My understanding is that while it is always a good idea to remain on good terms with marina management many of these organizations are far more interested in collecting rent than providing protection. Many marinas have no practical physical security present. If it has gates they are often disabled, broken, easily bypassed and seldom is there anyone watching. Often a thief just has to follow someone in. I have never seen one with any security on the water side.

Getting friendly with any live-aboard occupants in the marina are IMHO far more likely to get end up seeing concerned and watchful eyes on your boat. Marina managers are often just doing a minimum job. Live-aboard sailors have a much more vested interest in keeping thieves away. They are not only looking out for your sailboat. They are looking out for their home. A higher level of motivation.

They are also often the main, sometimes the only, protection if any alarm goes off while your away. In large marinas where the vast majority are once-a-month weekenders an alarm can sound until the battery dies before anyone bothers to see what the commotion is about. Boat owners can easily show up and find their dock lines, still tied to the boat, leading underwater.

Live-aboard sailors can be busybodies but they are also the ones who retie lines that have come loose, ask suspicious people what they are doing and who will act when your bilge alarm sounds at 2AM. Many marina owners actively exclude live-aboard sailors because they are 'high maintenance'. Sad because they can also be the heart of a community in a marina.

The marinas I have found so far almost all prohibit live aboards. One exception is isolated, has no shore amenities, and has an enterance that is silted in so at low tide there is about two feet of water. Another has a length limit that the potential new boat exceeds substantially. The third has no openings. Still in the hunt.

I am looking at a high security yacht club as a last resort. Even though they bar live aboards they are very convenient, have great amenities, and an active membership activity schedule. Occasional overnights are not supposed to be a problem. I can crash at the office once in a while, and I am also looking to rent a room at a friend's house.

If the boat does well with its surveys and comes home to Stockton, it will acquire as much security as practical.

Around here it’s not uncommon to see people living on a boat, I have a friend, he and his wife lived on a 45-foot boat all winter while he was having a home built.

I haven't played around the Delta in many a year, but I seem to recall a lot of rich guy type houses with private docks. I wonder if you could locate a vacant "weekend getaway" type of house, and work out a deal to be a liveaboard your own boat housesitter at one of them? The home owner would get a measure of security, you would get a place to park/live. Maybe check with a realestate agent or something???

Interesting idea, but I am pretty far along the path of another approach. I will keep it in mind, though. Thanks.

Funky, every marina in the area around me has live aboard's allowed. Another reason not to like CA I guess.

it's a slippery slope:

OK, I like it. A real "party" boat.

Funny, I thought it was the Louisiana governor's mansion.

It does say "GOVERNOR" on the side.

I can see the first lady sweeping down the executive staircase during the governor's ball.

On the plus side it isn't so likely to end up underwater. Unless that hull rusts through and it takes on water.

of course that's our Guvnor's Mansion!!!

You ought to see the picture of the First Allimagator: "T-Boy",
he likes dem tourist,,especially tha yankee ones wid garlic butter, cher!!!