When thinking about Marinalife Manager and taking a look at other systems on the market, we found that people like maps, and they like to see boats on the maps. However, they also wanted to know more about the boat – like how long they are staying, if there is any money owed, or even if they’d been checked-in without an accompanying order.
Operators told us that they wanted to know more about their sites and equipment and see these displayed on the map – boats, berths, mooring buoys, cranes, dry storage, washrooms, and more.
We decided to overturn the convention that maps had to show representations of boats and instead provide the kind of detailed information to make the map a central element in marina operations. With Marinalife Manager we switched the focus of the map from boats to assets.
With focusing the map on assets means that information about maintenance inspections and fault reports is visible alongside occupancy and boat information.
Marina staff know their stuff. They know an 11m boat is longer than a 9m boat, so once they have that information, why clutter the map with generic boat shapes? Marinalife Manager uses the familiar Google Maps-style pin markers overlaid with easy-to-read icons and a color code system to illustrate occupancy, licensing, inspections, and faults in switchable screen views.
Swapping to pins makes the map easier to view and enables enriched layers of information without cluttering the display. Extra details like boat names and berth numbers can be shown or hidden in one click. Drill down to view just electricity pedestals or berth availability during a date range, or search asset name, customer, or boat.
Using the same map, you can toggle between views to highlight information of value to different team members:
1. Occupancy view
In busy visitor/transient marinas, it’s vital to quickly identify who is due to depart, overstayers and available berths. Any user with a tablet can depart a boat, add nights to the invoice, allocate berths and more right from the map.
A simple search ensures allocation of the right berth – searching by length, draft, beam and mooring space type.
2. Licensing view
Suppose your marina offers annual or monthly licenses/contracts. In that case, it’s handy to see which berths remain unlicensed as you approach the renewal date – what is available to sell and who needs a reminder to sign.
3. Inspection view
Move your maintenance to Marinalife Manager, and you can identify overdue and upcoming inspections on the map.
Equip your maintenance team with a tablet, and they can check and complete tasks right from the map view.
4. Faults view
Like the inspection's view, faults are easily identified and resolved right from the map. Colour coded for high, medium and low severity, and the maintenance team can prioritize as they walk the facility.
You decide how your map or marina plan looks – it can be the same full-color plan you use on your website or brochure or a line drawing; you’re in control. We can even use Google Maps on large sites like harbors or rivers, with the bonus of toggling between map and satellite views.
If berth numbers and asset names are in a map overlay, the user can switch them on and off, providing a clearer or more detailed view as required.
We don’t charge extra for uploading a new map. So if you alter the layout of your pontoons, move a line of mooring buoys or install a new launch ramp, it isn’t going to cost you.
Because Marinalife Manager is a modern platform, the maps aren’t hardcoded – adaptability is built-in. We want our users to make the most of the system, not be constrained by budgets.
Known as the “No-Yelling School of Fishing,” the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! nonprofit organization is dedicated to attracting women and families to non-intimidating fishing while encouraging conservation and responsible angling. The all-girls group conducts weekend, immersion-based educational programs throughout Florida with hands-on learning, classroom presentations and a networking community.
Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! University will kick off 2023 with events for women and families to learn the ropes and enjoy educational and fun activities. Mark your calendars for the following:
Hop aboard the Reward with Captain Wayne Conn out of Miami Beach Marina. Participants will learn fishing skills on the boat and target sailfish, tuna and bottom fish for an afternoon half-day trip. Registration is $30 and charter fishing is $85.
*Class is limited to 25 and deadline to register is Sunday, January 15.
Located at Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach, FL, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This event offers classroom instruction, conservation, hands-on fishing activities and a guided fishing experience for bass and other species. Featured speaker Capt. Brian Leibowitz will cover rod and reel basics, lure usage, casting techniques, fish retrieval, fish release, strategy and conservation, followed by hands-on fishing skill practice for rod rigging, spin casting, releasing, fish fighting techniques and more. After lunch will be an all-release fishing experience from the shore of a private lake known for its elusive peacock bass. Rods, reels, bait and fishing tackle will be supplied.
