Things to Consider When Choosing Live Aboard Marinas

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Finally, you have decided to venture in the live aboard lifestyle you’ve always wanted. After much thought, you have purchased a nice boat to kickoff your new adventure. All seems to go well until reality hits you: where are you going to dock your boat?

As obvious as it seems, the situation above is actually a common mistake upstart liveaboards often make. For aspiring liveaboards, securing a marina should always come first before making a boat purchase. However, they often get too excited about buying a boat that they don’t realize the need for a marina, the dock where boats are kept.

If you are an aspiring liveaboard and want to ensure smoother sailing—although there is no such thing as smooth sailing when living aboard—avoid doing the same mistake and treat buying a boat & securing a marina of equal importance. And to start your new adventure, you have to consider a few things when deciding on a marina.

According to The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat, there are two kinds of liveaboards: the cruising liveaboards and the liveaboards with homeports. Both will need a marina, however, the things that your port should contain depends on the kind of liveaboard you’re going to be.

If you are a stay-in liveaboard, choosing a marina is more crucial than the cruising liveaboards. This is because you’ll be staying in that marina for basically the entire time of your liveaboard life, so you’ll have to consider a lot of things such as the following.

• Cleanliness and maintenance. Like your non-floating home, a clean marina can save you in a lot of ways, including your health. A well-maintained marina also provides clean hot showers, television cables, internet connection, and telephone lines.

• Fresh water. Salt water tends to be corrosive for your live aboard boat so find a marina that has more boat-friendly water.

• Proximity to key establishments. Choosing a marina that is near your kids’ school and your office is ideal if you’re staying in a homeport.

• Calm and protected waters. Storms are a liveaboard’s worst nightmare so choose a marina that has calm and protected waters. Also, opt for a marina that gives importance to the community’s safety. This includes marinas with insurance policy because you wouldn’t want to be docked near an uninsured boat.

• Peaceful liveaboard community. Festive environments are great but not when the neighborhood is being noisy all the time. A quiet community should ensure you good sleep every night.

• Rules and regulations. Some rules are uptight while others are bendy. Find a marina that has rules you can be comfortable with. Talk to the locals and ask about how the management implements the rules.

• For cruising liveaboards, the factors above may also apply. In addition, you should also consider the cruising-friendly factors below before deciding on a marina.

• Easy access. When you cruise, you’ll be going out and explore the sea every time so find a marina that has easy way in and out.

• Welcoming liveaboard neighborhood. Look for a neighborhood that will make your stay a nice experience. A good neighborhood is easy to approach and will offer help since you won’t be familiar in the new places you’ll be staying at.

• Near valuable supplies. Traveling from places to places can run out your supplies. Find a marina that is located near supermarkets and restaurants where you can easily stock on provisions.

• Marina that allows major repairs at the dock. The more you travel, the more your live aboard boat will get worn out. Sometimes, you’ll need major repairs to get your boat in good condition. A good marina allows you to do these repairs and a good neighborhood won’t complain on the noises and dusts you create.