Hi,

Well, JUST before I signed an agreement with River Rock Casinos in
Richmond for annual moorage, they tell me they want the option to move my
boat at any time to make room for "events", at their discression. They say
other marinas do this all the time.

I've moored boats at marinas for 25 years and have never heard of this.
It's like leasing an appt and having the landlord reserve the right to
kick you out for a weekend if he's having friends in from out of town.

It's just the last in a string of heavy-handed, uncaring issues that
River Rock Casinos have thrust upon me since I've been there. First it was
the atrocious parking, then they turned the water off, now this. It's
about respect for the customer, and respect for the boats. I'm REALLY not
getting any from River Rock Casinos. They even once said they don't bother
giving us parking because "we can make more money from one customer at the
tables than a moorage customer for a month".

Thanks but no thanks: I'm taking my business elsewhere. And I would advise
others thinking of mooring there to do the same. Also: has anyone
knowingly SIGNED a contract that allows the marina to move their boat out
for "events"?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 18:04:36 -0800, Lloyd Sumpter
wrote:

has anyone
knowingly SIGNED a contract that allows the marina to move their boat out
for "events"?

I know of several marinas that are host to major "in the water" boat
shows every year. It is in the contract that everyone has to be out
of their slip that weekend. That's a bit different from what you are
being presented however.

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
Hi,

Well, JUST before I signed an agreement with River Rock Casinos in
Richmond for annual moorage, they tell me they want the option to move my
boat at any time to make room for "events", at their discression. They say
other marinas do this all the time.

I've moored boats at marinas for 25 years and have never heard of this.
It's like leasing an appt and having the landlord reserve the right to
kick you out for a weekend if he's having friends in from out of town.

It's just the last in a string of heavy-handed, uncaring issues that
River Rock Casinos have thrust upon me since I've been there. First it was
the atrocious parking, then they turned the water off, now this. It's
about respect for the customer, and respect for the boats. I'm REALLY not
getting any from River Rock Casinos. They even once said they don't bother
giving us parking because "we can make more money from one customer at the
tables than a moorage customer for a month".

Thanks but no thanks: I'm taking my business elsewhere. And I would advise
others thinking of mooring there to do the same. Also: has anyone
knowingly SIGNED a contract that allows the marina to move their boat out
for "events"?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36


Until recently, I had a side-tie slip at Shilshole in Seattle, (down on
the recently departed "V" dock- where they have now relocated the
Corinthian Yacht Club). I arrived at my boat one late summer morning
when the Floating Boat Show was in full swing up on J, K, and L docks
and found two boats normally moored on K or L dock just rafted off into
the fairway. I was entirely stuck, as were all folks on the south side
of "U" dock who were unable to back out into the fairway. It happens.

I can tell you from experience that the cost to a broker for putting a
boat in a floating boat show in the Seattle area is about $3-4/ foot,
but that's figured on a Sq. Ft. basis
(LOA X beam). A modest 30-foot boat with a 10-foot beam can easily run
$1000 in moorage costs for a 3-5 day show. It's no wonder the marinas
are willing to inconvenience their regular tenants. That $1000 isn't
all pure income of course. There is the considerable cost of producing
and promoting the show to consider, but even if half the boat show fee
is spent on promotion the marina operators are collecting the same fees
in a couple of days that the typical tenant might pay for the same
space in a couple of months....PLUS: the displaced tenants are still
paying as well so whatever is left after the show expenses is pure
gravy.