Business must be good....

[kimosammy]

My marina raised the rates. Maybe business isn’t so bad for them? Maybe they're doing like the rest....raising rates with customers dwindling and economy not so well?

[SomeSailor]

Yeah... but mine went up $4/mo. That's no biggy. It's $188.31 a month, instead of the $184.62 from last year. :)

Dagmars has been great.

[kimosammy]

True, still lower then most and the best. I hope no one catches on.

[SomeSailor]

They've actually been sinking more into improvements even though the economy is working against them. All new lights (makes the place MUCH nicer at night. New docks last year. New water piping on the guest docks. And not to mention they are about the most helpful bunch you could ever imagine.

[Papa Charlie]

Mike,
Aren't you in the Port of Everett Marina? They are showing $198.62 per month for a 28 foot open slip.

[Tedster]

My covered slip at Edmonds went up 5%, too this year!

[SomeSailor]

Mike,
Aren't you in the Port of Everett Marina? They are showing $198.62 per month for a 28 foot open slip.

No, I'm just up the river at a place called Dagmar's Marina. It's a large (970 boats) dry storage marina. That $204 includes power and water as well. Some add that on. I prefer to be on the hard as I can work on the boat anytime and I'm not rotting away in salt all day. :)

[Papa Charlie]

Yeah, we saw Dagmar's from the highway. Pretty large facility. Patti and I like to go down to the boat to spend the night on the spur of the moment sometimes which would eliminate Dagmar's for us. Still it is something to concider. Looking around at the cost of marinas' in the area, they are a little higher than here. Of course the location is much better.

[SomeSailor]

Yeah, we saw Dagmar's from the highway. Pretty large facility. Patti and I like to go down to the boat to spend the night on the spur of the moment sometimes which would eliminate Dagmar's for us. Still it is something to concider. Looking around at the cost of marinas' in the area, they are a little higher than here. Of course the location is much better.

You can stay on your boat at Dagmars. Many stay on the boat while right on their stands (power & water), and others use the private guest docks (power and water) ... Those are both free, as well as unlimited in and out trips.

Matter of fact... Bill Jean and some others on here live down south and make week or two trips up here and use the boat as an RV essentially. Since the boat is on the hard and accessible, you can do everything you could as if it were trailered. :)

[voyager]

I did not like the fact that Dagmar's went up over 7%. I could have understood a 3-3.5% increase. I know my income has not gone up 7+%.

I might sound like I am cheap but if everything starts taking larger percentage increase than the cost of living there is going to be a problem.

[bradvo]

Them marine toilets do not work worth a crap on the hard, what do you do..........pee in the sink ? :-)

Our marina doubled the electric rate a couple months back, I turn more stuff off to offset the increase.
Word is they are also going to measure all the boats and charge now for over hang where they used to give you a few feet no problem. Nothing set in stone at this time , just dock rumor but I have a feeling it is comming.

[Papa Charlie]

Seems like the marinas, either city or private are using the government form of budgeting is to increase taxes or charges to everyone that is still paying in to compensate for those who are no longer contributing. What most politians don't get is like with Reagon during that reccession, he lowered taxes, that put people back to work. The result, instead of taxing fewer people and businesses more to get more fund which has the opposite effect, you tax less but receive funds from more people. In the 80's this equalled a windfall of tax revenue.
There has to be an end to this somewhere.

[SomeSailor]

Well... this is a business first and foremost. I don't look at it as a percentage increase because they don't raise it each year (this is the first increase in the two I've been there). They have nice facilities and they do support a full-time staff. It's still the cheapest deal going and I got more than 7% in pay raises so I'm OK with it overall.

For the question of toilets, they have restrooms at the office and porta potti units out by the boats.

[voyager]

Mike I understand what you are saying but I have been there what five or six years now? Last year was the first year they did not raise the rate. They made up for it this year. They are down close to 20% in boats and they laid Brinnion off at the end of the season. Of all the full time employees he had the least seniority. So yes, it is a business and I understand they are trying to offset loses. What they might have thought about was a targeted campaign to boat owners in the nearby marinas to convert them into Dagmar's customers. You know maybe a marketing campaign to increase volume?

