TERRANCE PHILLIPS -- The Harbor Column

The boat industry appears to be slipping.

When I say slipping, I don’t mean sliding. In fact, the monthly rental

slips fees are escalating to oftentimes costing boat owners more than

their monthly boat payment.

It’s all a function of supply and demand. Larger slips accommodating

vessels 35 feet to 40 feet and above are difficult to locate. For vessels

in the 50-foot and above lengths, slips are almost impossible to find.

There are other issues associated with slip rental fees that must be

taken into consideration. The condition of the docks and pilings; trash

facilities; pump-out station accessibility; location of your slip from

the parking lot and if adequate, overnight parking privileges are

available.

James Nicoletti is the general manager and director of operations for the

Bellport Group, an organization that manages California marinas. He said

Bellport operates the Peninsula and Bair marinas in the San Francisco Bay

area as well as the Bayshore, Coves, Lido and Lido Dry Storage marinas.

Those represent approximately 820 slips in Newport Harbor.

“It’s definitely an issue of supply and demand. As long as market

conditions continue as they have, I don’t see any reduction in slip

fees,” Nicoletti said.

The slips that Bellport controls can run from $11 a foot up to as much as

$29.10 a foot. The largest vessel Bellport accommodates in Newport Harbor

is 140-feet in length. Larger vessels are usually docked in the Lido

Shipyard area; however, the Bayshore Marina has 9 slips 83-feet in length

as well. Private dock space such as the Balboa Bay Club can also

accommodate large vessels. If you’re thinking about buying a boat of any

length, you must take into consideration where you are going to dock,

especially if it’s a larger boat.

“We invite people to talk with us and place their name on our waiting

list. We will do our best to assist owners with finding an appropriate

slip,” Nicoletti said.

In addition to finding a slip, you must take into consideration other

issues. Inexperienced boaters should balance their experience with the

easy or not-so-easy accessibility of docking. Other items are: wind

conditions at your marina; speed of currents; width of your slip vs. beam

of the boat; location of the slip; relationship to bridges and rocks;

shoal; and the positioning of your neighbors boat and the difficulty in

maneuvering around other bows or swim steps.

Take each of these things into consideration before you leave the dock --

in fact, before you rent a slip.

As in any activity or sport that requires a degree of expertise, you

should attend seamanship, safety and navigation classes prior to

operating a boat.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Orange Coast College Sailing

Center are great places to receive competent instruction; in addition,

private organizations such as the Lido Sailing Club or many private yacht

clubs also offer classes.

Splish splash

For more information contact:

The Bellport Group: (949) 644-9730

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: (562) 801-5325

Lido Sailing Club: (949) 675-0827

OCC Sailing Center: (714) 432-0202

* Terrance Phillips is the Daily Pilot’s boating writer. His column runs

Mondays.