Snag A Slip

[Freestyle]

First cruise to Florida east coast since Covid and finding transient space is difficult and expensive.

Two experiences booking at marinas I have been to in the past requiring me to book through Snag A Slip. I like the app and communication. For some reason these marinas now charge $8 per foot/night when previously they were in the $2.50 range. Worse, both marinas were substandard. One in Key West did not have power for the 4 days I was there and offered no relief from the $8 price. The dockmaster had no leeway with dockage. He did provide a discount on fuel and ice because that was the limit on his authority.

A second experience in downtown Miami has me tied to a seawall exposed to the ICW. This was the compromise after the booking had me my 62 foot motor yacht going into a 40 foot by 18 foot slip with two pilings and a concrete seawall to stern that would never have worked.

I researched Snag A Slip. It is a privately held Annapolis based company with a SAAS model. I welcome the efficiency of their app but am wondering how much of the increased dockage prices are going to them. I suspect that they pitch a benefit to marina owners that Snag A Slip will limit availability at lower than the stated $8 per foot 'rack' price. This would have antitrust implications should they continue to gain market power.

Does anyone have any experience or insight to Snag A Slips business model and effect on transient dock rate.

Bruce

Freestyle
1986 62 CPMY (54MY with ext)
Tampa

 

[rsmith]

Think that’s bad? Houses on the water up here in Vero Beach with dockage are renting 20-50k per month for a 4 month seasonal rental. I have several neighbors that have got close to 200k for the season. I’d do it but can’t afford to lose my homestead exemption.

 

[cww]

I think at least some of your issue is the large beam on the widebodies, most marinas here in FL have tons of slips in the range of 15-18’ wide but only a small handful that are larger. That is the primary reason I went with a 1510 boat. I agree with you 100% on these annoying apps. I find if they won’t take a reservation when I call them directly and tell you to download an app, it’s a red flag that you’re about to get crappy service and facilities. Unless there is no choice I move on to another.

 

[Pascal]

Dockage is a huge problem everywhere but even more in southeast florida.

Thousands of 50’ + boats are being build every year but no new slips. It s a mess. To make things worst Miami is not boater friendly and there are almost no dinghy landings so anchoring out isn’t an option

Which downtown marina was that? Sea Isle?

Whenever one of you guys need to anchor out in Miami and need shore access, I ll be happy to have you tie your dinghy to my boat at dinner key in the grove. Great spot.

 

[SeaEric]

Snag A Slip sucks. I filed a small claims action against their parent company Oasis Marinas to get paid rent due me for a slip rental at a time when they managed my home marina. They have since moved on. I find their app buggy and unreliable. A we all know, the transient slip experience is all about location in the marina. My impression is that The Snaggers generally offer the marina's inventory that is otherwise unrenatable. YMMV. Try the Dockwa app. IMHO it offers a much better customer experience.

 

[madhatter1]

I had a thread a ways ago on dockwa. They also suck. So we figured out what to do. If only way to make initial booking is through the website we would do that. Next step is call the marina like we would normally do and discuss slip location, moving dates if needed, cancellation, and potential cancellation fees listed on dock-o-wa. We found that nearly all are still old school and will accommodate slip location preferences, will change dates, and not charge the one night fee if cancelled. They understand it's a boat that can break at the last minute and weather can also prevent travel. So far 2 places (leaving un-named as they may have changed) either stuck tight to cancellation fee or said we put you where we need to when you get here. Cancelled both immediately and called to tell them why and not even trying their facility for at least a couple years. And I hold a grudge pretty good and stick with it. To clarify we travel mostly Florida "off season". Traveling this time of year you are at their mercy to get a slip in the fun and sun. .

 

[Scarlett]

I agree in general with the above statements but to be fair we had a good experience with Doc Wa on a refund for a double charge that happened in Charleston. However our original booking was directly with the Marina, not through Doc Wa. John