[PCW] The popularity of Catamarans

[Captain Randy]

2 cents worth on the question of marinas charging by length or square foot.

My Marina Charges by the surface area.

Long Beach, California, Downtown Shoreline Marina charges by the square foot.
My cat is 43' length over all and 22' beam, I am charged for 946 square feet
at $0.80 per square foot per month.  I am glad to pay because it is really a
nice slip and a good marina with easy access to Catalina. I had to wait 2
years for the slip as the marina was rebuilt. Another City of Long Beach
Marina(Alamitos Bay) is currently being rebuilt and there will not be any
accommodations for cats in slips over 18 feet beam unless over 65 feet in
length. Since the vacancy rate for slips in this area is nil it is very
difficult to find a place to keep any boat let alone a wide beamed cat except
for a side tie in front of a private residence where the home owners usually
charge the most they can get, mono or cat, period. I had to pay 25 to 50% more
in front of private homes with out the creature comforts of a good
marina(electricity, water, clean heads, showers, 24/7 security and friendly
neighbors)

Randy Boelsems
Gecko Gecko
1992 Euphorie Power Cat
Huntington Beach/Long Beach, CA