Custom marina software development
Appfront builds custom software for marinas: berth management with a live marina map, reservations for permanent berth holders and transient guests, invoicing of harbour dues and subscriptions, waiting list management, and recording of water and shore power consumption via shore power. Tailored to the layout of your marina, your tariffs and the way you receive transient guests. For marinas that want to manage occupancy, reservations and invoicing in one place.
What is marina software?
Marina software supports the running of a marina: which boats are in which berth, which spaces are free for transient guests, what harbour dues and subscriptions are outstanding, and how much water and electricity is consumed per berth. Where many marinas work with a paper plan and a cash book, software brings all of this together into a current picture.
The software revolves around two groups: permanent berth holders with an annual subscription, and transient guests looking for a berth for the night. For both, an up-to-date marina map and a clear reservation and invoicing flow are important. Custom software aligns with the layout of your marina, your tariffs and the shore power and water meters you use. See also our broader harbour software.
This way the harbour master keeps track of occupancy and payment, and transient guests can easily reserve a berth. Also read more about custom software and our rental app for boat hire.
Live marina map
A digital map of the marina showing the status of every berth: occupied, free, reserved or under maintenance. The harbourmaster can see at a glance where a visitor can moor.
Visitor berth bookings
Visitors book a berth for one or more nights online or at the desk, with confirmation and payment, so availability stays current and double bookings are prevented.
Mooring fees and memberships
Invoicing for annual memberships for permanent berth holders and mooring fees for visitors, with a clear payment status per boat and berth.
How we build your marina software
We work step by step and involve your harbourmaster and administration early on, from reviewing your marina layout and tariffs through to go-live and ongoing management.
We map out how your marina is laid out, how you work with permanent berth holders and visitors, which rates and subscriptions you apply, and which meters and integrations (shore power, accounting, payment) you need.
We design the data structure, screens and integrations your marina needs, and test them against your way of working before we build.
We build in short iterations with automated tests and interim demos, so you steer priorities and the software fits day-to-day practice.
Controlled go-live with data migration and a safety net, followed by ongoing management, monitoring and further development.
What marina software actually does
We tailor every application to your marina's layout, your tariffs and the facilities you offer. These are the features we deliver most often.
Berth management
Management of all berths with dimensions, facilities and the boat moored there, on a live marina map, so occupancy and availability are always accurate.
Booking and check-in
Online and desk bookings for visitors and temporary berths, with check-in on arrival and check-out on departure, so occupancy stays up to date in real time.
Berth holders and waiting list
Management of permanent berth holders, their boat and contract, plus a waiting list for popular berths, so allocation is fair and traceable.
Invoicing and payment
Invoicing for memberships and mooring fees, with online payment for visitors and direct debit for permanent holders, and a clear payment status per boat.
Water and electricity
Recording of water and electricity usage through shore power and water meters, so consumption can be charged per berth or per visitor.
Harbourmaster app
A mobile app for the harbourmaster to allocate berths on the spot, check boats in and record usage or incidents, including on the pontoon.
Who we build marina software for
Marinas differ in size, location and type of guest. For each we build software that suits how they operate.
Visitor marinas
Marinas with many visitors who expect a smooth online booking and check-in, with a live marina map so the harbourmaster can allocate a berth quickly.
Club marinas
Watersports clubs with permanent berth holders, a waiting list and volunteers, who need clear membership administration and invoicing.
Commercial marinas
Larger marinas that combine memberships, visitors, winter storage and additional services, and need integrated invoicing and charging for usage.
Marinas with boat hire and storage
Marinas that also rent out boats or offer storage and need a link between berth, rental and invoicing. See also our rental app.
Test your idea first: a working prototype in 1 day
With OneDayBuild, we turn your idea into something tangible in one day for €1,150, so you can see whether further development is worth the investment. Decide to go ahead with the full build? Then we credit the full cost.
Explore OneDayBuild →Technology and integrations
We build with a modern, maintainable web stack and make it work on mobile at the pontoon. We connect to your payment provider for online payments, to shore power and water meters for consumption, and to your accounting software.
If you maintain boats and want to record additional work approved by the owner, see our repair checklist app for boat repairs.
Why choose Appfront for your marina software?
Appfront builds custom software and starts with the layout and operation of your marina. Marina software needs to fit permanent berth holders and visiting boats, your tariffs and the work of the harbourmaster on the pontoon.
We build a mobile app for the harbourmaster and a clear booking process for guests, and we write documentation so your team can manage the software. No black box, but transparent agreements on data and payment.
You work with a fixed point of contact who understands both the technology and your industry. That keeps communication short and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during the build.
Also see our harbour software, rental app and custom software. Questions about your situation? Get in touch with us.
- Live marina map with berth status
- Online booking and check-in for visiting boats
- Subscriptions and harbour dues invoiced
- Waiting list management for permanent berths
- Water and shore power usage charged on
- Harbourmaster app on the pontoon
- Payment and accounting integration
- Fixed point of contact and ongoing management
Security and privacy in marina software
Marina software holds personal data of berth holders and guests, boat details and payment information. We build privacy by design with role-based access, so the harbourmaster, administration and board each see only what their role requires, backed by a complete audit trail.
We protect payment data with encryption in transit and at rest, and process it through a certified payment provider. More about our approach: our information security policy and responsible disclosure policy. Discuss your situation via our contact form.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Complete audit logging of access and changes
- Daily back-ups with tested restores
- Built to the OWASP security standards
- Clear documentation of data flows and authorisations
- Ongoing monitoring and alerting
Frequently asked questions about marina software
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about custom marina software.
Marina software supports berth management with a live marina map, bookings for permanent berth holders and visiting boats, invoicing of harbour dues and subscriptions, waiting list management, and recording of water and shore power usage. Custom software is aligned with your marina's layout and your tariffs.
Yes. We build an online booking process that lets visitors reserve and pay for a berth for one or more nights, with a confirmation. The occupancy on the marina map stays up to date, and double bookings are prevented.
Yes. We integrate with power and water meters, so consumption is recorded and can be charged per berth or per visitor. Where meters are still read by hand, consumption can also be entered manually.
Yes. We build a mobile app that lets the harbourmaster assign berths on the spot, check visiting boats in and out, and record usage or incidents, right on the pontoon. The marina map is available in real time.
Yes. The software invoices annual subscriptions for permanent berth holders and harbour dues for visitors, with online payment for guests and direct debit for permanent holders, and a clear payment status per boat and berth.
We build custom solutions. Marinas differ in layout, tariffs, types of guests and the extra services they offer. Custom software fits your actual operation and grows with your marina.
Yes. We regularly take over existing systems. We assess the setup, migrate the data carefully and build from there towards a maintainable situation.
Ready to build your marina software?
Tell us how your marina is laid out and where you run into problems, from berth management and visitor bookings to harbour dues, waiting lists and shore power. In a no-obligation conversation you will get a clear picture of the custom software options that suit your marina.