Kona Kai Marina

Pros: Pete, the dock master and John and Charlie, the assistant dock masters are top rate. My boat took on water the other day, and Charlie called me in an extremely timely manner to avoid a total loss. The docks at both the Kona Kai Marina and the Kona Marina were replaced around 2003-2004 and are in excellent condition. Boaters at both marinas enjoy fresh water, reliable power, cable TV and high speed Internet. The bathroom for boaters is also new and kept clean on a daily basis. (The shower heads are so opulent they should be illegal.) The marina itself is the closest to the open ocean in San Diego Bay, and the security seems to do a good job of preventing boats and cars from being broken into. (As far as I can tell, no one has had their property burglarized at the marina in years.) Cons: The parking lot is in terrible condition, but that has as much to do with the division of responsibility that occurred when the marina was split off from the hotels, and the hotels were themselves split off from each other. The rates the marina charges are among the highest in San Diego, but I guess that keeps out the riff-raff. (With the exception of the 2008-2010 period, rates increase by $1.00/foot/month each year.) Also getting on and off Shelter Island in the summer time can be a challenge. (Either don’t go down to your boat on holiday weekends, or don’t leave once you arrive.)