help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

[alilley]

i am in need of some aid on making a decsision. i have a 17 foot deck boat with i/o. i am trying to descide on weather or not to leave the boat in the water or not. i am currently renting property that has water front property. my property does not have a dock but the house next to me is being rebuilt and no one is living in it. last year i stuck a deal up with the owner and for keeping his yard mowed he let me use the dock all i wanted. this dock here is a covered dock with an electric hoist (though currently not working i think it is just stiff from not being used) . so here are my options

1 - do i stirk up the deal with the "neighbor" (land owner) and see about using his dock again? the only down side to it is that yard is a roal pain to mown several trees and up and down hills with it and my yard is about a 2 - 3 hour ordeal to mow. only other main drw back to usnig this one is i am not for sure how much longer the house will be left open. last thing i want is to be in the middle of the season and all of a sudden people start to move in and now we have to either doi choice 2 or 3

2 - do i leave the boat on the trailer (i know there are several people do) and launch it every time we want to go out ?

3 - do i build me my own dock to use. if i do that it would be a simple one no cover and just a floating platform type of thing, just somehting very basic so the boat would be on the water and ready to go any time we want to go out

thanks for any thoughts here and everything will be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance

 

[ezmobee]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

If it was mine, I'd either trailer it or get my own lift. I would not want a little 17' bobbing about in the water all the time plus then you gotta bottom paint it and worry about it.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

Find out what it would cost to build the dock, what permits are needed etc. Then make sure the landlord approves. In fact the landlord should pay you for the materials because they become his property when installed. Maybe he could allow you a discount for a period of time as compensation for improving his property value.
Now decide, is it worth it to you? Could you put the trailer in your yard and use a winch to dunk & retrieve it? Might make a good home valet launch system. Just chock the trailer wheels when it's unattended.
I think the lawn for dock deal sounds good, but you know it can't last.

 

[cribber]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

See what he'd want to rent his dock and lift instead of bartering for mowing. I've had my boat 3 years now and we trailer it everywhere we go. We have several marinas near by and I just couldn't justify dry or wet storage costs. We"re 15 minute from the nearest ramp and our boat is 18.5 foot bow rider.

 

[alilley]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

i did forget to mention something.... this is located on an inland lake. it does not get anything over about a 6 in wave to it (unless we arfe talking about the wake from a boat) and even then i do not have water on the main body mine is off a cove and kind of far back. we have been fishing off the neighbors dock on the 4 of july (we all know how busy the water is on that day) and still cought fish cuz our water was some what calm.

my back yard is way to steep to set up my personal ram as it dops off about 30 feet down in about a 100 foot of walking distance so yes i could get the trailer down there but would be a real pain to get boat and trailer back up for any repairs needed

the bottom of the hull is already gray in color so i think it might be painted already but i am not for sure

 

[CaptainSkip]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

I'd enjoy the boat more if it's in the water. I'd go for the neighbors slip for now, plan and research on building your own so you don't rush and make rash choices, that way if you get the boot you'll have plan B and may find what kind of dock works best for you like adding electric, water, etc if it comes to that. You can hang out on the boat in the water before and after a day out, it's ready any time, like for a night cruise. No waiting at the ramp, etc. That's my 2.5 cents.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

Strike up the deal again. Mow the grass for as long as the dock is available. When the tenants move back in (if they use the dock) then get your boat out and stop cutting grass. Could be that they people moving back into the house don't even have a boat.

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

what about a jet dock? http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...ase_call_1_888_538_3625&aID=602I&merchID=4006

 

[alilley]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

i looked @ the link on that jet dock, all i got to say is i could build me a really covered dock, or ,ow the nieghbors lawn for a really long time for that kind of price. i could pay for an entire year of rent for what that showed. not to mention if i added the tow vechical, boat w/ trailer aall and my firebird all together the cost of that dock would cover that. just saying. but thanks for helping

 

[DaNinja]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

Because of shallow water, I had my lift pulled out last year. It makes me cringe, but if the boat goes in the covered dock this year, she'll be sitting in the water. My neighbor does it with his Formula and I've seen the clean-up involved.

My ramp is only 100' from my dock, but it is nice being able to walk to the dock and turn the key.
If the challenge of mowing allowed me to have a boat on a lift, I would probably accept the challenge.

BTW...spell check is your friend.
Good luck!

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

I had use of a dock once... It bit the big one when some chump bought the land and made me move my boat.. He didn't even have a boat to stick in there... Oh well... just pull her out... How far is the ramp from your rental property?

 

[alilley]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

the lake i live on has 2 ramps on it. the closer one of the 2 i really dont like as it is ran down but it does still work and it is actucal driving distance of abotu a mile and a half one way. the better one of the 2 ramps is about 5-7 mile from drive way to ramp and it is a hold not nicer and easier to get around, plus it is much newer.

