We just purchased a waterfront property with a dock in the Gulf Islands (Piers Island just off of Sidney BC). This allows us to realize a lifelong dream but has been a real eye opener when it comes to the cost of having a dock.
The dock had some deferred maintenance required and we knew that when we purchased. This week we had the chains replaced because they were 7 years old old have been shackled for repair several times. Cost for the 4 chains and a diver $6500 which should get us another 6 or 7 years.Then there were three floats that were half sunk and needed replacement - Cost plus install $5500. So that gets us okay for this year and maybe next. But the entire floating section of the dock will need replacement in the next few years. Estimates are $25,000 to $35,000 and that will buy us about 20(ish) years. Why didn’t we just replace the dock rather than spend the $5500 you ask - well there is a minimum one year wait list to get a dock built and this one likely would not have survived the winter storms. Then there are the annual inspections with a diver (approx. $1000 plus the cost of any repairs) Oh and then there is insurance and foreshore lease for a few hundred each year. All in all it has been a real eye opener.
I am not asking anyone to cry for us - we are considering ourselves very fortunate and are thrilled to have what we got. But in the past when we used to complain about the cost of moorage I used to think that it was just easy money for the marina operators. Now that I know the actual cost of owning a dock I have come to appreciate the service that Marina operators offer.
The dock had some deferred maintenance required and we knew that when we purchased. This week we had the chains replaced because they were 7 years old old have been shackled for repair several times. Cost for the 4 chains and a diver $6500 which should get us another 6 or 7 years.Then there were three floats that were half sunk and needed replacement - Cost plus install $5500. So that gets us okay for this year and maybe next. But the entire floating section of the dock will need replacement in the next few years. Estimates are $25,000 to $35,000 and that will buy us about 20(ish) years. Why didn’t we just replace the dock rather than spend the $5500 you ask - well there is a minimum one year wait list to get a dock built and this one likely would not have survived the winter storms. Then there are the annual inspections with a diver (approx. $1000 plus the cost of any repairs) Oh and then there is insurance and foreshore lease for a few hundred each year. All in all it has been a real eye opener.
I am not asking anyone to cry for us - we are considering ourselves very fortunate and are thrilled to have what we got. But in the past when we used to complain about the cost of moorage I used to think that it was just easy money for the marina operators. Now that I know the actual cost of owning a dock I have come to appreciate the service that Marina operators offer.
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