Before you read
Most faq topic write-ups skim the surface and leave you with the same answer for every boat. This one is built around the questions that actually move a dockage decision: how marinas measure your boat, how they bill, and which clauses to read twice before signing.
Marina rules and etiquette protect the dock community. Most disputes come from wake speed in the basin, late-night noise, unleashed pets, and undeclared overnight guests.
Speed in the basin is almost always 'no wake' — under 4 knots, often under 3. Repeated violations result in warnings, then ejection. New owners should idle in and out and let the boat make its own way.
Quiet hours typically run 10 PM to 7 AM. Generator use, loud music, and dock parties beyond this window draw complaints. Most marinas have a written policy and most dockmasters enforce on complaint, not patrol.
Pets must be leashed on docks, picked up after, and not left unattended on boats for long periods. Liveaboard contracts often cap pet count at 1–2 per slip with breed and weight limits.
Universal rules
- • No wake in basin (<4 kt)
- • Quiet hours 10 PM – 7 AM
- • Leashed pets, pick up after
- • No swimming in slips
- • Guests sign in
Common violations
- • Speeding in basin
- • Late-night generator
- • Unleashed dogs
- • Undisclosed overnight guests
- • Trash left on docks