Marina Dock Age

Boating season is in full swing in California, yet nearly one-quarter of the slips at the recently renovated Sacramento city marina remain empty, according to a July 15 Sacramento Press report.

The lack of full occupancy at the marina is cause for concern these days, considering that it boasted a waiting list of nearly 300 just three years ago. Moreover, it is expected that a marina rate increase that took effect on July 15 will also prompt some boaters to shy away from the city marina.

Marina officials blame the depressed economy and a poorly timed renovation project as being the primary culprits for the marina’s downturn. Boaters, on the other hand, blame the renovation and the rate hike.

The city marina took shape about 50 years ago, originally hosting only 200 slips. About 26 years ago, the city council authorized an expansion of the basin harbor and the addition of 275 more slips.

In 2007, the city embarked on an $11 million renovation of the south basin’s original 200 wooden slips. Before construction started, the marina lost about 100 boaters. “We anticipated we’d fill the marina right back up again once the construction was completed,” said Bud Camper, marina manager. “But the economy kept getting in our way.”

The marina has not reached full capacity since the renovation project was completed. Although Sacramento Marina is not alone in seeing a low occupancy levels, the drop-off is alarming, especially since the city marina received permission from city council to implement rate increases to pay for the renovation and bring its rates in line with other urban areas.

The rate increase, coupled with the lower occupancies that most marinas in the area are facing, has prompted several boaters at the city marina to look elsewhere to moor their vessels.

Camper said that Sacramento Marina may lose boaters because of the rate increase, but in the end, the renovation and rate changes will pay off with a long-term successful marina.