Ego Alley, Annapolis

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van lafermine

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Decided to go to Ego Alley on Sat. and spend the night. We took a chance to see if one of the city docks were available and sure enough there was one slip remaining, so we took it and spent the night.

Before we left I got on Dockmasters web site and looked at the prices of $2.25 p/f, 3.25 p/f if reserved. Once I was tied up the Dock assistant came over and billed me rb2@gr5t 2.75 p/f. said the prices have gone up.

Over the last few years they have gone up more than necessary. This is just a way to keep the average boating family away. When they went up a few years ago they said anything over 40' was extra and it is still that way. Now .50 p/f! with no warning.

We love Annapolis and staying in Ego Alley is fun but their are alternatives. Baltimore is another one. BMC is taking over most of Baltimore and their prices are also sky rocketing. When will they understand that getting their is a huge expense and we patronize the local businesses while we are their. There are still a few good deals out there but Annapolis, Baltimore and even St. Mikes are getting a little greedy.

Sorry just ranting!
 
I thought so to until I heard what they pay up in New York.
 
Baltimore Marine Centers Dave. Yeah. Raising the rates is one of the reasons I left Lighthouse point. Plus they could not offer the amenities where I am now, like a 24 hour surveillance camera and 50' from the car to the boat parking. And no tolls through the tunnel, lol.

IMHO, there are better places to go than Annapolis and Baltimore. But even those places are at $2.00-2.25 or so a foot. We paid $2.25 a foot in Rock Hall this weekend, plus $5 for television (that we did not use) and $7.50 for 30A power. Sure there is not quite as much to do there but the sunsets are great and Saturday night there was a band playing across the way that was just the right volume for our tastes at our slip. Worton's creek is another great place to go. Quiet, secluded and a great restaurant.

I like going to Annapolis once a year but when we do we stay at Annapolis city marina with an outside slip. Put the stern out and watch the comings and goings of Annapolis. Great entertainment and much more secure.

I am sure others have even better suggestions as I have not boated here that long. But any of them, for the price, are not that bad in the scheme of things.
 
They charge $1.00/ft extra to reserve a slip? That's pretty stupid business "sense". Montauk Yacht Club was $6.50/ft plus $36 electric, plus $15 "resort fee" over the 4th of July weekend - oh, with a 3 day minimum stay...
 
I ve stayed at ego alley a few times, on the wall obviously with a 70, and it was a bargain. Last time was in 2011 I think, it was half the price of the marina

Annapolis is a special place, and obviously they charge for that but even $3 a foot is cheaper than most places. New England is more like $5 a ft and so fl is in the $3 range. Bahamas too... $5 at Atlantis $3 at most out island marinas
 
Don't get me wrong, 2.75 is not out of control but soon it will be.They also have not done anything to improve the ammenities. Only one shower and head, washer and dryer are out of order in both men's and women's and no cable. If they continue to increase rates they should provide additional services to justify these increases.
 
The best deal I can find on the Chesapeake (or anywhere for that matter) is FREE. Drop the hook and save the money!

If you must stay on Spa Creek in Annapolis, Annapolis Landing Marina is a much better deal at $2/ft. The rate is the same or similar at AYC Annex. I just paid $50/night for 3 nights in Solomons for a 30' boat including power. Any of the destinations still have enough competition. Even Rock Hall and St. Michaels have deals if you know where to look. But getting a T-Head or being on a wall where people want to show off their boats is going to cost more. It's simply supply and demand.

I think downtown Baltimore will stay under the insanity-rate levels as long as Henderson's, Harbor East, and Anchorage stay out of the clutches of the sprawling BMC empire. But once competition is gone, watch out!
 
Here are some other affordable destinations on the Chesapeake if anchoring is not an option:

Worton Creek Marina: $1.50/ft (http://www.wortoncreek.com)
Tolchester Beach/Tolchester Marina: $1.75/ft (http://www.tolchestermarina.com)
Langford Bay: $1.75/ft (http://www.chesapeake-bay.com/lankfordbay)

And even in St. Michaels:
Transient Slip Rates: (Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Holiday) 2-night rate $2.00/foot/night
Each additional night, $1.50 /foot/night
One Night Rate -$2.50/foot/night

The bottom line is that the Chesapeake is still pretty affordable dockage-wise. This, as you all know, is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to marinas and destinations. But the more popular the destination, the more amenities, the more expensive it will be. Case in point, who wants to really spend much time in Chrisfield? Thus, Somers Cove rates:

Transient price: 1.25 USD per foot
Date of price: 2014-08-04
June 2014 Special Rate $0.50 per foot.2014 Summer Special:$1.25 per foot per day. Stay 2 nights get the 3rd night free.
 
I think Annapolis and Baltimore are within reason but St. Michaels is very high. I guess the Harbor Inn and Marina can charge what they want since boats keep coming back.
 
quote:
Originally posted by van lafermine

Don't get me wrong, 2.75 is not out of control but soon it will be.They also have not done anything to improve the ammenities. Only one shower and head, washer and dryer are out of order in both men's and women's and no cable. If they continue to increase rates they should provide additional services to justify these increases.

Click to expand...


I think that overall as boats have gotten bigger and better equipped demand for public showers and heads has gone down so I have to wonder why woudl marinas bother improving those. Same with cable, more and more boats have dishes why offer cable.

In 30 years of boating I have never used public bathrooms, yuck :)
 
Marinas are raising prices, but if you stop and think about it, prices are going up for nearly everything. It's "inflation". Gasoline in my area has gone up $.80 per gallon since January 20.

A few years ago I had to pay $3.00 per foot at Rod and Reel in Chesapeake Beach and that marina is a dump. $3 was their weekend rate and they cancelled the live music show with no refund. I paid $5 per foot in NYC a couple years ago. And $3 per foot for a dump in Miami.

You have to pay to play.
 
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