HELP ME, locate my dream!
 

Ok, might be a long post but you all seem to help me every time I ask on here:Score-101010::Score-101010:

I have been very fortunate in life but still have not found my dream job! I love boats, lake life, women, motorcycles, and more boats. I am considering buying a marina. Although, I have not find one yet! I am wondering how many people out here own one? Is this truly a dream job? Am I just crazy? I would love to own a smaller marina with a few hundred slips, maybe rack storage FRESH water only. I don't like the salt water life! Sorry!

What are the drawl backs of owning a marina? Is there anyone who specializes in buying and selling? Does anyone know where to look for marina's for sale? Have searched the Internet but have only found high dollar facilities! I don't really want to spend over 2.5 mill. This market is very uncertain and I don't want to loose my life savings!

What are the do's and dont's with owning a marina? I would love to hear any and all thoughts to my post! Feel free to email me as well if you would rather not make a public post! Thanks to all who care about helping me locate my dream job!

never turn your hobby into your career, you will hate your hobby!!!!

Good Luck if you find one those. A buddy of mine just bought a 100 slip marina here in Edgewater this winter with a house on it he moved into, he owns a pile driving business so he knows the ins and outs of the piers so to say.

I thought Big Thunder was for sale ?

I think most of the successful marina operators would tell you that the three "R" of realestate still apply for marinas, LOCATION, LOCATION,LOCATION!
My suggestion would be to find the best location and then research and identify the marinas available or the type of marina that can be built.
Dry stack boat storage always seems to be the most profitable and if you call up Marina Dockage Magazine I am sure they will send you a free subscription. That is where most of the industry info is as well as associations, annual conventions and meetings, equipment manufacturers, brokers and builders of marinas and dry stack as well as marinas for sale. Best of Luck

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Get ahold of Koolaid man he owns a couple marinas. He can give you the low down.

Damn, that saltwater hangup blows the options I have for you....

Good luck I hope it's a blast !!

Cashbar! LMAO! thanks for the laugh!

If you decide you want to live in warm S Fla and overlook that saltwater aversion I have the perfect place.

Let us all know where you DO end up. The board takes care of our own.

Last I heard there were a couple for sale on Cumberland. Not advertised anywhere but on the market.

Thanks guys so far for the few replies that I have received. You guys rock! Let me clear up a few concerns that I see.

First off, I own several businesses in Ohio. They are not ready to sell or for me to step out. I do insurance claims mostly fire, water damage services. I also own a disaster clean up company. I am looking for a summer job with fewer headaches. What I mean by this is I would love to have a smaller marina that I could enjoy my gig in the summer and then work my busy season at home ( winter ). I can run my current business mostly by reports anywhere. I am very fortunate that I have good people in place that is getting it done. I figure I can pay them a little more and then I could find something I truly enjoy. I know there is a lot of seasonal marinas out there. This can be a multiple of things. Dockage, storage, campsite.
Would consider any of the great lakes, and many of the southern lakes as well. Norris, Table, LOTO, Cumberland, etc... There are a lot of options. Not only that I would think there are a lot of older owners that are considering selling and would love a younger guy with good business since to treat people the way they should when spending money with no questions asked. Just get it done and do it right like its your own!

I want something with very few employees if any. I can cut grass, clean toilets, clean property, forklift boats, manage the docks and so on. LOL... low stress and not a whole lot of liabilities! Plus, I am sure a little cash as well.

Cashbar, send me a private email if you would like. I wont kick anything out if its a deal!

which ones? I know Grinder Hill was always for sale but no where close to what its worth. Plus the whole lowering of the water does it help some of the marinas as well.

Still not heard a completion date for the damn there!

I looked at a few at Lake of the Ozarks quite a few years back, I think you could find what you are looking for there. At that time was the change from foam to capsolated docks so they were going pretty cheap because nobody wanted to pay for the switch. I am not sure how it is now.

All the marina's on Cumberland have adapted to the lower water & doesn't really affect them anymore.

Have you looked @ any places or land available on the Ohio around cincy?

I appreciate this thought but river life is not for me! Plus, it's to close to home still! Lol

There is a marinas for sale web site. http://marinasforsale.com/

i know some of the in and outs. its lots of work! pm me

check the laws in the sate also. louisiana has some messed up laws when it comes to people not paying the rent on there spot : wet slip, dry stall, rack, open yeard etc

As someones right hand man, I can tell you Low stress has nothing to do with owning a marina, sure the people are great, but there's always that guy, and there are many, and a marina is a huge liability, and since you have a insurance backround do some digging you will find out. now if this is your dream then chase it!! full tilt %100 all in go for broke. it does have rewards,

i think mark twain said, "if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life." the flip side of that is "if it was fun, somebody would be doing it for free." good luck. enjoy.

:lolhit:

PM sent yesterday

Buckeye, what is the name of your restoration Business in Dayton?? I might have done business with you??

Bumping Thread still have not found anything of interest. Still looking for help any additional suggestions? Possibly thinking about the option to salt water?