The recent post about cost of moorings or slips got me to thinking back a
few years.

The first yacht club I belonged to in the early '60 was $30 mo. membership
and $.25/ft/mo. for slip rent, in San Diego.

Then I get to think about the most practical and least expensive marina and
that would have to be in Middletown RI, the old Stone Bridge Marina..
Nothing fancy, in fact, just the bare essentials.. A long fixed dock
extending out several hundred yards into deep water.. Adjacent to the dock
were pilings about 30-40ft off and spaced every 16 or so feet. No floating
docks. You just backed into your slip, dropping the bow lines over either
piling. Continue backing until you could pass your stern lines to the dock
(always someone there to help out). BTW, if the adjacent boat already had
his line on the piling, you slipped your line through his eye and then over
the piling.

To get on and off you pulled your boats stern into the dock and climbed a
wooden ladder.. Much the same as you would if your were Med-Moored.

Yes, we had water and electric but now shore side head or shower and you had
to search out a place to park on the public street..

Except for a mooring field and dingy dock, I think this is the most
efficient form of marina.. Cost of building and maintaining it is minimal.
Plus this type of mooring is the easiest on the boat.. No dock along side
saves potential damage since the boat is held off everything by the
centenary of the lines. Each boater leaves a couple fenders over in case
someone has trouble getting into his slip.

Cost, in 1972 dollars, was $35/mo for a 35ft slip.

The obvious draw is the boat access. That vertical ladder that was sometimes
wet and slimy at low tide and at extreme low tide, might have barnacles on
it.. Well that's the price you payed for a very secure and practical
mooring.

I would like to suggest that this arrangement is only for the fit and
dedicated boater.. Ladies in skirts and high heals and those who can't climb
a slippery ladder should probably stay at home.

Ahh! for the good ole days. The simple life and simple boats.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions