How Abbey Springs Boat Slips Are Assigned, Priced, and Transferred

Most buyers assume a boat slip comes with an Abbey Springs condo. It doesn't. And the slips you see listed for $400,000+ near the Abbey Springs Yacht Club aren't Abbey Springs slips at all.

Two separate marinas share the "Abbey" name at the west end of Geneva Lake in Fontana, and they run on completely different rules. One assigns slips to owners from a waitlist. The other sells deeded slips on the open market like condos.

This guide explains which system you're dealing with, what a slip costs, and how ownership changes hands.

Abbey Springs Marina vs. Abbey Marina: The Short Answer

Abbey Springs Marina is an owners-only amenity inside the gated Abbey Springs community. Spots are assigned from waitlists, not bought. Abbey Marina (also called Abbey Harbor) at 271 Fontana Blvd is a separate, private harbor where individual slips are deeded property that can be bought and sold on the MLS.

• Abbey Springs Marina: 88 slips, 14 buoys, 156 dry storage spots, about 28 dinghy dock spaces. Owners only. Waitlist based.
• Abbey Marina / Abbey Harbor: 417 wet slips. Individually owned "dockominium" units. Bought and sold through listings.
• How you get one: Abbey Springs requires you to own a unit first. Abbey Harbor requires a purchase and closing.

How Abbey Springs Marina Slips Are Assigned

According to the Abbey Springs marina page, the marina holds 88 boat slips, 14 buoys with tender service, 156 trailered boats in dry storage, and roughly 28 dinghy dock spaces for kayaks, canoes, and small sailboats.

To get any of those spots, two conditions apply. You must be an owner on record, and the boat must be titled in your name. The community states it currently runs waitlists for every category: slips, buoys, dry storage, and dinghy docks.

That second rule matters. A boat titled to an LLC or a relative may not qualify, so confirm before you close.

The marina runs roughly May 15 through October 15, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, weather permitting, with a seasonal crew of six handling launches and the tender boat.

Abbey Springs has also partnered with The Boat House Marina of Lake Geneva to give on-property unit owners another path to boating while they wait, per the Abbey Springs community overview.

For a full picture of the community itself, see our Abbey Springs Guide to Real Estate.

How Abbey Marina Boat Slips for Sale Are Priced

Abbey Harbor slips trade as deeded condominium units, so they carry a purchase price, property taxes, and association fees just like a home.

• 2018 record: Shortly after a full dock replacement, the harbormaster reported a slip closing at $179,000, the highest sale the facility had seen at the time, according to Marina Dock Age. The same report noted slip values jumped more than 50 percent after the renovation.
• 2026 listing: An 11x30 "AB" slip (#413) was listed at $440,000 in August 2026 and went pending within days. The listing showed $2,220 in 2025 property taxes and a $139 association fee figure.

Keep in mind the 2026 number is an asking price, not a recorded sale, and slip classes differ in size. Larger "AA" slips such as 44x14 units on the 900 pier sit in a different value tier than an 11x30 slip.

Price drivers inside the harbor: slip class and dimensions, pier location relative to parking and the Harbor House, extras like extended deck space, and a fixed supply of 417 slips.

How a Boat Slip Transfers: 6 Steps

1. Identify the marina. If the address is 271 Fontana Blvd, you're buying an Abbey Harbor dockominium. If it's an Abbey Springs condo listing that mentions the marina, you're buying waitlist eligibility, not a slip.
2. Request the governing documents. For Abbey Harbor, ask for the condominium declaration, bylaws, and harbor rules. For Abbey Springs, request the marina application and current waitlist policy from the harbormaster.
3. Confirm boat fit. Measure your boat's length overall and beam against the slip dimensions before you write an offer.
4. Budget the full carrying cost. Add property taxes, association fees, and the Wisconsin real estate transfer fee of $3 per $1,000 of value (per Waukesha County's fee summary of state law). On a $440,000 slip, that fee is $1,320.
5. Close like real estate. Abbey Harbor slips close with a deed and title work. Abbey Springs owners file the marina application after closing on their unit.
6. Title the boat correctly. For Abbey Springs, the boat must be titled in the owner's name to qualify.

Pros and Cons of Buying an Abbey Harbor Slip

Pros

• Permanent access. You own the slip. No annual reassignment.
• Protected water. Abbey Harbor is marketed as the only full-service protected marina on Geneva Lake.
• Amenities. Slip owners use the Harbor House showers, bar, and pool.
• Resale value. Owned slips can appreciate, as the post-renovation jump showed.

Cons

• High entry price. Six figures before you've bought a boat.
• Ongoing costs. Taxes and association fees never stop, even in the off-season.
• Assessment risk. Like any condo association, owners share the bill for major repairs.

Pros and Cons of the Abbey Springs Waitlist Route

Pros

• No slip purchase price. Access comes with ownership in the community.
• Close to home. Walk from your unit to the water.

Cons

• No guarantee. Waitlists exist for every category.
• Timing is out of your hands. You may own for seasons before a slip opens.
• Strict eligibility. Owner-of-record and boat-title rules apply.

A Quick Scenario

Consider a Chicago family buying an Abbey Springs condo in spring, expecting to dock their 24-foot pontoon that summer. Without checking the waitlist, they could spend the season trailering the boat. Knowing the rules, they might instead budget for an Abbey Harbor slip, or use dry storage while their name moves up the list. Same budget, very different summer.

Where the Abbey Springs Yacht Club Fits

The Abbey Springs Yacht Club is the community's lakefront dining room, not a slip-assigning body. Slip decisions run through the marina and its harbormaster.

For a deeper look at how water access is structured around Fontana, read our Fontana Lake Rights Guide.

The Bottom Line on Abbey Springs Marina Slips

Abbey Springs Marina assigns spots by waitlist to owners. Abbey Marina sells deeded slips at market prices. Know which one you're buying into before you sign anything.

Ready to find a home with the water access you actually want? Browse current Abbey Springs homes for sale or ask our team to check slip availability before you make an offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Abbey Springs Yacht Club the same as Abbey Marina?

No. The Abbey Springs Yacht Club is a dining venue inside the gated Abbey Springs community. Abbey Marina, also called Abbey Harbor, is a separate 417-slip private harbor at 271 Fontana Blvd where individual slips are deeded and sold as condominium units.

Does an Abbey Springs condo come with a boat slip?

Not automatically. Owners on record can apply for a slip, buoy, dry storage, or dinghy space, but the community runs waitlists for every category. The boat must also be titled in the owner's name to qualify.

How much do Abbey Marina boat slips sell for?

Prices vary by slip size and location. A slip set a facility record of $179,000 in 2018, and an 11x30 slip was listed at $440,000 in August 2026. Buyers should also budget for property taxes and association fees.

Can you rent out an Abbey Harbor slip?

Rental rights depend on the condominium declaration and harbor rules. Dockominium associations commonly allow owners to use, rent, or sell their slip subject to association approval, so request the governing documents before buying.

When is the Abbey Springs Marina open?

The Abbey Springs Marina operates approximately May 15 through October 15 each year, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, weather permitting.