Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

[LuvBoating]

We are in our early 60's and it seems like it is becoming more and more physically exhausting to launch and retrieve our 20' cuddy cabin. Anyone out there that have the same feelings? Has anyone out there decide/decided to pay the money for a permanent slip or dry storage so there would be no more exhaustion when you got home? Gee, when I think about it, it does sound so, so GOOD......simply go to the slip, start up the boat and you are on your way OR call the Dry Storage and the forklift dude pulls your boat out of the rack and sits it in the water, ties it up to the dock, you arrive, start it and off you go. Both of these are nice and easy on the body, but financially, it sure isn't cheap (that we have found). In fact, from where we launch, we seldom see anyone in our age bracket launching a boat! When we lived in Colorado, launching/retrieving wasn't that bad because the boat was a Bowrider and 16 feet long. When that boat was on the trailer, I could step on the trailer, over the gunwale and up unto the side the boat! The only way to get on this cuddy cabin is to lower the 1-step ladder in the back and pull yourself up unto to the slim swim platform, step on the engine cover, then onto the rear seat and then onto the floor. Boy, even thinking about doing that can TIRE me out!!!
Comments......thanks!

 

[emilsr]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Keeping the boat in a slip is great; you can't beat the convenience. Wish I had done it years ago. I love it.....don't miss the trailer at ALL!!!!

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Was this a Bowrider? Our boat is a cuddy, so there is no way we can step up on the bow. Come to think about it, before we bought this cuddy, and were looking at full-size cabin cruisers for awhile, the only way to get on those cabin cruisers was to climb a ladder on the stern to get on the deck. For older folks, with a little added "older age weight", even that is somewhat tough!
Gee, I'm starting to think that this "physically exhausting/demanding" things are a main reason that older folks give up boating........the ones that can't afford a slip or dry storage, that is. Of course, the cost of owning, repair/maintenance of a boat is another reason.

We had a client with the same issue and to help make it easier we extended the trailer tongue a bit and then built a staired ladder into the trailer at the bow. Getting in and out of the boat at the ramp was much easier.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Yes, keeping a boat this way is nice, but it can COST to have the drive and boat bottom cleaned. We've seen some drives that looked pretty nasty due to sitting in the water for so long without being used. Moss and barnacles all over them.

Keeping the boat in a slip is great; you can't beat the convenience. Wish I had done it years ago. I love it.....don't miss the trailer at ALL!!!!

 

[emoney]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

The really easy way is to move to a channel that leads out that's got both a dock and a lift. Then, boat stays "out" of the water, and it's just a push of a button or two and you're off. Believe me, I didn't know how much I would enjoy it until we moved last July. Wow, what a difference. Plus, there's plenty of great buys down here, as you already know!!!

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

I will put a photo of our bow on here. We don't have steps going from the cockpit to the bow. The rails on the bow are very low, only ankle high. Our bow was made to sit on or walk across.

Yes, it was a 26' Bayliner cuddy. Not certain why you can't get on the bow of yours??? The one we worked with had steps from the cockpit to the bow. Maybe you can post a photo of yours?

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

These aren't Public access though. The ones we've seen have been in the back of private property houses.

The really easy way is to move to a channel that leads out that's got both a dock and a lift. Then, boat stays "out" of the water, and it's just a push of a button or two and you're off. Believe me, I didn't know how much I would enjoy it until we moved last July. Wow, what a difference. Plus, there's plenty of great buys down here, as you already know!!!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

although technically, any boat can go on a trailer, practically, it's not always true. The occasional launch of a big boat is one thing, but it's not the best deal every time you want to use it.
So you end up using it less b/c it's a pain. Then it ends up costing you more, per trip. (Say you have a paid-for boat and trailer that together costs $1000 a year to maintain, insure, tax and store. Use it 20 times, it's $50 a trip. Use it 5 times b/c it's such a pain, it's $200 a trip.)
There's the time factor. Let's say you could have a slip at the same ramp you launch from, 15 minutes from the house, so the drive time is a wash. No matter how ready to roll you are, it takes 15 minutes or so to hook up and another 15-30 minutes to park and store when you get home. From start to finish, including walking back from the trailer parking to get on the boat, 30 minutes minimum to launch if there are no lines. 30 minutes to retrieve and be road ready. So every trip has an hour and a half to two hours on the best day dealing with the fact that it's not in the water.
You want to go out, you and the missus, after work for a light supper and sunset, for an hour or so. You won't go if your one hour boat trip is less than one hour and a half of trailer fun. And you come home tired, not relaxed, which was the whole point.

Does it cost more to slip the boat? of course. But you don't have a boat to save money. You're in your early sixties; you earned it. Go boating, and spend your children's inheritance.

