| Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between a houseboat and a floating home? They are the same. At the time when our titling switched from the DMV (Department of motor vehicles) to the HCD (Housing community Development) we changed our nomenclature to more accurately describe our non-motorized homes to the general populous. If I purchase a floating home do I own the berth space? No. Instead you have a long term lease extended to you by the marina. Typically when you purchase the floating home you get the lease rights assigned to you by the Marina at time of closing. Is there a place to park my car? Yes, however the location is not typically reserved for you but rather a first come first serve basis. Different marinas and docks handle parking differently and it is best to ask the marina operator their procedures before rental or purchase. What is a berth rent? A berth rent is a monthly slip rental fee paid to the marina operator and in general covers, parking, water, common area dock maintenance, common area dock utilities, and the space rent for your floating home. The berth rent is calculated by the Marina. Does the berth rent increase? Yes, the berth rent increases yearly in most cases. Typically the berth rent increases are calculated by applying the CPI (Consumer Price Index) yearly increase for Bay area all urban consumers. You lease agreement will specifically state how rent increases are calculated. Is it safe? Yes, in general it is a very safe place to live. Many residents report feeling very comfortable knowing that there are many neighbors that know each other on the dock and whom look out for one another. What size is a floating home? Just like people, floating homes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The smallest homes are studios and some are even 5 bedroom. There is a perfect size, shape, and color floating home for even the most discriminating buyers. Do the floating homes ever sit in the mud? Yes, most every floating home sits in the mud at some time during the year and tidal swing. The closer to land the home is the more it sits in the mud. Having said that you needn't really worry about that because our landscape is constantly changing due to the tidal clock being a hour shorter that our time clock and thus the low tides and high tides are always at different times from the day before. Does it ever smell? Yes, sometimes it smells. Our homes are on the sea. The sea is our bounty. The sea has distinct smells different from land. Depending on the tide, the sun, the wind, the time of day and the location of the home you will experience different smells. There are some locations that we have a sulfuric smell that can offensive. Make sure to ask your sales person if the floating home you are interested in has any frequent offensive smells. Is there a hospital nearby? Yes, in Marin County, Marin General Hospital is only 7 miles away and Kaiser General Hospital is only 11 miles away. In San Francisco, California Pacific Medical Center is 6 miles, USF Medical Center is 6 miles, and Saint Mary's Medical Center is 6 miles. Are there birds? Yes, as The tide rises and falls with every hour changing from low tide to high tide the pleasure of this activity is that it brings the shore birds that follow the tidal pattern. Every day there will be a feast at your doorstep as the birds, coots, cormorants, great egrets, snowy egrets, etc... search for their food in the shallow waters and mud flats. Who is the BCDC? BCDC (San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission) is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of San Francisco Bay and to the encouragement of the Bay's responsible use. Do all marina's have a BCDC permit? No, currently some permits are pending for some marinas. The best way to get updated information regarding permit status is to contact the individual marina where your floating home will be berthed. What are Humming Toad fish? Will I hear them? Humming Toad fish are bottom- dwelling and spend most of its life in the ocean feeding on bottom shrimp. During the summer mating season, the fish move into bays and estuaries, which are rich in nutrients for its young. The eggs are laid and fertilized and guarded by the male until they hatch. Some residents do hear them in their floating homes but typically only those who live in the concrete barges. Does the area flood with high tides? Yes, during high tides and at lower tides when coupled with heavy rains, parking lots become flooded. Access to the entrance to the docks may become limited at these times and consequently create a safety hazard to those who frequent said locations. At this time we break out our rubber boots and brave the high waters to get onto the docks. Worry not, the tide only lasts about 6 hours. How do the tides work? It has been known for centuries that up and down the east coast, tides occur approximately 50 minutes later each day than they did the day before. The primary reason for this daily lag can be traced to the moon. It takes the earth 24 hours to make one complete rotation in relation to the sun. This rotation is called a "solar day". It takes the moon 24 hours and 50 minutes to make one complete rotation around the earth. This rotation is called a "lunar day". It is the moon’s close proximity to us and the relatively strong gravitational effect it has on the earth that causes the tides to follow the moon’s lunar schedule of 24 hours and 50 minutes per cycle. While this lunar cycle is the primary force behind the workings of the tide, it is not the only force. On a daily basis the average tidal cycle of 24 hours and 50 minutes can be affected by such cosmic variables as the relative position of the earth to the sun and the specific elliptical pattern of the moon around the earth. Localized variables affecting daily tides also exist. These would include strong winds, changes in atmospheric pressure, distant storms and an infinite number of other atmospheric conditions. The total affect of all these different factors cause tides to vary around the average point of 24 hours and 50 minutes. These variations can cause the reading of your tide clock to be either fast or slow in relation to actual tides, by as much as one hour or more on any given day. However, the rhythmic 24 hour and 50 minute cycle will prevail over any given 28 day lunar period. Basically what all this means, is that on any give day the clock may read fast or slow, but over a 28-day period it will average itself out to be correct. For most purposes, high and/or low tide is not really a point in time, but a condition that exists over a period of time. If for some reason you require exact tide information you should always refer to a current tide table. The purpose of a tide clock is not to be exact. In general its purpose is to tell us the best approximate time to go swimming, fishing, boating, etc. For these functions a tide clock works just fine. Do all floating homes float level? Are they level when they sit in the mud? The area where the floating homes are located exists in a tidal area. Most all homes sit on the mud during some time of the tidal swing. Some homes may have exposed mud near or adjacent to the home during these lower tides. The floating homes do move when floating and require ballasting to gain a trim and level craft. If the mud is not flat local contractors can help to level the mud so to minimize and tilt. Do floating home owners pay property taxes? Yes, typically about 1.3% of the assessed value of the property is paid to the local Marin County tax collector. |
