Long-Term Dockage

Long-term dockage — annual or multi-year leases — locks in your slip and delivers the lowest per-foot rate of any rental option.

Annual slip contracts are how most full-time boat owners dock. Marinas reward the commitment with a 15–35% discount over monthly rates, priority for slip upgrades, and first dibs on covered or premium spots.

Expect a 12-month minimum, a security deposit (usually one month), and a no-show / break-lease clause. Some marinas pro-rate the unused portion if you sell the boat; others don't.

In high-demand markets — Annapolis, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, Newport — annual slip waitlists run 12–36 months. Get on multiple lists early and be flexible on slip size.

Who actually books long-term dockage

Long-Term Dockage aren't for every boater — they exist for a specific use case: annual and multi-year wet slip leases at the best per-foot rates. Whether your boat belongs here is a question of LOA, beam, draft, power amperage, and how you plan to use the slip, not the marketing language on the marina's website.

The boaters who get the most value out of this category are usually year-round boat owners, liveaboards, charter operators, owners who want a fixed home port. If your boat or routine doesn't match one of those profiles, a different category may save money or hassle.

How a booking actually goes

Start with the dockmaster, not the website. Send LOA including appendages, beam, draft, power requirement, arrival window, insurance limits, and whether anyone is sleeping aboard. A good dockmaster will tell you within minutes whether your boat fits the assigned slip.

Once you're cleared, expect proof of insurance, documentation or registration, payment on file, and a signed agreement before the slip is held. A verbal "we have room" is not the same as a confirmation number — get it in writing.

What the bill actually looks like

For long-term dockage, the published number is rarely the final number. Plan around $12 – $40 / ft / month (15 – 35% below monthly rates) as a starting range, then ask for an all-in written quote separating base dockage, metered electric, taxes, pump-out, parking, deposits, and any liveaboard or resort fees. The same 40-foot boat can land $300–$800 apart at two marinas with the same per-foot rate, depending on how each one bills LOA, beam, and power.

Amenities, and which ones actually matter

On paper, long-term dockage typically include reserved assigned slip, full amenity access, long-term tenant programs, priority on slip upgrades. In practice, two or three of those will make or break your experience: fuel availability if you cruise, pump-out access if you live aboard, 50A power if you run air conditioning, and reliable Wi-Fi if you work from the boat. Confirm the specific amenities you'll use weekly — the rest is mostly nice-to-have.

How to avoid the obvious mistakes

The single most expensive mistake in this category is choosing by label. Two marinas can both call themselves "long-term dockage" and operate on entirely different rules, fees, and storm plans. The agreement is what matters; the marketing is not.

Before signing, get in writing: assigned slip size, how LOA is measured, the all-in monthly total, the cancellation window, the storm plan, the liveaboard or guest rules, and the contractor-access policy. If any of those are vague, slow down — the next dockmaster down the coast might be more straightforward.