Boats wanting to use the Whangamata Marina require $5 million public liability insurance.
It's been a bit of a shock for some Tauranga boat owners, but John Galooley at the Whangamata Marina disputes stories of boats being turned away.

'These people are able with a phone call to send a page summary adequate for our purposes,” says John. 'Very, very few aren't able to come in because they haven't got it or are unable to give proof.
'Many marinas are now requiring $5 million public liability, it is becoming standard throughout all the marinas. There might be isolated marinas that don't require that, it could be that Tauranga is one.”
Barry O'Neill at Bay Insurance Brokers says the Marina fire in Waikawa Bay, Picton brought the issue to light for the insurance industry.
The fire was in February 2009. A boat on fire burned its lines and drifted across to set fire to two 11m sport-fishers and severely damage a third.
'Things can go horribly wrong and cost a lot of money,” says Barry.
'The marinas are a lot more aware, but I don't know what the other marinas around the country are doing. Whangamata are new and can state the rules right from the start.”
Most marinas put their bigger boats together. As Tony Arnold at Tauranga Harbour Bridge Marina says, if you have a boat on fire between a couple of Riviera 47s at $2.2 million each, even $5 million won't go far.
Tauranga Bridge Marina has a stepped requirement with $1 million public liability on 10.5m, 12 and 14m boats, and $2 million on boats 16 metres or more.
Bay Insurance Brokers' boat insurance scheme includes a $5 million public liability component, says Barry.
The other Whangamata issue is the bar. John Galooley says if a boat can get over the bar, it can get into the marina.
The marina channel has been dredged to 1.5 metres at the lowest astronomical tide – which happens every two to three years. The bar is about 1.4 metres at low tide.
'In general terms there are no depth issues.” says John. 'We have got two metre berths I think a two metre draft vessel would handle the bar from half tide to full tide.
'If you don't touch when coming in over the bar itself then you are going to be okay.”
The marina has berths dredged to two depths – 1.5 metres at lowest astronomical tide and 1.9 metres at lowest astronomical tide.
He's got a two metre draft yacht right up against the wall on one of the 1.5 metre berths 'It does touch from time to time but it just settles into the sediment.”
It is shallower than Tairua which harbourmaster Wayne Price says is normally 1.6 -2.5 m mean low water springs. The channels within Tairua harbour from the end of the wharf are normally 1.3m MLWS.
'It's been the same for 12-14 years,” says Wayne. 'They think their throat's cut when they can't do what they want, when they want. All they have to do is leave the fishing half an hour earlier. It's hardly a huge deal I would have thought.”
Whitianga harbourmaster Gary Vincent says conditions at the three harbour entrances on the Eastern Coromandel are subject to weather and tide. While Whitianga is 3-4 metres, the locals stay home in an easterly blow.
'Boaties have to take responsibility for their own safety, they have got to use their brains,” says Gary.