*Registration is limited to 25. Bass Pro Shops is located at 200 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, FL 33004.
Participants must register in advance for all events online.
Stay tuned for more events coming up this spring! For more information, call 954-475-9068 or visit info@ladiesletsgofishing.com
An abandoned vessel in the Baltimore harbor recently drifted into Harbor East Marina, wreaking havoc among the slips. The general manager didn’t know what to do about this, so he called the Coast Guard. They couldn’t help and provided resources to contact, but removing the boat was not an easy task. After a lengthy process and wild goose chase, he finally tracked down the original owner to properly dispose of the vessel. Despite the eventual success, imagine the environmental damage and safety threats this caused in the meantime.
Scientists have long researched aquatic damage from ships that are not properly discarded. Many have discovered manufacturing tools that go into engineering such as fiberglass technology and other materials, greatly contribute to the problem. This includes plastics, glass and other pollutants.
Environmental organizations are increasingly spreading awareness about abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) that threaten the health of aquatic ecosystems and wildlife habitats, as well as risk overall boating safety. When a vessel is discarded and left out in the water to sink, it doesn’t quite fade away into a proper burial. Boat material debris and microplastics break off over time and get tangled in motors, cause structural damage and pose threats to navigation and watersport safety. Not to mention the toxicity created throughout our marine wildlife environments.
“Ranging from small dinghies to large fishing vessels with steel hulls, ADVs are a common problem throughout the country and around the world,” reports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration.
This negligence not only affects our environment, but it also adds to unnecessary and inefficient use of resources when calls come into the Coast Guard, National Resources Police, divers and local authorities who are assumed to help — but often can not.
A news report from WPLG Local 10 in Miami-Dade County, FL, addressed the region’s current ADV crisis, which only appears to be getting worse. The area’s environmental resource management team reports that 51 derelict vessels were recently removed from Biscayne Bay, which is only a third of what is still lingering in the waterways.
> Always reduce, reuse, recycle! Proper disposal of metals, plastics and other hazardous boat materials are crucial to a clean environment.
> Properly discard the vessels at a local landfill or salvage shop, or research voluntary vessel disposal programs.
> Check out educational resources such as the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) webinar series, Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels.
> The MDP also provides a Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide that assists states with storm preparation to prevent and respond to ADVs.
TURBOFRY AIR FRYER
Chefman
When it comes to cooking, air fryers are the latest craze. This trendy appliance will show you why. The portable, 2-quart TurboFry makes cooking while traveling easier than ever, and its multipurpose use and compatibility reduces clutter on your vessel. ($49.99)
ELITE COLLECTION MINI FOOD PROCESSOR
Cusinart
Mini food processors are ideal for the galley, as you can avoid the challenging task of chopping while rockin’ away onboard. Lightweight and durable, the 4-cup chopper/grinder is made with a SmartPower blade and lock system allowing for safe and easy storage. ($59.95)
INDUCTION NON-STICK COOKWARE SET
Magma
This company is known for high-quality products designed for travel durability, and the award-winning portable cookware set has been voted among boaters as a favorite to use onboard. The 10-piece set is made of mirror-polished stainless steel and reliable non-stick coating. ($329.99)
FUSION SOLAR OVEN
GoSun
Specifically designed for land or sea adventures, the Fusion is the first solar oven that can also cook without the sun. The portable hybrid item is both solar and electric and only needs a little bit of sunshine or can be powered by 12-volts from a car, RV or boat. ($369)
RECHARGEABLE PORTABLE BLENDER
BlendJet
This next-generation portable blender is a gamechanger when it comes to galley necessities. Perfect for travel, the BlendJet powers through anything in 20 seconds flat including frozen fruit, veggies, ice and more. The battery lasts for 15+ blends and includes a rapid-charging, waterproof USB port. ($49.95)
BRILLIANCE STAINSHIELD FOOD STORAGE CONTAINER SET
Rubbermaid
Reliable, durable tubs you can easily stack and stow are essential when it comes to galley food storage, and this set has it all. Shatter-resistant, airtight and perfect for on the go, the Brilliance modular containers will stop the sea from making your food soggy or stale. (Prices vary)
TEAK DISH CUP, SPICE & PAPER TOWEL RACK
SeaTeak
For easy storage in any size galley, this all-in-one rack will keep your space tidy and organized. Made from kiln-dried, fully aged teak wood, this top-quality piece has a spice rack, paper towel rack and holds up to four plates. ($110.66)
DESIGN COLLECTION CUTLERY FOR BOATS
Victoria Yachting
Grace your galley with this gorgeous upscale cutlery made specifically for boating. The modern stainless-steel set is designed to withstand seawater with scratch and water-resistance, and it’s also dishwasher-friendly. Fill out the online form for custom products. (Prices vary)
Created in the late 1960s, reggae is intimately linked with the culture of Jamaica and Rastafari. Reggae was influenced by Rastafari ritual drumming and provided an avenue for this genre to enter some countries. Upbeat ska music developed from American R&B, mento, and calypso, and became popular among young Jamaicans seeking a musical identity after the country gained independence in 1962. Eventually, ska and its slower, more romantic descendant rocksteady gave way to reggae.