 

[geeco1]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Well, I'm not to that age yet, nor do I have a boat that size, however, I think that I would look into other alternatives to make launching easier. Examples, get an electric winch so you don't have to crank. Carry a small step ladder to get into the boat, look into an electric tongue jack that would allow you to raise the tongue for tow vehicle hook-ups, etc.

How are you launching your boat that you have to climb into the back? Are you getting in the boat and then your spouse is backing down the ramp? Can you launch next to a dock where you can get into the boat after it is floating?

Does your launch facility have one of the "handicap" boarding areas. We have those at several ramps in our area. They are in the parking lots and mainly meant for pontoons. They are at different heights to allow for different boats. You just basically pull-up beside them and then you can load anyone in a wheel chair or that has problems walking etc.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Bubba1235, here is what the bow of our boat looks like. The area, below the middle of the windshield (where it is open in the photo), is a folding door that leads into the cabin.

 

[mcgyver210]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Being at the Marina is letting us get more use out of our boat since we just goto Marina & load up, start & go. Also is allowing us to meet others for possible new friends & business since we are not retired yet & own a business.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Yes, keeping a boat this way is nice, but it can COST to have the drive and boat bottom cleaned. We've seen some drives that looked pretty nasty due to sitting in the water for so long without being used. Moss and barnacles all over them.

Absolutely, and that's why we have a lift. I had to "rig" a platform to get around the boat for cleaning. To get to the transom I have to drop a painters scaffold across the back of the slip (boat is bow in) to clean/wax/change oil/etc, but those are minor issues compared to the convenience of being able to push a button and go boating.

We have a few friends that use rack storage places. Yes, it costs some money, but you wind up boating more when you don't have the hassle of launching/retrieving....especially when you aren't a young pup anymore. I can't speak for everyone of course, but now that I've gotten away from trailer boating I don't know that I ever want to go back.

It's just so darned nice to hop in the boat and go whenever you want...I highly recommend it.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Everything you say here is true, but we do take our boat out quite often.......every-other week to every two weeks if at all possible......with the money we spend monthly/yearly on the boat, plus the money we've already spent on this thing......we have to take it out as much as possible. My wife totally understands about adverse weather conditions (to high of wind and possible rain) as well as sickness, but she really doesn't like it when we can't take it out. I have to admit, I don't either! And, now we have to watch when high and low tide is. We keep our boat in a RV/Boat storage parking lot that is only 3 miles from our apartment. The place we launch from is only about 6miles from the storage, but we do pay for the convenience of having our boat that close to where we live ($127 month/48' spot). There are no rental slips where we launch. Our gas isn't that much, cause we don't travel very far or stay out that long. We filled up last Nov., been out on the water 3times this year and still have over 1/2 tank left (approx 90 gal tank w/5.7L engine).
Oh, and by the way......no kids!
I basically done this Thread to find out how many people out there decided to "ditch the trailer" by selling it or paying a storage fee for it and put boat into Dry Storage or slip.

although technically, any boat can go on a trailer, practically, it's not always true. The occasional launch of a big boat is one thing, but it's not the best deal every time you want to use it.
So you end up using it less b/c it's a pain. Then it ends up costing you more, per trip. (Say you have a paid-for boat and trailer that together costs $1000 a year to maintain, insure, tax and store. Use it 20 times, it's $50 a trip. Use it 5 times b/c it's such a pain, it's $200 a trip.)
There's the time factor. Let's say you could have a slip at the same ramp you launch from, 15 minutes from the house, so the drive time is a wash. No matter how ready to roll you are, it takes 15 minutes or so to hook up and another 15-30 minutes to park and store when you get home. From start to finish, including walking back from the trailer parking to get on the boat, 30 minutes minimum to launch if there are no lines. 30 minutes to retrieve and be road ready. So every trip has an hour and a half to two hours on the best day dealing with the fact that it's not in the water.
You want to go out, you and the missus, after work for a light supper and sunset, for an hour or so. You won't go if your one hour boat trip is less than one hour and a half of trailer fun. And you come home tired, not relaxed, which was the whole point.

Does it cost more to slip the boat? of course. But you don't have a boat to save money. You're in your early sixties; you earned it. Go boating, and spend your children's inheritance.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

We pull the boat into a parking spot and prepare it for launch (fenders, lines, unhook electrical, etc.) and then I take it to the ramp, back it down to the water with just enough room left before the water for me to get on the boat from the rear (1-step pull-out ladder.....only way to get on this boat when on the trailer). Wife gets into the vehicle and backs it into the water and I put the drive down and start it. Once started, I let it run for a couple of minutes in neutral, while she disconnects the winch strap. She then gets back in the vehicle and backs up just enough to allow me to float off the trailer. She parks the trailer and I pick her up at the dock......we're off! In Colorado, we did launch next to a dock which made things a LITTLE easier!

