How to choose a good marina?

You have the dream of buying a boat or you already have one but want to change your marina, great, but what should you look for? Everyone will have their own preferences, and below we list key things you should consider when choosing your new marina.

1. External factors

First of all it is important what you want to do, for example there is a big difference to sail on lakes/inland waterways or face the space of the sea . The former can be more interesting if you have smaller children, the sea if you don’t shy away from some challenges. Also the type of boat is important here, for the faster small motorboats you will find your liking on the North Sea only a few days a year. However, if you want to fish with a smaller motorboat, the North Sea is suddenly interesting. The smaller (open) sailboats (<7m) will also be more comfortable on a lake than the cabin yachts. Depending on the size and type of the boat, you will also need a license. More information about the sailing license can be found at www.leidraadyachtman.be.

In addition, of course, the accessibility of the port is also important. Both the time to your boating water and the time from your home to the marina itself. Sometimes it is more interesting to find a marina a little farther from your home so that when you go to your boat relaxation is actually relaxation, even if you have to drive a while for it. In addition, the location of the port is also important. If you feel like doing only day trips, then a wide sea right in front of the harbor mouth is a pleasure. However, if you want more weekend excursions or vacations, then it is nicer to have many ports just a few hours from your home port. Don’t forget the tides either, some ports in France, for example, are only accessible at high tide. Parking in or around the port (paid or free) is also important in your choice!

2. Internal factors: The port itself

A. Price

We could list a resembling array of options, services and facilities, but price will often play a major role in your decision. In most cases, however, the price will also follow the facilities and quality of the marina. Most ports have different price calculations for their moorings. For example, at one port you will pay per season (summer/winter), and at another port you will pay per quarter or per year. So always compare the same periods when requesting quotes from different ports!

The type of mooring will also play a role in the price calculation. For example, a berth at a head jetty will be more expensive than a berth at 1 (or 2) finger jetty(s). Be sure to also take a look at the jetties to assess the general condition (and cleanliness) of the head jetties and finger jetties. In addition to the price for the mooring, look at the price for water and electricity on the jetty. Do you pay extra for this (and how much) or is it included in the price?
Finally, the entry fee is a common cost in the price calculation for your mooring. This is a one-time cost that is charged the first year you take a berth in the port. These can vary quite a bit between ports.

B. Facilities

One place that will be important to you is the washroom area. Making sure you have hot showers and polished toilets will be beneficial for your morning routine (or morning mood).

To enrich the inner man, a good bar and restaurant are of course indispensable. Sufficient member activities and the space to organize your own activities also contribute to a warmer feeling in your marina. When you can identify yourself with your marina you invariably come home, especially if the marina staff is competent, friendly and customer-oriented. It is pleasant if the harbor master knows the members and you can always go there for a comment or a question.

C. Winter storage and maintenance options.

For the maintenance of your ship, it is pleasant to have the possibility to get out of the water at the port for the winter period. So take a look at whether that possibility exists and whether this is done through a third party or this can be determined directly through the port authority itself. Also the possibilities to unmoor the boat or to store the boat under cover in a shed during the winter can be interesting.
If you prefer not to work on the boat yourself, it is useful if there are possibilities to outsource these things to dealers near the port. Most ship repair shops are a stone’s throw from the marina or there are craftsmen who can come and work on the boat on site. For certain work on equipment in the mast (wind meters, wind vane, antennas, etc.) the presence of an aerial platform is desirable.

D. Uitbating port

To ensure the competency of marina personnel, there are marina management training programs specifically aimed at operating marinas. You have 3 levels there: intermediate (IMM), advanced (AMM) and Certified marina manager (CMM). You can find out if there are such profiles in the marina of your choice.
The marina operation itself and its philosophy can also vary considerably. You have marinas that are privately operated as businesses (mainly in the Netherlands) and you have marinas that are sports clubs (vzw). With private operations, you “rent” a berth from the company, with sports clubs you take out a membership with the association. With vzw’s, all profits made are also returned to the operation of the vzw itself.
The opening hours of the harbor office are also important: Is a harbor master or other staff member available on weekends to help you with questions or problems?

E. Quality labels port

Like hotels, marinas also have a quality label. For hotels the rating is given in the number of stars (max 5 stars), for marinas this rating is in gold anchors (max 5 gold anchors). These anchors are awarded by an external auditor (TYHA) according to the Gold Anchor scheme.
Another quality label is the Blue Flag: Beaches, swimming ponds and marinas with Blue Flag distinguish themselves in terms of awareness and education, water quality, environmental and sustainability management and safety, service and accessibility.

F. Plus points or other member benefits

Some plus points or pleasant extras that are nice to have:
Most ports offer their berth holders a WIFI internet connection. Be careful though, due to the specific nature of a port you cannot expect the same quality as at home.
Especially for motorboats, it is advisable to check the presence of a gas station in the port. You cannot go sailing with an empty tank. Also the possibility to empty dirty water from the toilet and bilges into an environmental pontoon (pump-out) is not a luxury.
Most ports provide several waste points in the port for mixed waste, glass and cardboard. If you perform works on your boat, it may be interesting if, in addition to these standard options, there is also a possibility to dispose of small hazardous waste such as broken batteries, engine oil and paint buckets, etc.
Some marinas offer some nice extra facilities on top of your berth: a swimming pool, a padel court, etc. It is also possible that your marina is a member of an umbrella marina group which gives you discounts at other marinas as a berth holder. To educate or train yourself or your crew, the presence of a sailing school in the marina can also be useful

Last but not least, it is important that you feel comfortable in “your” port and that the people working in the port are competent and have some expertise. If they don’t know, they can at least give you the contact of an expert from their network.

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How to choose a good marina?