Yacht marina

A yacht marina is a specialized dockage facility designed specifically for recreational boats, sailing yachts, and motor cruisers. Unlike commercial cargo or passenger ports, a marina prioritizes leisure navigation, providing dedicated berthing and marine services. The term must be distinguished from the common feminine proper name Marina.

Marinas consist of floating pontoons or fixed piers layout configurations designed to protect vessels from swell and wind. Typical depth requirements alongside berths range from 2.5 to 5.0 meters to accommodate fin keels and deep drafts. Berths are equipped with service pedestals offering shore power (220V/50Hz AC in Europe or 110V/60Hz in North America, rated 16A to 63A) and pressurized potable water (2–4 bar). Docking utilizes lazy lines (mooring lines attached to seabed deadmen) or finger pontoons. Standard shore amenities include fuel docks (diesel/gasoline), blackwater pump-out stations, haul-out cranes (10–50 tonne capacity), and sanitary facilities.

As noted in Wikipedia’s account of the Washington Sailing Marina, such specialized facilities frequently host regional sailing associations, university teams, and charter fleets. Before entering an unfamiliar harbor, skippers should understand what a yacht marina is and confirm what kind of yacht license is needed for a charter to clear harbour master controls via designated VHF channels (commonly VHF Ch 09 or Ch 72).