Marina Storage - Uncovered

[DocG2828]

I've decided to get a Maxum 1800mx....and will be storing it at a marina since I have no tow vehicle and may not have one for at least 1 year. The marina we're looking at offers wet-slip or dry storage. The dry storage is uncovered and outdoors, with free launching anytime they're open. Any thoughts on this type of dry storage? I figure its probably no worse on the boat than leaving it outdoors at my own house, without the convenience of easily doing maintenance and cleaning. I'd love the ease of slipping it, but don't want the wear on the new boat just yet. If we do store it outdoors, any tips on keeping it in good shape? The boat will have bow and cockpit covers, and we thought about adding another full cover on top of that. Oh, we also have a buddy with a truck, who will probably be boating with us a lot, so will owe us some favors. He'll be useful for towing the boat to the marine store for any maintenance I don't do....and maybe pulling it home on occassion to do a really good cleaning, etc.<br /><br />Thanks guys!

 

[tommays]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

I like the racking systems as long as the staff doesent ding up the boat<br /><br />The place buy me has ground level owner matiance racks that will place your boat on when you need to clean it and such<br /><br />You need to invest in a full cover the gelcoat and the interior will really age quick with fulltime sun<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[DocG2828]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

It actually won't be racked, more or less it'll be stored on its trailer in a parking lot.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

I would still get a full cover.Get one large enough to come down over the sides to protect it from the sun.Gelcoat will fade fast in constant sun light. I would go that route before leaving it in a wet slip.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

are the wet slips covered? if they are i would go with wet slip for the season, and have your friend tow it home for the winter. reserve your slip for the following season.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

My choice would be trailer storage with a full cover.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

"The dry storage is uncovered and outdoors"<br /><br />doesn't sound very dry.<br /><br />"with free launching anytime they're open"<br /><br />Do they launch it for you?<br />from the trailer, with a crane hoist, or with their truck?<br />What do you do if they are closed, either when you want to launch, or if you come in late at night?<br /><br />What is the price for "dry" and slip ?

 

[DocG2828]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

"Dry" is 600/season....wet is 950/season....May 1 to Oct 31. The marina and launching is from 10am to 9pm. If we come in late, we can park at one of the transient dock spaces they have. They launch the boat during the same times, they'll launch from the trailer using a vehicle.<br /><br />The wet-slips are uncovered as well. I know this isn't the ideal situation either way, but its one of the most reasonably priced with the best options for someone without a tow vehicle. They said they can give us a parking spot by a water source so we can wash the boat off after each use. So if we cna keep it clean this first year, next year we could probably afford a dry rack storage or covered storage at a marina.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

do the kiss you first?

 

[jollymon]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

DocG,<br /><br />I am surprised by the number of people that will not wet slip thier boat. By nature a boat is design for the water, thats why we buy them, to use them in the water.<br /><br />As far as the wear and tear, the sun that shines on the boat in the water is the same sun that shines on a boat thats trailered. If you cover the boat on your trailer cover it in the water. You will need to paint the bottom and you will need to make sure you have a working bilge pump or two.<br /><br />The advantage of having your boat wet slip is you can use it any time. The marina you are looking at is open 10a-9p. The hours are not bad, but if they open at 10a, and there are 5 people in front of your that could be a long wait on a sunny saturday morning. The other aspect you would be missing, is coming back to the dock, having an impromtu dock party. They can be as much fun as being out on the water. Or the stopping by on the way home from work because it is so nice, that you want to go for a short ride.<br /><br />Weigh all of the pluses and minuses before you decide. <br /><br />When I got my boat, I had planned to trailer it. That got old real quick. On of the best thing I did was to join a yacht club and get a slip for the boat. I use it alot more then I ever thought I would be able to!

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

Wet-slip, and put a cover on it. Thats what I do at my dock, and I never get a single drop of water in my boat. Yeah you'll spend a bit more for the wet slip, but it will pay for itself the first time you can walk up, take the cover off, start the engine, and motor off. Otherwise you are messing around with waiting for someone else to do the launching for you. What happens that day when its really nice, and everyone else there wants their boats launched too? You wait, just like a launch ramp. No waiting in a slip...

 

[DocG2828]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

Yeah, I do fear the wait to launch. Its a brand new boat, so I'm guessing the bilge pump would be fine if we slipped it. It comes with a bow and cockpit cover....these enough for wet storage? Or should I do a full boat cover on top of that if we slipped it? The only downside we have with wet-slipping it is the build-up on the bottom, and having no tow vehicle, no good way to pull it every so often to keep it nice and shiny new.<br /><br />Such a tough decision. Your advice and input is really helpful though.

 

[salty87]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

as you have no tow vehicle, i'd go for the wet slip. it would stink to have to leave it there anyway and not have it in the water for use at a moment's notice. you're not talking a huge difference in price.<br /><br />couldn't they pull it out on the trailer for you every so often? <br /><br />what about getting a tow vehicle and taking it home? slip fee, higher cost of gas on the water, slipped boats are usually a little less maintained than trailered 'cause you take it out on a whim more often and put it up wet, cleaning the bottom, can't leave that lake...these all add up over time.

 

[DocG2828]

Re: Marina Storage - Uncovered

Well after much debate, we decided to leave it out of the water. Not the money really, more trying to keep the boat clean and shiny. We talked to several people who said the owners and staff of this marina are very good at what they do and will have be ready to launch our boat by the time we arrive, remove the covers and have it packed up. No guarantees, but if we're disappointed we can always upgrade to the wet-slip. The tow vehicle will probably come in about a year. I just bought my 04 Mustang GT nine months ago, and we have a new Hyundai Sonata we bought about a year ago. Neither will tow the boat and we'd lose big bucks on either one right now if we traded them...and can't afford a third vehicle until next year. Thanks again for all your suggestions!