"...few dock staff have sailboat experience and will not consider maneuverability when making a allocation..."

A couple of weeks ago I called a local marina and made a reservation. I specifically told them the 27 foot LOD of my boat and that I have a 3 foot bow sprit... and thus had a LOA of 30 feet. (actually 30 feet and some odd inches)

I made it to the marina just after the office closed for the evening... but a half hour before, I phoned them and was given my dock spot... so no problem.

Upon arrival, the first thing I noticed is that the little signs on each slip were terribly difficult to read as I went down the fairway... but I managed with occasional glimpses in the binoculars... and keeping a count in my head. (lessee is this odd even numbered or what... ) I found my slip, and eased on in with careful confidence. I was pulling into a waning wind, which was perfect... just as I eased up to where I could step off and wrap my line around the cleats and bring my boat to a halt, I notice the 4 foot tall electrical box at the head of the slip. I wrap the mooring cleat and stop the boat with inches to spare.

Every other empty slip around me had nothing at the head of the slip, just wide open space... but the one slip that I was assigned, had the only electrical box on the whole pier... and it was scant inches from the end of my bow sprit. I tied up the boat very securely and just shook my head in disbelief... the only slip with an obstacle for a bow sprit; and I was assigned at that location. Just incredible. If I had come in just a hair too fast...