Marina wait lists are getting absurd — I was just quoted 14 YEARS

Question

Called about a 35' slip on the North Shore (MA). The harbormaster laughed — town list is 14 years, the yacht club next door is 'around 30'. I'll be dead before my number comes up.

How is everyone actually getting slips? Sub-leases? Buying boats that come WITH a slip? Bribing the dockmaster with lobster rolls? Genuinely asking.

dockholder52 · Answer

Buying the boat that comes with the transferable slip is a real strategy. Down here boats with deeded slips sell in days for exactly this reason — sometimes the slip is worth more than the boat.

biscayne_bob · Answer

Sub-lease through people who got slips in the 90s and barely use them. Half my dock is original-wait-list retirees with empty slips. Make friends at the marina bar, I'm serious.

trawlerTom · Answer

Contrarian take: this is why I keep the boat 40 minutes further from the city than I'd like. Zero wait, $4/ft cheaper, and the cruising grounds are the same water.

northshore_ned · Answer

Lobster roll strategy it is. Will report back in 14 years either way.

Marina wait lists are getting absurd — I was just quoted 14 YEARS

4 replies