A slip agreement is usually a few pages that most boaters sign at the office counter. It deserves more attention than that. It decides what you are paying for, what the marina can do if something goes wrong and how you get out if your plans change. Behind it stands Maryland law, which gives marinas real power over a boat whose charges go unpaid. This guide walks through the parts of an agreement to read carefully and the law that applies whatever the agreement says.
The basics: slip, boat and term
Start with the facts. The agreement should name the slip or describe how one is assigned, identify your boat by name, length and registration or documentation number, and give the start and end dates. If the marina can move you to another slip, the agreement should say so. Seasonal leases in particular should state the exact dates of the season rather than a month.
What the price includes
- Is electricity included, metered or charged at a flat rate?
- Is water available all year, or turned off in winter?
- Are pump-out, parking, showers and laundry included?
- Are there extra charges for guests, liveaboards or a second vehicle?
- What late fees or interest apply if a payment is missed?
Insurance and liability
Many agreements require you to carry insurance on the boat and to name the marina in some way. Read how much coverage is required and whether the marina limits its own liability for damage to your boat. Take the insurance clause to your insurer before you sign, so you are not surprised later.
Marina rules
Agreements often incorporate the marina’s written rules. Several Baltimore marinas publish them, and they often cover guests, pets, noise, work on boats in the slip, fueling and what can be stored on the dock. Ask for the current version and keep a copy with your agreement.
Tip: Photograph the slip, the dock and your boat on the day you move in. If there is ever a dispute about damage, a dated photo is worth more than anyone’s memory.
Leaving early and renewing
Look for what happens if you sell the boat, move it or simply want to leave before the term ends. Some agreements allow you to end the lease with notice; others keep you liable for the full term. Check also how renewal works: whether it is automatic, how much notice you must give and whether the price can change.
The Maryland lien: why unpaid fees matter
Maryland’s Commercial Law Article gives a lien to any person who, with the owner’s consent, has custody of a boat and, at the owner’s request, provides a service to it. The lien covers charges for repair, rebuilding, maintenance, servicing, or wet or dry wharfage, for storage and for parts or accessories. In plain terms, slip and storage fees give the marina a claim against the boat itself.
The law also says what the marina may do with that lien. If the charges are due and unpaid for 30 days and the marina is in possession of the boat, it may sell the boat at a public sale. Before the sale, it must publish notice once a week for the two weeks before the sale in a newspaper in the county and send notice by registered or certified mail at least 10 days before the sale to the owner and to anyone holding a perfected security interest, such as a lender. The owner may dispute the charges in court, as the lien law provides. Read more in Unpaid Slip Fees and Abandoned Boats: What Maryland Law Says.
Abandoned boats
Separately, Maryland’s State Boat Act treats a boat as abandoned if it has remained at a private marina or private boatyard for more than 60 days without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property. That matters when a lease ends and the boat stays. If you are selling a boat that sits in a slip, agree in writing with the marina how long it can remain.
A checklist before you sign
- The slip, the boat and the exact dates are written down.
- You know what is included and what is billed separately.
- Your insurer has seen the insurance clause.
- You have the current marina rules.
- You understand how to leave early and how renewal works.
- Your contact details are correct, with the marina and on your boat registration.
Maryland registration applications ask for emergency contact details partly so that the state can reach an owner whose boat is at risk of being treated as abandoned. Keeping them current is simple and can prevent a lot of trouble. The registration rules are in Registering and Titling a Boat in Maryland.