to "trade" for a spot outside the marina. Any thoughts and/or advice on a weird situation? What a welcome to the boating world! Thanks.

I don't use a slip but I think you should stick to your guns. Don't settle for anything less than you paid for. I definitely don't think you should tie it up outside the marina.

Do what you can to find the owner of the other boat. Sounds highly likely this slip mgr overbooked himself and needs to make it right.

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2005 Horizon 210, 5.7L Volvo

Does the condo have a homeowners' association? I would go to them is the Marina is part of the condo. Either way, like said above I would not settle for anything but the slip or a refund. And I would not wait long for it.

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2005 Four Winns Horizon 200

Thanks. The real problem is I live in Chicago in a condo and can't store my boat without having to pay someone else to do it. So, either I get this corrected or I have to pay to pull it out of the water (none of the other Chicago Harbors even open until May 15). I am looking into trying to contact the condo board, but I only have the contact to this broker that always claims to speak on behalf of the board. Welcome to boating, eh?

Is it too late to stop payment on your check???

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Unfortunately, if this doesn't work out I will likely have to sue for a refund. That and find a new slip!

Hey, so far it is a happy ending. I got an e-mail today demanding that I move the boat from the slip I parked it. By the time I had arrived the police were there. I had showed up with a guy that taught a Coast Guard Auxilliary course, which seemed to help a lot. Bottom-line is the squatter's boat is out and I am in my slip. Very happy!

Is the squatters' boat tied up outside the wall on the river now? Or in Davey Jones' Locker?

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

It's nowhere to be found.

What were the police for?? I would have thought the person whose slip you were in would have called you first. At any rate I am suprised the police came out for this kind of call. I would keep that in mind if you ever find someone in your slip again.

Of course considering everything with that marina so far I would be looking elsewhere and have something else lined up when my time there was up.

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2005 Four Winns Horizon 200

It's Chicago......... finding a slip there is like the odds of winning the lottery. If you get a slip there, you have to hold on to it.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

That really sucks - hope things work out

Zelena,

IF and ONLY IF you lose that slip. (and I'd fight tooth and nail for it)...

Depending on where you live, if you can't find any good slips in Chicago, the Hammond (IN) marina is not a bad choice for a year... I've been in the Marina for several years and it wad adequate. I have since moved on to a private marina further down the lake, but Hammond is not a bad trek from most major areas of the suburbs. Unless your on the north side... There is a nice place up north... I can't remember the name (I am sure someone wil chime in) but several Hammond boaters when there when Hammond closed 2 years ago.

The point is, don't let the situation keep you off the water.

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2000 Four Winns 248 Vista (Nice toys, no Air)
2001 Highly Modified Yamaha GP1200R (75+MPH)

I am new to the Michigan City Marina, but was talking to a guy who kept his boat there and he was from Chicago. He used to keep it at one of the Chicago Marina's and said that there was no comparison and he loved Michigan City. He travels about an hour to get there. Just a thought. Personally, I love the marina and the immediate surrounding community. Good restaurants, bars, shopping, casino, and a real nice park.

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"Where Da Go"
2002 248 Vista
Lafayette, IN
http://blueoceanlife.worldventures.biz

Well, thanks for the alternatives. As for now things have settled down and I am in my slip, which is one of the better ones in the marina. Anyhow, I would love to make the trek over to Michigan City later this summer, but by boat and not by car. I am a very urban guy -- I own a boat, but no car. And this marina is perfect because it is a 10 minute walk from work. I don't always get weekends off so if I have to drive, even 45 minutes to the boat I know I'd use it less. This way I can leave work on a slower day and get in a couple of hours. I hope I am not being naive, but I think that now the boat is in the slip, all should be good. Thanks for all the support.