They are far more than just moorings: Temporary homes, meeting places, places of distraction or rest (after a storm, from the swell or from fellow travellers), comfort zones. Marinas not only satisfy the basic needs of boat travellers, but also the desire for entertainment, consumption, communication and much more. The choice of marina(s) that you want to call at or even make your home port should therefore not be arbitrary. It has a significant influence on the quality of your holiday on the water - after all, it doesn't just take place on the water, but also in the marina.
So what are the differences between the marinas? Which marina best suits your needs? Where is it particularly cheap, and where is it very expensive? What infrastructure do marinas offer? BOOTE explains everything you need to know about marinas and presents the most beautiful, newest and best marinas in Germany and abroad, in inland and coastal waters and in high and low price categories.
Marinas are harbours that are specially designed for recreational boating. In addition to moorings, they offer infrastructure that is tailored to the needs of sailors and motor boaters. Marinas are usually run commercially - by private companies, local authorities or yacht clubs. Some of the moorings are often reserved for permanent residents, the rest for guests.
Marinas can be found along rivers as well as on lakes or along coasts. The moorings for boats in marinas are usually somewhat protected from currents, swell and waves - which does not mean that yachts are completely motionless in the water. Wind or storms naturally also have an effect on moored boats.
Even skippers who can do without a lot of hustle and bustle in the harbour and prefer to moor as idyllically and close to nature as possible are at least happy to have basic infrastructure: namely electricity and fresh water at the jetty. Very few motor and sailing yachts are completely self-sufficient, meaning that they can do without shore-side supplies altogether. Almost all marinas have either a boat refuelling station that you can approach with your motorboat or a bunker boat that you can refuel at the jetty.
Disposal is just as important as supply: Waste water and rubbish can only be stored on board to a limited extent and must be disposed of at regular intervals.
If you search through the various marinas and their characteristics, you naturally need to know what you are looking for in order to find what you are looking for. First of all, the facts should be checked and found to be suitable:
Once these questions have been answered, you can go into more detail and take a closer look at the marina. You should ask yourself the following questions:
If you do not have Journey but are looking for a home harbour for your own yacht, then you probably already have a rough idea of where you want to moor it. Make sure you find out where berths are available before you buy! Some marinas have long waiting lists and it is impossible to get one of the coveted permanent parking spaces for your boat at short notice. Not only should the price-performance ratio be right, but also the sympathy value. You will have to deal with the staff in the marina just as regularly as with your neighbours on the jetties.
Before you start looking at marinas, you have probably already decided on a sailing area. Or maybe it's the other way round: you chose a particular area because the infrastructure for sailors or pleasure boaters is so excellent there and one great marina follows the next. But that's often where the best boating is anyway.
Even if the marinas you visit will have a significant impact on your trip, you should also take other factors into account when choosing a sailing area:
Do you want to go sailing or motor boating? There are Territories which are more suitable for sailing holidays and those which are particularly popular with motor boaters. The Croatian Adriatic is a firm favourite.
What are your sailing skills? As a beginner, you will have to choose a different area than a skipper with many years of experience. It is a good idea to start out on inland waters before heading out to sea. The task of navigation is of course much more extensive in coastal waters, which is why beginners are more likely to find their feet on calm rivers or lakes.
Do you want a fair-weather guarantee or can you cope with colder temperatures, precipitation and wind? Depending on this, you should choose the sailing area or the season of the trip.
How much time do you have for your boating holiday? It's hardly worth travelling or flying to another country for a weekend trip. A week-long cruise, on the other hand, offers more options. Long-term trips are generally relatively cheap compared to classic holidays.
Do you have your own boat or charter You? This question will also have a significant influence on your planning. Of course, having your own boat reduces the cost of your holiday on the water enormously. However, you are also tied down if you have your own boat.
Last but not least, you will probably choose your sailing area with a view to the land-based surroundings - and that doesn't just mean the marina where you moor, but also the world beyond the marina. BOOTE not only helps you to find the perfect marina, but also has tips for excursions inland.
Marinas are busy places, especially in the summer months, with a large number of different people and boats bustling about. There is a lot of traffic on the water, neighbours live close to each other and the marina facilities are very busy.
To ensure that everything runs smoothly in the harbour, you should observe a few rules of conduct. Unwanted access to other boats can cause trouble. Caution and consideration are required in harbour traffic. Only those who sail slowly in the dock area can react appropriately and carry out mooring manoeuvres successfully. Knowing the sailing rules is a prerequisite for safety and avoiding accidents.
Each individual can also play their part when it comes to safety: vigilance is always a good companion. Locking and securing valuables should be a matter of course, as should making the boat storm-proof if a storm is forecast.
Where are the most beautiful, most expensive, cheapest, most child-friendly, most luxurious, most environmentally friendly or largest marinas? BOOTE provides you with an overview of Europe's marinas and their conditions and informs you about new developments. But BOOTE doesn't just cover marinas on the German coast, but also those in warmer climes. Above all, Croatia is making a name for itself among boating holidaymakers. Fantastic sailing areas and countless, modern marinas make the Croatian Adriatic coast a favourite destination for boaters.the Hotspot for sailors and pleasure boaters.
Of course, the marinas of other Mediterranean regions such as Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain are also covered by BOOTE. The same applies to the marinas on inland waterways. Everyone wants to go to sea - which is precisely why inland areas are often real insider tips for explorers who enjoy travelling "off the beaten track".
The marina is therefore not just a boat parking area, but offers much more. To ensure that you get everything you want from your marina, you should look into the subject of moorings before travelling (or before the season). After all, planning your boat trip, including the choice of marinas, is not a chore, it's fun.