The Bell Ratings
The Bell Ratings generally reflect the services and amenities available for the captain and crew rather than the services available for the boat. By their nature, ratings are subjective and may reflect certain biases of the writers, editors and other reviewers. It is important to note that a five-bell marina will not always be a boater's best choice. There tends to be a correlation between higher bell ratings and higher overnight transient rates. Many of the resort-type amenities available at four- and five-bell marinas may be of little interest to boaters arriving late in the day and planning an early start the next morning. Similarly, a facility which has a one- or a two-bell rating, good security, convenient transportation and a service-oriented staff, may be the best place to "leave the boat" for a period of time between legs of a longer cruise.
Outlined below are some of the facilities and amenities one might generally find at a marina or boating facility within a given Bell-Rating category. Please note that some marinas within a particular category may not have all of the facilities listed here and some may have more. (The word "Marina" is used here, and throughout the book, generically to denote all types marine facilities that cater to transient boaters with either dedicated slips or on a "space available" basis.)
Bell ratings reflect both subjective judgment and objective criteria. The ratings are intended to reflect the overall boater experience and are, as a result, impacted by a marina's setting and general ambiance. An ACC bias is discovering interesting and distinctive waterfront destinations which may not have all the standard marina services, but which provide a unique experience. These may be given ratings higher than their facilities would suggest. Similarly, maritime museums, which most boaters find particularly compelling, are usually rated generously to indicate that they offer maritime buffs more than just services. Ratings are also geographically specific and reflect the general level of available services in a given region. In other words, a five-bell marina in Florida (with a year-round season) will usually offer significantly more services and facilities than a five-bell marina in Maine (with a four-month season).
