www.iFourWinns.com

Gents,

I'd like some input from you on an issue I am experiencing with my marina. Please remember, we are having killer winds here in Texas. 20-60 mph.

4 weeks ago, I showed up at my slip to check on my boat to find my docks lines removed and re-tied. The knots used were third grader-ish. I retied the lines my way. I checked with a marina employee and he stated that it was done because they were going to paint in the next few days. I said that was fine, please don't mess with my lines until you are ready to paint.

2 weeks later, dock lines untied again exactly the way I described above. I retied them.

1 week later, dock lines untied again exactly the way I described above. This time all of my bumpers were removed. I retied the lines and reattached the bumpers. I stopped by and talked to the marina manager. I expressed my concern because of the high winds. She asked why I felt that the re-tied lines were a problem. I mentioned that they were tied like a shoe string rather than using a nautical knot. She then asked, "what is a nautical knot?". No, I'm not joking.

Went out last night. Lines untied and bumpers removed. I tried to call the marina. No answer. I sent an email voicing my concern. No answer yet.

At this point, there is still not a drop of new paint anywhere in the marina.

My marina (and every marina on my lake) is owned by Marinas International. From what I have heard and read, they have a sketchy reputation.

Have any of you had this issue? If so, what did you do? Am I being unreasonable? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Time to move up the management chain. Maybe withhold the payment with a certified letter expressing, in detail, your concerns and the problems.

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2010 Sea Hunt Triton 220 "Big Whiskey"
2003 FW Freedom 180 Volvo Penta 4.3GL/SX-M "It'll Do Four Now" (Sold)
2012 Avalanche LTZ 4X4

Let it go. If your boat was in no danger of coming loose from it's moorings, no damage was done to your lines or fenders, and your boat is unscathed, then you have already said enough to them. Be thankful they thought of your boat when they plan to paint. Think of the reaction you would have if your boat was splattered with dock paint. When the wind dies down, so will your concerns. Enjoy the rest of your boating season.

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Hrm. Not quite the response I was expecting. I'm not content being "thankful" with whatever they decide to do with my boat, especially since they didn't pay for it.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

You asked for it, you got it. Advice that is......

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

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

As always, input is appreciated. I simply prefer to do something before any damage is done rather than after.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Do they give any explanation as to why they untie and retie the boat, and remove the fenders repeatedly?

If they are doing it in anticipation of painting on those days and then the wind kicks up so they decide not to paint, that's one thing, if its for any other reason, I might be concerned too.

Id be more inclined to take a softer approach, I find that's what works best at our marina. The ones that complain about everything (I'm not saying you are complaining about everything) in the end don't get treated as well as the ones who try to work within the "marina politics". Can you show the dock hands how to properly tie off to a cleat? I don't disagree they should have been shown, but obviously they haven't, and if you took the few minutes to show him/them, it may help your cause in the future.

Just my .02 cents, free today.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

The explanation is that they are "planning to paint". Which, I do not have an issue with. In fact, I think it would improve the looks the marina greatly. It's been around since the mid-50's. Most of the dock houses are very rusty.

The crux of the problem is how long this has dragged on with no progress. Given the strong wind conditions, I prefer to have my lines tied correctly. I have requested that they wait to adjust my lines until they are actually prepared to paint, to no avail.

I think the best course of action at this point is to dig out the lease and see if I have any recourse with upper management. If not, I may have no choice but to start seeking a new home. Which would stink. I have two slips. One for my boat and one I have decked in for lounging. Expensive to replace, but not as expensive as fiberglass damage due to the boat coming loose and slamming into the side of the dock.

I like your idea of showing the dock hands how to tie off. If they spoke fluent English that would be much easier. There aren't any cleats ... and I'm not allowed to put any in. I guess I could slip down there in the dark and screw some down.