In the 1600s, enslaved Africans in Trinidad, stripped of their cultures and languages, developed calypso to mock their masters and communicate with each other in French Creole. Modern calypso began in the early 1800s as a combination of disparate genres, such as French Creole belair, and became closely linked with Trinidadian enslaved people’s adoption of Carnival.
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True to the genre’s origins, three big names in reggae are all Jamaican. Bob Marley is the most iconic reggae artist, known globally as a symbol of Jamaican culture and Rastafari. He used his stardom to advocate for democratic social reform, cannabis reform, and Pan-Africanism. Burning Spear is one of the longest- standing roots reggae artists, emerging in the 1970s and still touring today. His music often has spiritual and black pride messages. Yellowman rose to fame in the 1980s as a musician, songwriter and DJ on the island, and became the first dancehall artist to be signed to a major American label.
Attila the Hun and Roaring Lion left Trinidad for the United States in the 1930s, both becoming pioneers of spreading calypso beyond its birthplace. Attila pivoted to a career in politics, while Roaring Lion composed songs such as “Ugly Woman” that are still performed today. Lord Invader, one of America’s most successful calypsonians, arrived in New York soon after, ultimately winning the rights to his hit “Rum and Coca-Cola” in court and touring the United States, Britain and Europe.
The laid-back island vibe and steel drum beat of reggae lends itself well to lounging on the beach, relaxing with cannabis, and sipping on a cold Jamaican Red Stripe. If you like non-alcoholic refreshments, try sorrel tea, an iced Jamaican tea brewed with dried hibiscus flowers and spices.
Calypso has an energetic, upbeat beat that’s hard not to groove to. It pairs perfectly with cocktail parties and dance floors – and of course cocktails. Grab some Trinidadian rum (Angostura is popular) and try your hand at a batch of spiced rum punch.
In 1968, the first bona fide reggae records “Nanny Goat” and “No More Heartaches” were released. Toots and the Maytals also put out their single “Do the Reggay,” the first popular song to use the word “reggae.” Global artists couldn’t resist reggae’s unique beats, with Johnny Nash and the Beatles releasing reggae-influenced tracks the same year. Reggae’s distinct funk allows it to be timeless and recognizable, no matter the era.
In the 1920s and ‘30s, calypso became a trusted way of spreading news in Trinidad, with politicians and journalists debating the lyrics. Double entendre was used to make statements about topics like the colonial government while dodging aggressive censorship efforts by the United States. Famous calypsonians began recording in America in the late ‘30s, but pop artist Harry Belafonte’s 1956 album “Calypso” made it a worldwide craze.
Few items carried aboard your boat, embody the freedom of the cruising lifestyle more than your dinghy, or “tender” if you prefer. These often abused and rarely waxed little boats are a valuable part of cruising adventures. They allow you to moor or anchor out, enjoying the peace and quiet of a secluded anchorage, yet still take advantage of amenities on shore.
They take you on excursions through back water, narrow channels, and man- grove forests, too small or shallow for your primary vessel. And if you have a four- legged friend on board, you know not only the importance of getting them to shore, but oh how they love a dinghy ride.
