Halifax Harbor Marina is a HUGE facility, encompassing two dockage basins, and located in the heart of downtown Daytona Beach. While I can certainly sympathize with Skipper Austin’s problems with a “30 foot minimum charge,” I still think Halifax Harbor is a truly first class pleasurecraft facility!

24 February 2010
When I called ahead and asked for rates they neglected to tell me about the 30-ft minimum for charges which, for our 27-footer, makes it more expensive than the Loggerhead Marina next door. Their website also did not contain the minimum. I asked why a municipal marina would do this, essentially penalizing smaller boat owners. There was no reason given but the Waterway Guide website noted the municipality recently ‘˜outsourced’ the management of the marina to the Skipper Bud chain, not known for bargain basement prices. The harbormaster said she would raise my point with the corporation but it was a long, laborious process.
Other municipalities are going in this direction to reduce costs, resulting in rate hikes for locals as well as transients, essentially changing the focus of what municipal marinas represent ‘“ affordable boating for the general public. Whether money is actually saved is problematical as the municipality is left responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and only receives a percentage of the collected fees.
Fair winds and following seas,
Austin Whitten
S/Y `Discovery II’, Vancouver 27

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Marina Directory Listing For Halifax Harbor Marina