Marina Dock Age Magazine

12/19/2025

Congrats to the 2025 Marina of the Year - Customer Service Category award winner, Newport Harbor Association!

As a marina that offers only storage without added service, fuel, rentals or other amenities, Newport Harbor Association in Cleveland, Ohio, separates itself from other marinas by providing customer service that extends well beyond common courtesy and concierge. Anything a harbor member wants, the staff provides, from golf cart rides around the facility to delivering groceries to dock platform installation. The goal is to make boating as easy and pleasant as possible for every customer, leading to 100% occupancy and the Marina of the Year Customer Service award. Located in a small village and guided by a Board of Directors, the marina is closely scrutinized and must follow a host of rules and regulations that limit growth and profit centers, but despite these obstacles, the marina’s reputation for top-level service keeps slips full and customers happy.

12/19/2025

Service department automation isn’t just a trend; it’s a game-changer. Automating customer updates, appointment reminders and billing frees your team, reduces no-shows and increases revenue, all while keeping customers happy and loyal.

marina owners and operators use marina management software platforms and programs to streamline slip reservations, contracts and billing.

12/18/2025

Congrats to the 2025 Marina of the Year - Building & Growing Category award winner, Meridian Marina!

The crew at VIP Marinas took a chance when they purchased a dilapidated facility in a highly regulated coastal area of Florida. The property had an open, two-decade-old environmental case stemming from an improperly remediated UST removal. Anyone visiting the marina was greeted by a 35 x 50-foot gaping hole in the center of the launch area. That was just one problem. For the next five years, VIP Marinas planned, coordinated and carefully sequenced a series of major renovations to make Meridian Marina in Palm City, Florida, the jewel it is today, and one of the many reasons why the facility is the recipient of the Marina of the Year Building and Growing award.

From finally conducting the proper remediation to building a Category 5-rated indoor boat storage barn to plowing through a host of major deferred maintenance items, VIP Marinas undertook major renovations while remaining fully open and operational, so customers never missed a day on the water.

12/17/2025

Congrats to the 2025 Marina of the Year - Business Operations Category award winner, Riverside Marine!

For boaters who want immediate access to large water bodies and resort-like amenities, Riverside Marine in Essex, Maryland, may not be the first choice. Being located away from the prime boating and shoreside restaurants and shops of the Chesapeake Bay could have been a major disadvantage for the marina’s success. However, Riverside Marine’s sophisticated and efficient operations across every aspect of the business have earned it a loyal following and the Marina of the Year Business Operations award.

From sales, service, and parts, to slip rentals and storage, Riverside has combined technology with customer engagement to ensure boaters are never left in the dark about their boats, whether in a service bay or docked in a slip. In their own words, “We focus on creating long-term value, rewarding loyalty and making every step of the customer journey easy, enjoyable and memorable.”

12/16/2025

Congrats to the 2025 Small Marina of the Year winner, Lake Austin Marina!

Lake Austin Marina in Austin, Texas, is a small facility, but it has a big impact on its customers and the surrounding communities. Fostering lasting relationships with customers and staff is at the heart of this facility, where boaters get weekly dock walk reports, and employees are mentored from their first days as summer helpers through post-school careers.

Going beyond the people, the marina also embraces environmental stewardship, whether through a UST replacement that far exceeded minimum standards, solar panels to power the ship’s store and fuel dock and participation in the Texas Clean Marina program. Through renovations to enhance navigation, safety and aesthetics, to management decisions that improve the customer experience, Lake Austin Marina encompasses all the right moves to make it the small Marina of the Year winner.

12/15/2025

It’s no longer just about boat slips. Marinas are about experience, community and lifestyle. Elements such as resort-style social spaces and wellness features are just a few of the trends you’ll see in marina design next year.

For decades, marina development was measured by slip count, water access and protection from storms. While these fundamentals remain essential, they no longer define the customer experience on their own. Today’s boaters and the next generation of owners are looking for more. … Learn More

12/12/2025

Starting in the new year, we’ll be profiling each Young Leader Award winner. Follow The Docks Expo on Facebook so you don’t miss any!

12/12/2025

Marinas are boosting revenue and engagement by partnering with boat clubs. Hosting club fleets can bring 8 to 10 times the revenue of a single slip, attract new customers and make boating more accessible.

Boat clubs have been around for about 25 years the platform has grown exponentially, about 300% year over year, since COVID

12/11/2025

Nine Marina is the 2025 Large Marina of the Year! Congrats to the whole team.

Three years ago, the owners of Nine Marina purchased an existing marina in Eufaula, Oklahoma, and determined there was no saving it. They demolished the original facility and began rebuilding from the ground up. In that short time, they have created a marina that prioritizes customers and staff, embraces service and has become a go-to destination for boaters and the surrounding community.

Located in a remote area away from city attractions could have hindered the development, but instead, the marina has become a hidden gem, from its high-end merchandise in the ship’s store to its 16-pump fuel dock. For this transformation from an unsafe eyesore, to a modern, resort-like marina, Nine Marina has earned the large Marina of the Year award.

12/11/2025

📸 Complete photo coverage of is waiting for you at

Save the date! The Docks Expo & Marina Conference returns to Nashville December 1–3, 2026. Expect over 180+ marina-focused exhibitors, industry-sourced and expertly curated education sessions, and hours of exclusive networking events.

12/11/2025

From slip sizes to fairway layout, every choice affects performance, safety and ROI. In this Reflections from the Water’s Edge column, Jack Cox explains how smart design starts with understanding how a marina will actually function.

The ASCE Manual of Practice No. 50 for Small Craft Harbor Design offers an example of where to find your ideal dock layout in marina plans

12/10/2025

Attendees and Exhibitors:

If you haven’t yet, we’d love for you to share your thoughts - your feedback helps us make each year even better. Please take a few minutes to complete the post-event survey by this Friday (12/12) at 5 pm CST.

➡ Check your email for access to the online survey.