They can even make stays at a marina more enjoyable. For instance, Dolphin Marina in Harpswell, ME, provides guests aboard boats in the marina with charts showing a half a dozen dinghy trips you can take around the islands of Casco Bay to scenic coves and remote islands that would be impossible to get the big boat into. And if you plan to cruise to the Bahamas, Caribbean or remote destinations, you need dependable transportation to shore.
The most important feature of a dinghy is that it must be easy to use. If it requires too much effort to launch and operate, you will be reluctant to anchor out as often as you might like. Ease of use is determined by several factors, such as whether you must inflate the dinghy, mount the engine, or need three people and a crane to lower it into the water. Many of these choices are determined by the size and configuration of your boat, but regardless of your boat’s size or your budget, you can create a setup that’s easy to use.
The choices for how and where to carry a dinghy fall into a few basic categories. If you do not have the option of a crane- style lifting device, you may be limited by the size and weight of your dinghy, but that does not mean you are relegated to the equivalent of a rubber toy boat. Efficient davit systems can be mounted on medium size swim platforms. These accommodate a variety of dinghy styles, both rigid and inflatable, and allow you to keep the engine mounted to the dinghy.
Also, hydraulic lift systems can carry a tender off your stern, but your transom must be capable of carrying the device, and your boat should be heavy enough to stay balanced with that much weight aft of center. If your boat meets those require- ments, the hydraulic lifts are about as easy to use as it gets.
Another option some cruisers choose is to tow a dinghy. While I’ll admit to having done this in protected waters, it’s generally not a safe practice. There are too many documented cases of towing components fouling up props and leaving boaters stranded. If you travel to the islands, you will see many cruisers towing dinghies, but please use extreme caution if you choose to do this. Learn where and how to safely attach the dinghy to your boat, and if there is any threat of rough seas, retrieve the dinghy immediately and secure it to the mother ship.
Dinghies come in a variety of hull styles and materials, including plank- reinforced fabric bottoms, high-pressure inflatable bottoms, and rigid hulls of fiberglass or aluminum. In general, soft-bottom styles are limited to what they can do and endure, even with a high-pressure floor with a keel.
If you intend to transport serious loads of supplies and people, a rigid hull is a must. Its durability is also important if you are cruising in the tropics, where you are as likely to land on a beach as tie up at a dock. Rigid bottoms can be part of a fully rigid boat, but more often they are connected to an inflatable top tube and called “rigid inflatable boats,” or RIBs. These have become the ubiquitous tender of choice for most cruisers. You get durability and stability from the rigid hull, and buoyancy and lightweight from the inflatable top tubes. The top tubes are much gentler on the sides and finish of your boat when tied to it.
RIB’s hull bottoms have been primarily fiberglass, but aluminum hulls are gaining market share with even lighter weight then fiberglass and more durable for beach landings. The inflatable tubes come in a range of materials, including PVC, coated neoprene and Hypalon, which are widely considered the best material for the inflatable parts of a dinghy.
A well-built dinghy will provide many years of service, but it won’t last forever. A sign of a good-quality RIB dinghy is the ease with which it can be serviced and even re-tubed when necessary.
An example of a feature that could affect serviceability is the fuel tank’s type and location. Separate fuel tanks carried in dedicated compartments are easier to inspect or replace but have limited carrying capacity; built-in fuel tanks may carry more fuel and be better balanced, but may also be difficult or impossible to repair without completely un-assembling the dinghy.
It used to be your only choice of power for a dinghy was a gasoline powered outboard engine, however innovative companies have been actively introducing clean burning propane powered internal combustion engines, and most recently electric motors with impressive power and range.
When shopping, it’s best to purchase from a dealer that in addition to sales, performs complete service on the dinghy and engine. A high-quality dealer will be willing to visit your boat to determine if a particular model can be carried, launched and retrieved safely.
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Have you ever planned a boat trip? If so, you know how difficult it is to find and compare marinas. Even more difficult is booking a slip once you find a marina you like.
We hear your frustration. That’s why we developed Snag-A-Slip — the fastest and easiest way to explore marinas and book slips from your desktop or mobile device.
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