This is a pre-conference event and requires an additional fee. Please note there are no refunds on golf after August 1, 2023.

This is a pre-conference event and requires reservations. You are signing up for the 12:30 pm trial.

This is a pre-conference event and requires reservations. You are signing up for the 1:00 pm trial.

This is a pre-conference event and requires reservations. You are signing up for the 1:30 pm trial.

This is a pre-conference event and requires reservations. You are signing up for the 2:00 pm trial.

This is a pre-conference event and requires reservations. You are signing up for the 2:30 pm trial.

Golf Awards will be presented during this time.

Status of offshore wind off the California coast and potential impacts to sea and land side marina and boating operations.

We live in interesting economic times. Is inflation in hand or still out of control? Will reining it in result in a recession or do we get a soft landing. Jon Haveman, who regularly speaks on the economy, will join us to better help us understand the economic environment in which we are all doing business. In addition to inflation and the prospects for recession, Dr. Haveman will discuss income growth, employment growth, interest rates, and a wide variety of other economic indicators. 

Join us to explore the statistics, market trends, and transformative potential within the coastal marina industry. Whether you are a marina owner, operator, investor, researcher, or industry enthusiast, this topic is the ideal platform to stay ahead of the curve and shape the future of coastal marinas.

This one hour session will focus on design, cost considerations, bidding and construction management for marina dredging. The goal is to help marina owners and operators better plan for and manage their next dredging episode from a financial perspective. Specific topics will include planning and budgeting; permitting and compliance considerations; sediment testing; design; and bid and construction management.

We kindly invite you to participate in a comprehensive review of a recent wage survey. The survey in question specifically concentrated on both public and private marine facilities, encompassing marinas, boatyards, dry storage, and yacht clubs. The region was divided into segments, allowing for a detailed analysis of wage ranges across various roles, ranging from maintenance to administrative positions. Additionally, we will be exploring effective strategies aimed at minimizing staff turnover. This promises to be an engaging and interactive session, featuring a dedicated Q&A segment where you can actively participate and seek clarification.

Ever wonder why your competitor is always two steps ahead of you?

How do they see future trends and react quickly and you don’t?

Learn what prevents us from seeing market opportunities that are

often right in front of us. Discover the concept of Customer focus.

It's a way of thinking…"Outside-In.” It's not customer service!
It's looking at every facet of your business and asking: How does this add value for the customer, from the customer's point of view?

The District Wharf in Washington DC is a $3billion waterfront redevelopment project that features a mile of new bulkhead, 3 marinas, 5 new piers, a mooring field, and 6 over-water buildings.  It is one of the most popular destinations in Washington DC and has been very successful.  This presentation will present lessons learned during the design, permitting, and construction of the project, as well as what works and what doesn’t work after 5 years of operations, based on interviews with the engineers, owners, operators, and contractor involved.

Join us for an interactive discussion with select yacht brokers and dealers as we dig into the important relationship that exists between those brokers and dealers that supply the marinas their tenants, and the marina operators and staff that provide for them once their clients become slip-holders.

We look at the challenges presented by high occupancy rates, high costs, and regulatory burdens, as well as the symbiotic relationships needed for all to prosper and endure, and for the recreational boating community to be properly served.

We’ll try to understand each other’s concerns, challenges, and visions for the future of recreational boating in California.

The brokers and dealers will discuss changing demographics and boat styles and will discuss their views on current and future sales markets, and how this may impact CA marinas.

An open forum discussing issues that reshape the marina landscape.  We will discuss  topics that effect the day to day operation of a marina.  Hear how others are handling these difficult issues and join in on the conversation.  

Mark Smith, the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) California lobbyist, will present an updated Boating & Economic Impact report for attendees. This report will include an in-depth look at the influence recreational boating has on California’s economy and outdoor recreation. Mark has been working for NMMA for five years and has been a driving force in creating legislative success for the boating industry in the sunshine state.

Electric boating is gaining significant attention as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered boats. However, many marina owners are concerned about the high costs associated with infrastructure upgrades. This session aims to address these concerns.

1. Evaluating existing infrastructure: Learn how to assess your current boating infrastructure and identify potential opportunities for integrating electric boats without major modifications or investments.
2. Optimizing charging solutions: Gain insights into various charging options, such as onshore charging stations, solar-powered charging, and battery swapping, to minimize infrastructure requirements and costs.
3. Leveraging public funding for charging infrastructure: Learn how infrastructure and equipment costs are being supported by public grants and other funding options.
4. Community initiatives and collaborations: Hear what initiatives some local municipalities are implementing to move toward zero emission harbors.
5. Planning for the future: Explore the demands on public utility infrastructure marinas will experience through increasing adoption of electric vessels.

