How to Choose a Marina for Your Boat and Your Skills
By Captain Robert B. Kolb, Coast Guard-licensed captain, 30 years on the water
The short answer
Start with the return to the dock. Compare docking difficulty and marina quality separately, then check the things that matter to your boat: slip dimensions, depth, the approach, fairway room and where you will turn. Visit, and watch boats like yours arrive and leave.
Two separate measures
Docking Difficulty describes the demands of the marina's recorded layout, fairway room and historical wind exposure. A means easiest to dock and D means hardest. Marina Quality separately describes the recorded facilities, dock condition, amenities and available value information on a scale out of 100. An attractive quality score does not mean docking will be easy.
What to check for your boat
- Slip dimensions and depth.
- The approach and fairway room, and where you will turn.
- How the approach changes when the wind comes from a different direction.
- Boats similar to yours arriving and leaving, if you can watch in person.
Match the marina to your experience
For a newer boater, a less demanding docking grade can be a useful starting point. If tight spaces or backing into a slip are unfamiliar, arrange hands-on practice before committing to that berth.
Missing data is not proof that a marina is good or bad. If a measurement is not recorded, ask the marina directly.
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Use the free Marina Match guideCommon questions
How do I choose a marina as a new boater?
Compare docking difficulty separately from marina quality. Then check the actual slip, depth, fairway room and approach for your boat, and ask about local wind conditions.
Does a high marina quality score mean docking is easy?
No. They are separate scores. A marina can offer strong facilities with a more demanding docking layout or wind exposure.