Why don't marina's like liveaboards?

This is a grey zone, where the communities don´t like to get new residents with demands for all kinds of service which can be costly to supply. Like black-water to start with. Hooking up boats far out on piers and pontons to the land systems is not easy.

Having crew living onboard bigger yachts that can go out on a short notice is something different, and like in Monaco even mandatory.

In the future I guess we will see marinas purpose built for liveaboards as this might be an attractive lifestyle for the now retiring generations.

That is up to debate, here in Coal Harbour the couple that are still left are considered by many as eyesores. They have been "grandfathered" when the marina was built, and no doubt will disappear as time goes by.

The second series of photos, demonstrate a purpose built float home community consisting of architecturally designed two story homes with private docks for the homeowner's boat (pic courtesy of M.Jassak)

Eyesores?

I would say yes, at the green and red house in the first pic. Do you know that Yacht behind it, with the EC-130 on deck?

I difference should be made of the float home or a Yacht who's crew/owner live own.

Yes; http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/feadship-yacht/2598-attessa-iii.html

Thanks

aside from past liveaboards who were too wild and inconsiderate ruining it for others it still is possible to have a marina welcome you back for another season to liveaboard,not only is it beneficial for the marina but for the boat owner as well

In our area (Columbia River & Snake River) the waters are controlled by the Corps of Engineers. They have many regs that prohibit liveaboards on this section of the rivers.

Their control ends on the Columbia at Bonneville Dam. Below that lies the city of Portland, OR (along with many other cities) that has numerous liveaboard areas and is building more.

A govt agency tried to pass rules in the Seattle area that restricted liveaboards. The liveaboard owners got together and found the new rules and the court sided with the owners. The court basically said the govt had no authority to limit or control liveaboards in those coastal areas.

In that first picture in post #3 (the one with the green and red houseboat), I looked at the middle houseboat (the brownish) a couple years ago when it was for sale. It was a bit of an eyesore, and even though it had a pointy end and outboard motors, it was a barge, not really a boat.

At Heather Civic Marina in False Creek, they have a live-aboard section with about 30 boats. They pay more for moorage and have metered electricity and individual pumpouts (which were only sporadically used for the first several years). At times, the relationship between the live-aboards and the marina have been touchy - but it's not much different than any other condo that has a mix of people, some nice, some not as nice.

Probably the biggest issues with liveaboards is sewage and local ordinances dealing with it. In many areas, when you have a population density greater than X, you have to run through a proper waste treatment facility. If there is no, or inadequate public sewers, you have to build your own plant. There are also many communities that established "No live aboard" statutes due to the abuses and excesses of the liveaboard communities in the 70s and 80s.

I have haven't found many places though that you couldn't live as a "sneak aboard" though. As long as you don't cause problems and keep your boat looking decent, they typically don't run you off. It's kinda "don't ask don't tell" meets "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".

In Georgia it is illegal for a marina to have liveaboards. The state wants to be able to tax the person living in the state but has not figured out how to do so. Although I have not seen it enforced by the state the law says you cannot stay on a boat that is docked for longer that 30days consecutily and no more than X number of days per year. Not saying all liveaboards I have good friends that live full time on boats but for the most part I have come to figure that many of them bounce from marina to marina in an old sail boat for a reason. In my time in the CG I was primarily in a law enforcement role. Many liveaboards much like many in the commercial fishing industry live this lifestyle as a way of "hiding out". In no way am I saying they all or most of them do but this is the general pereception of many marina operators.

This is similar to what we have here. (I was a "divorced guy live-aboard" for six years) but had a nice boat and kept everything clean. However....
I do agree that most live-aboards are a motley crew and tend to pile junk up on the dock, open their seacocks and overboard their waste, and have generally ****** looking boats. It tends to turn the dock into a "trailer park". I think this could be because some are there not because they love boats but because it is perceived as "cheap" to do.
The other problem for marinas is that these people tend to "make buddies" with the dock workers and employees. Employees drinking on the docks, special favors, gossip, and other problems follow. Also, none of this is appealing to his slip neighbor who can afford a house and a boat. Who wants to keep your expensive yacht in a "trailer park" ?
Then the guys with the nice boats leave. The ratty houseboats and old sailboats stay.... Most marina managers have already been through this.

The other problem for marinas is that these people tend to "make buddies" with the dock workers and employees. Employees drinking on the docks, special favors, gossip, and other problems follow. Also, none of this is appealing to his slip neighbor who can afford a house and a boat. Who wants to keep your expensive yacht in a "trailer park"


Man you hit the nail on the head!

I was in Marina del Ray CA on business and walked around the Marina area ... some of the liveaboards were outrageous ... reminiscent of a 70's Winnebago owned by a modern day hippy. Lawn furniture, plants, astroturf, laundry.

Bummer.

I just wanted to try to revive this thread out of curiosity.

We sold our house last year and we're looking to size up so with the market right now inflated we decided to get into a 74' yacht and live aboard until we found property or a new house..I am shocked at the distain from marinas about living aboard. I also find it contrary to the boating community at large. Our yacht is the prize in our current marina we look after it constantly would never hang clothes towels etc. Or play music loud we are much more respectful of the marina then the weekend warriors. Although I do have a few caviots.
The vessels need to be in good working order(as should every vessel in the marina) the waste treatment or pump out should be current..our over board is locked out..we don't even use it in the ocean.
You should have a minimum size for live aboards..living on a 30 or smaller vessel is insane
We don't use the bath house nearly as much as the weekend worriers..we have a 500gal grey tank that we pump as well.
The vessels should be required to leave the dock under its own power monthly at a min.
We do pay inflated fees for the additional power i.e we are metered and we pay a live aboard fee also..of the other live aboards in the marina none of them demand more care then the weekenders. I'm puzzled as to why the marinas are tight on it...it's not a cost issue although that's what they site. I'm sure that's there are derelicts out there but in MD it's very easy to get them out in the middle of a term if they are not following the standards as well as not renewing slip lease.
I just find it odd that once lease a marina can dictate how often you use your vessel. When I lived down town with a smaller vessel I lived 2 blocks away and would take the boat out or have dinner on it spend the night almost everyday all year long...just odd. And for the record the cost of living on a boat..unless you get it free is well over or comparable to a vacation home cost..I don't really get that one..

Our dream is to purchase our liveaboard here in a couple more years (Florida) selling our home and moving aboard. Our home is our nest egg as i just retired from law enforcement, still have 2 part time jobs to add to my pension-insurance and hauling to keep me busy before the kids move out.

been doing my homework on liveaboard marinas. Wife and i take day trips finding marinas and restraunts to visit, walk the docks, and talk to who ever is available. Several marinas do resemble trailor parks whereas others are gorgeous with sometimes a years wait to get a slip. We are liking the west side of Florida between Ft Myers and Clearwater. Still have a couple yrs so time is on our side. Figure when it does take an extended amount of time to secure a slip our plan is to do the Great Loop and there is always the Bahamas to explore.

Both Dockmasters and Condo Associations would be better served if they first required to see a applicants personal vehicles in person before they accept new residents. Nothing like a back seat full of burger wrappers, and different colored fenders on a patina of rust to know what’s coming.