Hi Randy. Your situation is a little unique in my opinion since it sounds like you are a private owner who rents or leases your docks. It seems that in your case, there is no opportunity for word of mouth, peer pressure, or even an opportunity to "do as the Romans do". If the person leasing your dock is the only occupant, in my experience anyway, that person will push the limits until they find the boundary so to speak. In a marina setting, at least from my limited experience, each slip occupant is surrounded by many other occupants. Each signs a paper stating that they received, read, understand, and will comply with a set of rules that cover all of the things you mentioned. With so many tenants, word gets around (word of mouth) that the marina enforces the rules. As people become acquainted with their neighbors, they tend to respect each other and try to be considerate (peer pressure). To be frank about it, I've had vehicle problems myself and have fixed starters, electical problems, swapped batteries and even tires wherever my vehicle was parked at the time, mainly because if I had to pay for a tow I probably wouldnt have the money to buy the part I needed. No business has ever hassled me about it. At the last marina I was in, they did not have a problem with people working on their vehicles in such a situation, just as they didn't mind, and were even helpful, with people who needed to do maintenance on their boats.
You said you had a problem with a tenant who was doing exactly the same thing you are doing and wouldn't even rent to yourself. I'm really curious to know why that is? I totally respect your honesty about it and I don't mean this in an antagonistic way, but doesn't that strike you as being a little hypocritical? If the guys starter went out what is really the problem with letting him fix it? When my prop shaft broke and the nearest haulout was over 20 miles away, the marina owner actually got involved with the problem. He suggested towing it as close to the boat ramp as possible and either renting a boom truck or maybe some float bags to raise the stern high enough to get the shaft out of the water. He even offered me the free use of his jonboat to tow it. Several of my powerboat neighbors even offerred to help. It was like a community effort and everybody wanted to pitch in. That is one of the reasons I look forward to the day when I can get into thee lifestyle for good. In my opinion, we need more business owners who understand their customers needs. I'm all for setting a standard and holding people to it but I also think people have to have some common sense and know when to give a little.