SHORE LIFE
There are more than 290 marinas in Australia. They cater for everything from modest fleets of local boats to the growing number of international maxi yachts that visit our shores each year. Sally Oulten outlines some of the best.
MARINAS DIVIDE into three main groups: commercial, residential or club. This survey concentrates on commercial marinas and their wide range of services and facilities, but also includes some club marinas. All of these facilities provide far more than the basic service of a secure place to keep your boat. They offer a wide range of customer support, and contribute to their local economy through tourism and employment.
SOLDIER'S POINT MARINA, Port Stephens, NSW
This facility won the 2007 Marina of The Year award and presents itself as a Four Seasons resort.
Marina Services:
* 100 berths for vessels ranging from 7-30 metres with power, water, telephone, wireless internet and satellite TV
* Day spa with free use of the dry sauna
* Resort-style luxury marble bathrooms
* Complimentary morning coffee, newspaper and sunset cocktails delivered to the boat
* 24-hour fuel dock
* Pump-out facility is free
* Digital CCTV and Security with electronic card system
* Complimentary courtesy car use
* * Reserved car parking
* Boat valet service which includes refuelling, provisioning, airing the boat, checking the air conditioning, cleaning and preparing beds
* Business services – facsimile and mail delivery
* Coin-operated laundry machines
* Dock assistance – 7 days
* Filtered water
* Visitor dock
* ATM
* Award-winning restaurant
* Café & bar
* Marine brokerage
* Rubbish and recycling
* Disabled facilities
Marine Services and Slipway:
* Two slipways of 40 and 100-ton capacity, up to 22ft beam
* Full workshop facilities
* Shipwright
* Mechanical (petrol and diesel) services and repairs
* Electrical
* Varnishing
* Gelcoat restoration
* Teak refurbishing
* Detailing and antifouling
MACKAY MARINA, Mackay, Queensland.
This facility won the 2006 Marina of The Year award. It is the centrepiece of an impressive new marine/residential development and offers apartments and a 4½ star luxury accommodation hotel.
Marina Services:
* 479 berths (with a 3.5 metre draught at the lowest astronomical tide) including twelve big boat (28-38 meters) and six superyacht berths up to 50 metres.
* Separate commercial fishing boat facility with 36 berths
* 32 commercial fishing berths plus 1 maintenance berth and 3 unloading berths
* Two fuel wharves (9 pumps)
* Five-lane public boat ramp
* Mackay Yacht Club
* Variety of café?s, bars and restaurants
* Liquour store
* Hairdressers
* Sales office with gift and holiday items plus small chandlery
* Day trips to the islands and deep sea fishing (overnight)
* Yacht broker
Marine Services and Slipway
* 65-tonne travel-lift designed to slip boats of up to 9.2m beam
* Slipping of single, double or triple-hulled vessels
* Abrasive blasting
* Specialist paint and maintenance sheds
* Secure hardstand with 36 specially-designed cradles
* On-site trades including specialist painting, engineering, upholstery, fabrication and boat building for full repair and refit of all types of vessel
* Trade supplies including sail making, rigging, surveying and boat transport
The shipyard has won a number of environmental awards and is considered one of the best boatyards in Australia.
ABEL POINT MARINA, Airlie Beach, Queensland
This marina recently underwent a major extension and the complex now has 12 marina arms enclosed by a rock sea wall. Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands.
* 500 berths ranging in size from 11 to 60 metres
* Deep-water access (with a 4.75 metre draught at the lowest astronomical tide)
* 3 phase power (32 & 64 & 125 amps)
* 24-hour fast flow fuelling facilities
* 24hr CCTV and security swipe-card access to the marina
* Wireless internet
* 20 minutes from airport and five minute walk to town
* Bareboat charters, motor cruisers, dive trips, sailing adventures and reef cruises
* Café and convenience store (sells ice)
* Bottle shop
* Dive shop and sail maker
* Tour shop
* Communication services
* Chandlery
* Workshops
* Maintenance services
* Brokerage.
* Workshops for all boating requirements
CULLEN BAY MARINA, Darwin, Northern Territory
All marinas in Darwin operate a lock system to deal with the 8 metre tides. Cullen Bay offers comprehensive services tailored to NT conditions.
* 140 fully-serviced and secure pontoon berths for vessles up to 25m.
* 24-hour staffing
* Water and electricity (240 volt/15 amp), available on all berths
* Ample free car parking
* Chandlery and boat sales
* Toilets and showers
* Self-service laundry
* Receive and hold mail service
* Fuelling facility
* Chandlery
* Pump-out facilities
* Restaurants & bars
* Hairdressing, health and beauty salons
* Book shop
* Security and access with an electronic key
* Associated apartments
* Fishing and harbour cruises
HINDMARSH ISLAND MARINA, South Australia
An hour away from Adelaide in a unique location on the Fleurieu Peninsula this marina has access to Lake Albert and Alexandrina, The Coorong and the Murray River.