We cordially invite you to attend a thought-provoking panel discussion centered around the critical topic of managing sea-level change for owners and operators. During this event, our expert panel will delve into the multifaceted aspects of risk management, including the challenges posed by storm events and rising sea levels. Moreover, we will explore these issues from the perspective of public access and equity, shedding light on the broader societal implications they bring to the forefront.

This panel of MRA trade member experts will cover the advancements in floating dock, platform and wave attenuator design/construction, the integration of solar technology into advanced marina design, electric shock protection & prevention, reliability and lower maintenance of modern pump out systems, and enhancing efficiency & sustainability through utility submetering technology. The various products/components from these experts, are key to making a marina function and sustainable. Our guest speaker and Emcee for this panel is Kelly Rinderknecht, General Manager at The Marina at Dana Point Harbor. With the marina revitalization project underway at Dana Point, and some phases complete, Kelly will share insight on how some of these innovative technologies were used at the marina she manages and spearhead a Q/A session at the end of the panelists’ presentations.

DBW will provide an update on Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund and how the Division is managing programs until a sustainable solution is approved.  The session will also provide industry an overview of grant opportunities, such as Boat Launch Facilities (BLF), Clean Vessel Act (CVA) and other grants, such as Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange program (SAVE), Dockwalker and Communication Workshops for boaters/marinas. 

Colliers Leisure Property Advisors will moderate a panel discussion about real world factors that investors are considering when valuing a marina. The panel is intended to provide perspective from representatives across the spectrum of marina investment. Audience participation is strongly encouraged!

 An overview of the current situation at California marinas and a discussion of possible future directions in addressing the issue of Abandoned & Derelict Vessels.

This session will be an interactive overview on modern and real-time marketing.  

Come listen, learn, and have a Q&A opportunity from an experienced sales and marketing professional.

Over the years the Oakland/Alameda Estuary has become inundated with illegal anchor-out vessels.  These vessels are rarely registered or insured and when they sink it becomes a public expense to salvage and remove. They also bring a criminal element to the waterways which is increasingly responsible for boat thefts and terrorizing residents at estuary marinas.  This talk will cover the history of past cleanup projects, and the current challenges facing on-the-water law enforcement.  There will be recommendations for effectively dealing with end-of-life vessels before they become a problem on our waterways.

The vast majority of boat owners are not troublemakers, but every marina manager is occasionally forced to deal with boat owners who refuse to play by the rules.  Drawing from 32 years practicing maritime law exclusively, Mr. Weiss during this seminar will digest several cases involving deranged marina tenants.  We anticipate attendees will find this presentation entertaining, educational, and perhaps troubling. War stories that will be presented includes cases dealing with: brandishing weapons, assaults, sale of boats then abandoned, breaches of settlement agreements and disregard of court orders, theft of mail and fellow tenant identities, return of a vessel to the marina after contract termination, vessel sinkings, harassment of and threats to marina employees, theft by Russian oligarch of $360,000 in fuel, attempt by City to subject marina to rent controls, insane court filings by self-represented marina tenant who served 14 months in jail after fraud conviction, vessel arrests for trespass, U.S. Navy charges over $1 million to moor vessels - but Navy did not own the property, co-owner of boat moves her out of area after arrest in violation of court order, stalking of a marina manager, and drug addicted boat owner scuttling boat after she is arrested - claiming boat hit a whale.  Of course, we will look forward, time permitting, to attendees sharing some of their “war stories.”  Please join us for this entertaining, and educational presentation.

This presentation will discuss the typical engineering and entitlement due diligence involved in a marina property transfer or redevelopment and assist those buying, selling, financing, and developing to understand potential risks and help mitigate. Includes discussion of the site investigation needs and potential physical issues, permitting & entitlement status, legal documentation required for review, cost estimate of current value and of necessary repairs, and near-term improvements or studies that can bring more value to property.

Specific focus will be put towards describing key processes and identifying typical requirements and issues including:

• Identify types of parties involved in transactions or development: Existing property owners, new property buyers, loan & funding institutions, insurance, real estate and property underwriters, and property assessment;
• Discuss types of transactions or development: Sole ownership transfer, municipality or long-term lease, public-private-partnership, developer, property turnover;
• Types of issues to be aware of or avoided: Site investigations & data collection, entitlements & permitting, cost estimating for return-on-investment and needed repairs, available lease agreements and documentation, conceptual redevelopment planning, available grant funding available;
• Risk reduction measures: Professional counsel (engineering, legal, etc.), maintaining accurate records, providing adequate planning to know options, keeping current with maintenance, conducting market research, etc.

An open forum discussing issues that reshape the marina landscape.  We will discuss  topics that effect the day to day operation of a marina.  Hear how others are handling these difficult issues and join in on the conversation.