DaNija ....ya i know that spell check would be a good friend but i seem to forget about him a lot.

 

[JoLin]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

What would it cost you to hire a guy to mow the neighbor's lawn?

I've done it both ways, and keeping the boat in the water was sure a lot handier. If it happens that people move in and you suddenly can't use the dock anymore, you're no worse off than you were before.

My .02

 

[tswiczko]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

Wow,... You get to use the covered dock and lift (if working) for picking up sticks and mowing a lawn?Hmmmmm.......What are you waiting for and I know everyone needs some advice once in a while

This isn't like some 15 acre yard is it?.. because if it were then I would figure how much it would cost me in time, wear and tear on tractor, fuel then see what a local dock rents for and go from there....

But if you are talking a small 1/2 acre or less yard I would see what it cost to have it mowed by a landscaper on a regular basis and compare that to slip rental then figure how much time and fuel it would require to do it yourself and make a decision from that point..

and if the yard weren't that bad to mow, I would even look into getting that stiff lift loosened up by getting my boat on it

Either way I don't think you're getting the short end of that stick....Unless it is like some 15 acre partially forested piece of land with rocks the size of your fist strewn around...

I would be more worried about insurance say if you put your boat on his lift and the lift broke who would fix it? or say if a storm knocked the dock roof down onto your boat what would happen? would your boat ins. pay for it or would they(boat ins. company) expect the home owners property ins. to pay for it?...I know if I had a neighbor kind enough to let me use his dock for extended periods of time for a little labor I'd be mowing the lawn(or having my kids do it :facepalm , I would not want to jeopardize the possibility of a good relationship with a neighbor over something as stupid as money though. You're the one who has to live next to them not me.

good luck

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

you need to do some cost-benefits analysis here.

How much would it cost to build a small dock, including permits, if you hired a company to do it?
That is the amount you are improving your landlord's property. Let's say it's $8,000. Would you give him an $8000 Christmas present?
How long is your lease? If you have 5 years left, and you build the dock, you are paying $1,600 a year for the dock.

If your landlord builds the dock, he will have to increase your rent. He will find that it increases his insurance, a lot.

How much is your time worth? If you work weeks and then spent half a day cutting the grass, you are paying a lot to use a dock. About 25% of your free time. If you don't know what your time is worth, take your take-home income for the year and divide by 2000 hours. Multiply by three hours of PITA grass cutting. That is the way you figure whatyou are paying to rent the neighbor's dock per week. Multiply by the number of weeks.
Do you have to cut the grass even when the boat is put away?
Can you hire someone to cut the grass for less? Do it. That lower amount is what you are paying to rent the neighbor's dock.

Now that you quantify the cost of (a) using the neighbor's and (b) building your own, compare the cost to use the local ramp.

One thing you can't price is the convenience. There is nothing better than having the boat inthe water in front of the house. You use it 10 times as much, and can use it for short trips--the "cocktail cruise" or a half hour in the morning before work. You are paying to have a boat whether you use it once or a 100 times. The more you use it, the less it costs per trip.

get a written agreement, called a license, to use the neighbor's dock. include in it how much notice he has to give you to move out.

consider a mooring ball in front of your house. Can you beach the boat in front of your house when you want to use it? Get a used dinghy to paddle out to it?
Consider a mooring post with a wire or weight and pully rig.
Maybe all you need is a shore platform and a mooring post. A floating platform and a catwalk.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

Personally, I'd be willing to do a ton of mowing to have my boat in the water, ready to go. Then agian, my lawn mower (JD3120) has a 6' deck and I can go at a pretty good clip! Also, I'd take an afternoon and see what is going on with the lift - and let the owner know you are fixing it up. He may not pay you, but it's a nice good will gesture if it just needs some work to free it up.

 

[alilley]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

i really do appreciate all of your thoughts here. i was really on the fence here but was leaning with the neighbor deal. now all i have to do is catch him when he is there to ask him. and thanks again

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

Well if you don't get the dock you could just moor it out there or close to the in 2 ft of water or something like that. and put a ramp too it.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

Well if you don't get the dock you could just moor it out there or close to the in 2 ft of water or something like that. and put a ramp too it.

I've got five acres worth that needs mowing and I'll let you tie up to a dock.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: help in making a descision.....to dock or not to dock

This is always one of the most interesting topics on the forums. I go through my options every year. Rent my buddies dock right down the street for a grand and buy a lift for another 2 grand. Go to the marina down the road and pay for in/out service at $1600 per year. Put the boat in the water for two grand per year or put the boat in storage and trailer two miles away and save $1500 per year. With the cost of gas this year on the water the off site storage at $35 per month is looking pretty good. But.........if I had a lift available, no dock rental fee and only had to cut grass, I think I would definitely do that rather than trailer.