[Rhodes22-list] Marinas, sailboats, and price of gas -- a good day!

[Robert Skinner]

Some may remember that last fall, I reported 
that a local marina manager told me that I 
would not be welcome to dry-slip and launch 
my sailboat in 2008 -- for security reasons.

I suspected that it was a matter of gasoline 
sales (I buy none there) and the loss of 
"valet fees" that they charge to have your 
boat pulled from their barn and put in the 
water.

Yesterday, on a hunch, I called the manager 
of the company that owns the aforementioned 
marina, and laid out the situation -- that I 
was an long-time customer and had never 
given anyone there any reason to suspect 
that I was a security risk.  He professed 
surprise that I had been disinvited and said 
that he would check up on it.

Will wonders never cease?!

He did call back and explained that they were 
not accepting new launch customers, but that 
he had discussed my case with the on-site 
management of the marina in question, and I 
was welcome to return.

Seems that their big power boat customers are
a bit slow to sign contracts this year...

So Little Dipper will be rigged and ready to 
launch all summer while I work on my bigger 
boat.  I need the room in the driveway.

Seems they want a second launch fee if I 
launch (but do not dry-slip) a second boat. 
I can live with that for now.  There is a free
launch nearer the house, and I want to keep 
Edith P. at the house while work progresses.

During the summer I'll be checking out the 5
other marinas on the lake to see what kind of 
a deal I can put together.

/Robert