No slip this year-How about you?

[Marz-Bar]

I have rented a slip for the last nine years at three different marinas.
I am self employed and work is scarce, and slip rent went up 5% again this year. Decided not to rent, will trailer this year, was wondering if anyone else is finding themselves in the same spot, and how you think that will affect the small marinas?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I've got mine paid for already. Started last August on putting the money aside. The slip fee didn't go up any, but the one time pump out fee (mandatory) went up $10. Life on a boat is so much better. Its seems like the only place I can unwind and relax.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I own my slips. Although it did cost me 5K last year to replace the foam under them.

 

[salty87]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

is that a barge too?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I frequent 3 different lakes no slip, trailer the 20' bow rider wherever I decide.

 

[arks]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

One of the negative things about owning a big boat- it costs money WHEREVER it sits because I can't trailer it home. Just last week I paid my bill for the winter layup ($1K).
She's at the marina waiting for me to get the bottom work done. If the weather cooperates I should splash mid-April.

I paid for my 2009 slip in January (up 5%) and totally agree with SS Mayfloat about a place to unwind. For that alone it's worth the cost.

 

[gstanton]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

Just a thought... I own 9 slips on a lake and rent them. So far only one person (new) has put in a deposit. One has sold his boat and will not need one. The other 4 from last year have not replied.


If you are not going to need a slip, please let the owner know!

 

[kyle f]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I cant stand to leave my boat in the water. I have never had a slip for longer than a week. I trailer mine whever I want whenever I want. I prefer it that way.

I agree on relaxing on a boat.

 

[Adamf24]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I'd love to have my boat in the water, but it's twice the cost of dry-rack storage in my area so I stick with dry-rack. It would be nice to drive up to the marina, and just hang out in my boat's own designated little spot though.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

is that a barge too?

Yes. The barge is owned by the company that replaced the foam.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

This will be first year in my lifetime without in-water mooring. Went with a marine railway to keep her high, dry, and clean. Also the place we have her is too exposed to keep at our own dock throughout the week so we rented in a sheltered bay.

The hassle factor has increased substantially tho and other members of the family aren't that comfortable with operating the cradle. Of course, that just means there's a better chance the boat will be there when I want her...

 

[The Bear]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

It is expensive but with a 32ft long 11.2 beam 13.000lb cruiser, I don?t have too much of a choice. So we keep ours in the water year round!

But man is it nice; we use to trailer our old boats for years too and from the lake. Now we just drive up to a nice parking lot stroll down the doc saying high to all our friends, slip the cover off and we are on our way!

The best part of having the same slip each year is we have tons of fun sitting on our dock partying with our boating friends, heck some weekends we never even started the engines that saves on the old fuel bill!

 

[The_Kid]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

Hey scoutabout. My neighbor down the cove has a setup similar to yours with one addition that makes it a lot easier for him to get everything lined up every time. He added a short cable from the bow eye to the main pull cable. There is a float on the hook for the bow eye. When he pulls in he uses a boat hook to grab the cable and hooks it to the eye.

When he winches the cradle up it puts the boat in the same spot every time. As they say a picture or in this case drawing, is worth a thousand words. I didn't see the guides in your picture at first, so just ignore the ones in the drawing.

 

[salty87]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

This will be first year in my lifetime without in-water mooring. Went with a marine railway to keep her high, dry, and clean. Also the place we have her is too exposed to keep at our own dock throughout the week so we rented in a sheltered bay.

The hassle factor has increased substantially tho and other members of the family aren't that comfortable with operating the cradle. Of course, that just means there's a better chance the boat will be there when I want her...

that's a sweet set-up...got more pics?

i trailer...more than 1 lake to chose from and marina gas prices make me want to cry.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I leased a slip / lift this season. Yes it is substantially more expensive than trailering but I figure i'll use the boat more this year. I'm sure it is not this way for everyone but there were many days that I chose not to boat b/c I didnt want to hassle with trailer, ramp, people, etc. Boat was a big investment and if another $2k for the season enhances the fun factor of that investment, then it is definitely worth it.

 

[woodee148]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I agree Hubbard, i am in the same situation. I can trailer mine everywhere (5000 miles this winter to fl), but sometimes its a pain in the butt. I was on a waiting list for a slip where I keep mine dry docked. A spot came open and I jumped at it. Before it was too much work to go out during the week because of the amount of work it is to put her in and take her out all before it got dark.

Now I am hoping I will get that much more use out of it!

 

[hubbard53]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I agree Hubbard, i am in the same situation. I can trailer mine everywhere (5000 miles this winter to fl), but sometimes its a pain in the butt. I was on a waiting list for a slip where I keep mine dry docked. A spot came open and I jumped at it. Before it was too much work to go out during the week because of the amount of work it is to put her in and take her out all before it got dark.

Now I am hoping I will get that much more use out of it!

exactly. Now, after work, I can drive 20mins and do some nice dusk fishing. Without a slip, that is NOT an option.

 

[golf101]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I don't have a slip, but I'm still trying to figure out what local lake I want to be on. I need a little more time on a few before I make a decision. Trailering is a hassle, but I'm probably a season away from getting a slip. (Sort of like dating: with lots of good choices, hard to figure out which lake/marina I want to settle down with).

The Kid: Looks like you could use a few more docks back in that little cove.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

Well I'm with Hubbard and Woodee for sure on this one. Yes, I'll be renewing my little local slip on the lake for the princely sum of $600 for 6 months.
I'm a big believer in human nature and the way I see it is that if the boat is there and ready to go, easy to access, just grab the keys and go on a whim....then I'll use it more, which I think I do.
Anyhow the thought of hitching the boat up, waiting at that ramp for the usual circus stuff, parking vehicles, etc everytime I want to enjoy a wee boat of boating makes it worth it to find a few bucks for the slip I guess.
Its not the same for everybody depending on where you live, city/country, lake access, lake distance, ramps, etc but I find that our situation sort of asks for doing it this way.
My two bits.
BP

 

[Edko]

Re: No slip this year-How about you?

I can dock mine but I kinda prefer to pull ot out as we use it mainly weekends.

Slip prices in MD vary from insane (mainly those that have yacht clubs) to reasonable, which are usually a good drive from the population centers. Places like this spring up here and there. http://easternshore.craigslist.org/boa/1094370489.html Old time, no frills, family place. Remains to be seen if the upper crest places start getting alot of vacancy but I doubt it here.