I spent 20 years managing advertising departments with full responsibility for profit and loss. If we did not bring in the revenue, or offset the loses with increase volume, cuts were made in all departments. In all of those years I was always aware of the economy and what my customers were looking at. Yes some years we did not take an increase in rates or a very small one other years it was more. Very seldom did I get complaints. They all knew we followed the trend. Dagmar's just made up for the rate increase they skipped last year. They are still less then in water marinas, so I will not be switching yet, but I still don't agree with the philosophy.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Mike I understand what you are saying but I have been there what five or six years now? Last year was the first year they did not raise the rate. They made up for it this year. They are down close to 20% in boats and they laid Brinnion off at the end of the season. Of all the full time employees he had the least seniority. So yes, it is a business and I understand they are trying to offset loses. What they might have thought about was a targeted campaign to boat owners in the nearby marinas to convert them into Dagmar's customers. You know maybe a marketing campaign to increase volume?



I spent 20 years managing advertising departments with full responsibility for profit and loss. If we did not bring in the revenue, or offset the loses with increase volume, cuts were made in all departments. In all of those years I was always aware of the economy and what my customers were looking at. Yes some years we did not take an increase in rates or a very small one other years it was more. Very seldom did I get complaints. They all knew we followed the trend. Dagmar's just made up for the rate increase they skipped last year. They are still less then in water marinas, so I will not be switching yet, but I still don't agree with the philosophy.

There ya go.... I'd walk in and say "I'll increase the number of boats here within xx months for $xxx. I get an additional $xx for any increase over xx boats that come here by this date xx, 2010..."

Maybe someone can run that across their noses? Could not be too bad a deal... a few well placed ads, radio spots, etc...

[voyager]

Doug, if only I had kept up on current trends and technology in advertising. 10 years ago I could have done it in my sleep, 7 years ago it would have taken a few weeks to get up to speed. Now????? But the concept is still the same, but delivering the message? That has all changed.

[SomeSailor]

Dagmar's just made up for the rate increase they skipped last year. They are still less then in water marinas, so I will not be switching yet, but I still don't agree with the philosophy.

I know that a 7% increase may seem a bit much but if what you're saying is true, they would have increased 35% over the last 10 years? My 2355 was there in 1999 and it was $145 a month for a 24 foot slip. So the logic is they're only at a $30/mo increase for over 10 years. That's not bad.

You've got to think that property is worth a fortune. If they failed, we'd all be on the waiting list somewhere or trailering. :)

[voyager]

I don't know what you are currently paying but doing this in my head a 3% annual increase would put them at around $194 a month right now but they did not take an increase last year, so the amount would be around $188?. Percentages are what matter unless the barometers have changed same store sales year over year are measured in percentages, housing starts, sales of homes, cost of living etc, etc. Show me a business who is not watching the percentage trends and I will show you a future close out auction site. It is not the $30.00 it is the percentage increase in relation to the rest of them. I know you have a navy pension and a current income but not everyone is that lucky so we do watch the percentage increases in relation to our own income's and in relation to the rest of the marketplace.

So like I said they are still currently less than other places but I do not like the philosophy for the reasons I have stated. Thats just my opinion. My wife gets an earful of the same thing every time my daughters dance studio jacks their rates. 60% in the past 4 years its basically emotional robbery! If I could find a way to send her someplace else and still have a family I would be doing it.

Now with all of that said I am terrified that we are entering the first stages of inflation and the rate increases I have seen from Dagmar's and other are the trumpet blowing the warning. If that happens I may be calling you and asking for help to land any type of job available with Boeing.

[SomeSailor]

I don't know what you are currently paying but doing this in my head a 3% annual increase would put them at around $194 a month right now but they did not take an increase last year, so the amount would be around $188?. Percentages are what matter...

OK... we'll use percentages then: ;) Compound the $145 a month at 1.8% and you'll be a few cents short of the $173.50 a month they charge each month 10 years later.


I know you have a navy pension and a current income but not everyone is that lucky...

I prefer to think it was the 23 years that got me that... not luck. :)

[1northernstar]

Ted,
Edmonds has a waiting list for all slip shapes and sizes. So they can pretty much do what they want as far as rate increases.

Port of Everett a few years ago had long waiting lists, so they jacked their rates - called it "alignment with the market."
Well now they have numerous slips available in every slip size. Some of that vacancy can be blamed on the economy, but some can be blamed on higher rates and overall mismanagement.
No word yet on what Everett's rates will be adjusted to, it happens in June but is announced in April.