* More than 500 berths to cater for vessels up to 70 feet
* Security systems
* Deep and protected waters
* Dry storage
* Valet services – launching and retrieval
* Fuel
* Pump out
* Cleaning
* Travel lifts for boats 20?-50?
* Bathroom facilities
* BBQ area
* Mechanical and boat repairs
SANDRINGHAM YACHT CLUB, Melbourne, Victoria
A well-established facility, the club marina was a finalists for this year?s Marina of the Year Award.
* 350 berths for up to twenty metre craft
* Boat yard equipped with 40-tonne travel lift, hardstand facilities
* On-site contractors
* Chandlery
* Boat brokerage
* Boat repairs
* Rigging
* Motor mechanic
* Boating academy with fleet of dinghies and keel boats
* Restaurant, member?s bar and lounge, bottle shop, conference and function facilities
* 24-hour security
* Fuel
HILLARYS BOAT HARBOUR, North of Fremantle, Western Australia
Located 13 miles from Fremantle this facility is a convenient departure point for Rottnest Island. The complex incorporates community and recreational features with cycle paths, walkways, parklands, boat launching ramp, fishing and diving along the breakwaters.
* 430 berths for up to 25m
* Power, water and lighting
* Toilets and showers
* Laundry
* 6-lane boat ramps with layby mooring area
* Boat lifter
* Storage and maintenance facility
* Chandlery
* Fuel jetty
* Security CCTV and patrols, key access
* 240-boat trailer parking
* 2000 car parking
* Wash down bays
* Cafés & restaurants and over 70 speciality shops
* Service wharf is 100m long with power, water and fire safety equipment.
GOLD COAST MARINA, Gold Coast, Queensland
This facility prides itself on being a practical, working marina and incorporates 64 marine businesses that provide services for boat building and boat maintenance for craft up to 150 tons.
* 200 standard marina berths
* 18 superyacht berths up to 50 metres
* 64 Moor & Store Berths 12m – 18m with 21m² garage available for rental
* 100-boat hard stand for vessels up to 50m
* 10 x 185m² undercover refit bays
* Ship lifts (1 x 40 tonne & 1 x 150 tonne)
* Fully enclosed dry storage (248 Boats)
* Enclosed booths for painting and sandblasting
* On water fuel wharf providing premium fuels & oils
* Customer lounge (adjoining dry storage)
* International-standard boat building facility
* Houseboat hire
* Takeaway food
* Boat brokerage
* 24-hour security & CCTV
* High speed wireless internet access (Hot Spot)
* A la carte waterfront restaurant
* Located only 7nm from the open ocean
* Environmental excellence (first shipyard on the Gold Coast to be rated as a “Clean Marina”)
RIVERGATE MARINA & SHIPYARD, Brisbane River, Queensland
Rivergate offers all-weather access, is close to the Brisbane CBD and enjoys deep water, good channel marking and safe entrance. It is only a six-minutes drive from the airport.
* 104 deep-water berths and access for yachts ranging from 12m to 60m
* Service berth with heavy vehicle access for yachts up to 60m
* Travelifts with 300 and 75 tonne ratings
* Hardstand of 12,000m² with six covered maintenance bays
* 2 enclosed refit sheds and 21 refit factory units surrounding hardstand
* High speed pumps for refuelling.
* Pump out facilities
* 3 phase power
* Full security, CCTV
* Premier retail precinct – cafes, restaurants, yacht services, provisioning, showrooms, brokerage
* Environmental commitment, from design of facilities to provision of products and services
* 6nm to Moreton Bay, gateway to Australia's finest cruising ground
* Tie-up assistance for arrivals and departures
* Phone, fax and internet services
* Laundry, garbage * Full refit services – painting, engineering, electronics, plumbing, upholstery and shipwrights
* Chandlery and marine survey offices
DERWENT SAILING SQUADRON, Hobart, Tasmania
Most of the popular marinas in Tasmania are associated with sailing clubs. The Derwent facility is adjacent to the Wrest Point Casino within easy reach of the CBD and Constitution Dock.
* 130 berths
* Slipway and yard
* Hardstand for one-design racing yachts
* Boat ramp
* Storage sheds for members
* Shed for racing dinghies for 60 boats
* Trailer boat parking
* Clubhouse with bar and dining room (seats 120)
* Outdoor BBQ area
