Marina Shop and Beach

As I was coming up with a model for my Marina area, the first building I came up with was my Marina Office.  I figured it could handle all the business that people going out on the water would need.

Then I found a 4644 Marina set at a Toys'R'Us.

The Marina Shop and Beach

It was a great solution for handling all the equipment rental business, while the Marina Office could handle boat rentals.  This also allowed me to get a lifeguard and a seaside cafe as well, to give the oceanfront a bit more character.

The lifeguard tower and rescue personal watercraft ready to save someone out in the water

The shop has a great array of equipment for rental.  A fishing rod, swim flippers, life jackets, a speargun, SCUBA tanks.  Now sure, if you're renting a boat, you'd have to haul all that stuff all the way over to the docks, then haul it back in after returning to shore.  Kind of a pain in the ass, especially at the end of the day.  Those days I've sent in a boat all afternoon in the sun, I've felt quite rundown.  Not sure how to fix this any time soon, but I could figure something out.

 The marina shop, front (left) and rear (right) views

The Paradise Cafe sitting above the marina shop works as is, but I've also considered making it an office for the lifeguards.  An idea inspired by the TV show Baywatch.  Maybe if I had a David Hasselhoff minifigure...

 The Paradise Cafe inside (left) and outside (right)

I know I said I have a beach here too, but that's still in development.  I'll also have to figure out how to connect it to the area under the lifeguard tower.  Like everything else, it's a work in progress.  Stay tuned...

Sets used: 4644

Marina

I may not have mentioned this in the past, or maybe I did.  Maybe you inferred from the context of or the pictures of my Lego city.  In any case, I'll just tell you.  It's a coastal city.  It always has been.  At first is was along a lake, but after I developed ideas for buildings alongside it, it lies next to the ocean.

A wide shot of the virtual model for the Marina

I came up with a number of items to put on the coast that I considered "standard" for a city by the sea.  A launch ramp for boat owners to get their crafts into the water.  An office building to oversee coastal operations.  Some docks for those who need to come ashore.

The Launch Ramp, Marina Office, and Docks

I'm still trying to find things to put by the ocean.  I'm missing some beachfront property, and I'd also like to put a scientific oceanic research facility there as well (I have several Aquazone sets from the mid-90's that need a purpose).  Before I created my Lake Shore area outside the city, I did have some of the housing units oceanside, but I ended up with too many, hence the creation of the Lake Shore.  Live and learn, I suppose...

The Police Dock and Marina Shop

Thanks to my Marine Base, I felt they needed an outpost along the sea to look out for oncoming invasion forces.  Sure, it sounds a bit medieval, but so are the men and women stationed here.  A couple of cannons, some patrol boats, pirates and knights armed with guns and swords.  No one is getting by these forces.

The Marine Fortification

Over the next few months, I'll go more in depth into the buildings on the coastline.  Just wanted to get you a bit of a preview here, so take a look and maybe you'll get some ideas as well.