[Tedster]

Ted,
Edmonds has a waiting list for all slip shapes and sizes. So they can pretty much do what they want as far as rate increases.

Port of Everett a few years ago had long waiting lists, so they jacked their rates - called it "alignment with the market."
Well now they have numerous slips available in every slip size. Some of that vacancy can be blamed on the economy, but some can be blamed on higher rates and overall mismanagement.
No word yet on what Everett's rates will be adjusted to, it happens in June but is announced in April.
Actually they have many pockets of openings in different sizes, none of which are the most popular 30 to 40 but on both sides of those many! I talked to Susan this Tuesday.

[SomeSailor]

How's Jaruba liking all the time in the water Ted? Have you been haulin her out to get at those zincs?

[Apperloo]

Ya, 40's are hard to get anywhere I imagine. No negotiating..........

[kimosammy]

I left Edmonds because their pricing was outrageous, $399 for a 32ft in the water uncovered. As far as a waiting list at Edmonds? I think you should check again. Before I made the move to Everett, Edmonds had many openings to chose from.

[Papa Charlie]

What other choices in the area do you have? I know of Port of Everett and Dagmars.
Is there anything North?

[bradvo]

Just opened my marina bill and whoopee, an 8% increase, this just after doubling the electric rates. They got a little love letter back with my payment, the bastids.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Doesn't make me feel so bad rebuilding my trailer now... thanks guys... thanks a lot...

[SomeSailor]

Yeah... but I could spend 3 -4 years at Dagmars for the price of the trailer... and never have to tow mine or rebuild trailers. :)

[1northernstar]

Talked to the Port Of Everett today. Word was they were going to the Port Commissioner's meeting tonight to propose not raising the per/foot moorage rates for permanent tenants.
The environmental fee is going up $1 and the livaboard fee is going up $2.
However....the short term monthly moorage rates (I think something like May thru Sept) are going up 25%. These people would need to sign up for a 1 yr commitment to avoid the 25% increase.

Now... we'll see if this makes it past the Commissioners or if they get a wild hair and think they know better about what's happening in the market.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Yeah... but I could spend 3 -4 years at Dagmars for the price of the trailer... and never have to tow mine or rebuild trailers. :)

No argument from me... different strokes for different folk... If I lived on that side, I'd probably think of doing the same thing.

But I would be a lot more worried about people borrowing stuff off my boat permanently without asking... I think they call it theft...

As in all things boating... it's always a compromise...

[Fish-a-Palooza]

I did not like the fact that Dagmar's went up over 7%. I could have understood a 3-3.5% increase. I know my income has not gone up 7+%.

I might sound like I am cheap but if everything starts taking larger percentage increase than the cost of living there is going to be a problem.

I know I'm late to the party, but when did Dagmar's go up 7%? My rate increased $4 per month, From $200 to $204 a month. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but isn't that 2%:confused:. A 7% increase would have been $14 per month.

[1northernstar]

Port of Everett official notice

http://www.portofeverett.com/docs/marina_flyer_-_moorage_rates.pdf

[Play N Hookie Admiral]

No argument from me... different strokes for different folk... If I lived on that side, I'd probably think of doing the same thing.

But I would be a lot more worried about people borrowing stuff off my boat permanently without asking... I think they call it theft...

As in all things boating... it's always a compromise...

I am a fan of your plan...with all the mess with the Hookie I tried to sell Erik on the idea of going down a few feet, newer by a few years and having the darn thing live somewhere on our 6 acres...seems silly to pay so much for dirt space when we have so much dirt of our own. He was a no go. For a boat our size morrage is the way to go I think but if it was any smaller I would vote for a trailer (keeping in mind we got a trailer with the Hookie with the deal she would live at home in the winter...only to find out you cannot get a 2855 up a 100' long steep driveway once we had her hooked to the truck)

I still say my Dad was a very very wise man when he told us "You know your ready to buy a boat when you can sit in front of a toilet and toss $100 dollar bills in to it without it bothering you at all".

[HBH]

i just gave up my 36' slip at the Blaine Marina for $190 month...nice facilities too!...went with the trailer route for now...much easier to work on my boat at home when ever it suits me too...