Well, I'm not to that age yet, nor do I have a boat that size, however, I think that I would look into other alternatives to make launching easier. Examples, get an electric winch so you don't have to crank. Carry a small step ladder to get into the boat, look into an electric tongue jack that would allow you to raise the tongue for tow vehicle hook-ups, etc.

How are you launching your boat that you have to climb into the back? Are you getting in the boat and then your spouse is backing down the ramp? Can you launch next to a dock where you can get into the boat after it is floating?

Does your launch facility have one of the "handicap" boarding areas. We have those at several ramps in our area. They are in the parking lots and mainly meant for pontoons. They are at different heights to allow for different boats. You just basically pull-up beside them and then you can load anyone in a wheel chair or that has problems walking etc.

 

[mcgyver210]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

I basically done this Thread to find out how many people out there decided to "ditch the trailer" by selling it or paying a storage fee for it and put boat into Dry Storage or slip.

Now just to clarify we didn't ditch the trailer we have it still on the drive behind our house. Our original main reason was we own a business so being at Marina would have networking possibilities but we have also found other pluses to Marina.

 

[JUST BECAUSE]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

I have to say, you will not look back going with a slip or dry storage. I will say that I like the advantage of having the boat in the water and being able to use it 24/7 but we also kept a boat in dry storage for 3 years and the boat looked brand new after 3 years but you were limited by the marinas hours for getting it out. Just like some other comments, you will use the boat alot more, sometimes you just want to go out for a couple of hours and your not going to do that if you have to hook up, drive,launch,retreive,drive,unhook...much better at the marina, good luck with whatever you decide

 

[JimS123]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Well, I'm in my early 60's as well, so I understand where you're coming from. My boat is a foot shorter than yours, but its still a big rig. For me, being a trailer boater is the ideal way to go boating, and the ONLY way. I'll never use a slip, nor a dry stack. I find it easier to use the trailer.

First of all, I have an all roller trailer. Back it in till the rear trailer wheels are wet, pop off the winch and she rolls in the water all by herself. The power winch pulls her back on without working up a sweat. Wipe her down, drive home, back her in the garage, take 30 seconds to throw the cover back on (no need to snap it all up) and she's ready for tomorrow. She's 27 years old, has been in the garage since day one, and looks like new. My maintenance requiremenets are nil. And if I need to do something I only have to walk out the kitchen door.

In contast, my friend keeps his in a dry stack. He can't work on it when he wants to. After each trip, he has to carry all the stuff out of the boat, walk to the car, etc. Its always uncovered in the dry stack shed and its dusty dirty and full of spiders.

Another friend keeps his docked in his back yard in fresh water. His boat is 15 years newer than mine and it looks like crap. His outdrive is corroded, the canvas is worn badly (my canvas looks like new), and his gelcoat is faded. He always has troubles with mold and mildew. When I go out with him and come back in the evening, it takes a man and a boy to put the canvas cover on because you have to be in the boat to do it, while hanging over the side to fasten the snaps. Uggghhh, it makes me tired just thinking about it.

Moral of the story is that a garaged boat stays nicer, and the "trouble" with launching can be eliminated with the right trailer.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

I had to give up the idea of trailering when I bought the boat in my sig, but honestly I was ready. Previous boat was a 24' express cruiser, and though it was slipped during the season, the several times per year I put it on the trailer were tough.

At age 58, and with some health issues of my own, I can relate. It isn't just a matter of getting an electric winch- everything about it, from your own physical strength to the speed and agility with which you can handle launches and retrievals, just gets tougher. If you're inclined to give up trailering, just do it and don't think twice about it. It's life and we all hit that wall eventually.

My .02

 

[IllesheimVet]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

Bubba1235, here is what the bow of our boat looks like. The area, below the middle of the windshield (where it is open in the photo), is a folding door that leads into the cabin.

I have a 24' walk around cuddy . (I'm also 61). I usually launch by myself. After backing down the ramp, I board by stepping on my spare tire mounted next to the winch, then on to the bow. (a type of ladder, already mentioned would work well also) I had a Starcraft with a bow similar to yours, (slick and no useful bow rail.) I traded it in for a more user-friendly boat.

 

[Ob1415]

Re: Getting To OLD for Launching & Retrieving?

I say if you have the money for a slip, GO FOR IT!! Get a good, sturdy step ladder with handrails and chain it whatever anchor is available. No more launching and/or retrieving, and no more climbing a flimsy swim deck ladder. Problem solved. Who's next?