Thanks for the input.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

First of all, I want to thank you for making me feel better about my marina. I am in the same marina as TxVista and he is 50% of the reason I decided to go there. Ours is less than 10 years old and is kept VERY clean. It is the cleanest marina on Lewisville. Although I (and everybody else) has little run ins with the lady that manages the office, its still tolerable. I walk softly with her and am overly friendly just to make sure I keep her on my side.

Now, with all of that said, I would dig out the lease and see what it says. I sort of view a slip as an apartment. The owners of an apartment complex cannot come into your apartment or disturb any of your belongings without contacting you first, unless the general safety and well being of other people/apartments are in danger or at risk. I would feel the same way about the slip and boat access.

Hopefully you can get things resolved to your satisfaction. I for one would be upset if my boat or my belongings (fenders/lines etc) were disturbed in any way without my knowledge, especially after I have asked them to leave it alone. Its a common courtesy and its just "good business". Sadly, it seems that many in the boating business (dealers, service depts, marinas etc) forget that they are not a necessity in life and that boats are expensive to own and maintain. Anything they do for you can be done by somebody else if they dont take care of you.

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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

EXACTLY my viewpoint. I leased the two slips and pay cash in full for the year, every year. I don't think it's asking too much that I be notified before my stuff gets messed with.

Frankly, it might be time to relocate. I have looked at Cottonwood Creek and Eagle Point. I was at Pier 121 for 10 years and have no desire to go back there. Little bit too wild for me now. Plus, Pier 121 is owned by Marinas International, like my current marina. I'm not interested in giving them my business after the piss poor management of my marina.

Does Cottonwood allow you to build out your unused space? i.e. deck it in? Are refrigerators allowed?

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Cottonwood does allow build outs, however, they have to build it, you cannot build your own. Yes, you can have a fridge too. I am in a 32' slip right now and my boat uses all of it. We plan to move into a 40' next year and have a deck. TxVista has a deck, cabinets, fridge, electric grill and table/chairs at his slip.

Also, with the new bridge across the lake, Cottonwood should be an EASY trip for you....and its MUCH MUCH cleaner than Eagle Point.

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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

I would have an issue if my Marina untied my lines and then tied them back in a manner I was concerned with. Like everything in life everybody has a boss, you pay good money to keep the boat at the Marina and they have specific guidelines of what they expect from you! So why not let them know what you expect from them i.e. ask her for her bosses information and call him/her directly and voice in a matter of fact way of what your concerns are with the current situation at your marina and that you would expect them to understand your level of investment in your boat as well as the level of investment (of trust) you are placing in them to "do whats right".

I am lucky, our Marina in Missouri is very well maintained and they are very tuned to the customer!!!!!!!!!

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King Of Battle
2007 318 Vista
2003 254 Monterey
2003 Fisher F/S

Is the economy so good that the marina owners don't care about their customers? With the price of gas alone, you'd think the marina owners would be bending over backwards to make sure their customers were happy and well looked after. Our owners do not touch our boats/lines/electric cords, etc. unless they call first.

Of course, if the lines on my boat had broke or come untied and there was danger of my boat hitting someone else's boat, then I think they might react first and call later.

My guess is all marina's are different and all owners are different.

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

It sounds fishy to me.

Why in the world would someone go out of their way to retie your lines without actually doing any painting? Lets face it. . . people are lazy. Someone getting paid minimum wage doesn't cruise the docks looking for lines that aren't tied a certain way, especially if there isn't any real work being done (paint).

Are you sure someone isn't using / moving your boat when you are not present? Maybe not starting it up and cruising the lake, but maybe moving your boat out of the slip and parking in a friends boat instead? If you have a party pad decked in on the adjoining slip, it would make for a great evening.

I would put one of those automatic camera things used for hunting on my boat/dock to capture WHO and WHAT is being done to your vessel.

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2007 Four Winns Vista 358

I second the notion that something strange might be going on. Once I could understand, but repeatedly? Someone's either deliberately screwing with you or they're moving your boat for some other reason. Check the hour meter to make sure nobody's running it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista