Should I slip the boat this year?

[mnewb1]

I acquired a boat in mid season last year, a 23 foot sport fishing craft. I took it to a local marina and have been using there rack in/out service. This is certainly convenient. They usually get the boat in the water right away. The biggest bother to me (and this may be more inexperience then anything else) I get nervous coming back to the marina not knowing how crowded of a dock I'm going to find, and if it is crowded, having to "hover" at the inlet until a space opens up and then trying to maneuver this boat into a small space without hitting anyone else.

I've been thinking about using one of there smaller slips this summer, where I know I will always have a definite spot, and I will have plenty of practice getting in and out.

This would double my costs, but any other concerns you guys would have with this choice?

 

[seaboo]

Re: Should I slip the boat this year?

My main concern is you realize you need some practice docking. One slow day (or when you get an early start before noone is there) practice, practice, practice....it is an aquired skill. Go out, find a calm cove and play fender games (drop a fender in the water and practice "docking" with it...ie I am going to TAP the fender with the starboard side of the boat in the middle while the boat is straight, ect.

That being said, I love slipping my boat, I tended to get out on the water quicker and actually kept my boat cleaner (easy to get an early start and take an hour to wipe it down). If you get an uncovered slip make sure you cover your boat (might want to do this in a covered one too), bird droppings, rain, sun take a toll on the interior quick. Make sure your bilge pump is working. It is nice to be able to "get a wild hair" and get off work and say "i'm gonna take the boat out for an hour or two" and not have to call someone to drop it in the water.

 

[jamiemac74]

Re: Should I slip the boat this year?

The only concern I see with a wet slip verses a dry dock is the hull of the boat getting nasty. Do they offer
slips with boat lifts? Some of the marina's around here do. That maybe what you have checked on, but that was the first thought that came to mind. If it is a wet slip is there anything you can do to keep the hull from getting so dirty?

 

[lrlima]

Re: Should I slip the boat this year?

My perspective...I currently keep my boat on a trailer directly across the street from the marina. the only reason i do this as opposed to wet slip is because i dont want to deal with bottom paint and the maintenance that comes with leaving the boat in the water. However, the flip side of that is i probably dont use the boat nearly as much if it was in a slip (the after work cruise) because of the time it takes to hook up, uncover, drop it in the water, etc etc. Its usually just me doing all this. HOWEVER, im in the process of trying to sublet a slip with a lift. It will cost $800 for six months but i figure the amount of time i save and the extra time i get out on the water its worth it. Plus, if you have a slip and dont mind the maintenance, its probably nice option to sometimes sit in the boat while in the water and socialize with the neighbors, which you cant do with a dry store boat. Just get a good mooring cover and a bilge pump with float switch....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Should I slip the boat this year?

if it's a sports fisher, you don't have to cover everything. Bottom painting is not a big deal. IMO the closer the boat is to the water, the better, for your being able to enjoy it that much more. It's a pleasure craft. You have to pay for pleasure. The more you pay, the greater the pleasure. Likewise, the more time you spend using it (as opposed to maintaining it) the greater the pleasure.

A good boat is made to be in the water, outside. If you have a good boat, don't think twice about it. The budget is the limiting factor.

 

[sasto]

Re: Should I slip the boat this year?

if it's a sports fisher, you don't have to cover everything. Bottom painting is not a big deal. IMO the closer the boat is to the water, the better, for your being able to enjoy it that much more. It's a pleasure craft. You have to pay for pleasure. The more you pay, the greater the pleasure. Likewise, the more time you spend using it (as opposed to maintaining it) the greater the pleasure.

A good boat is made to be in the water, outside. If you have a good boat, don't think twice about it. The budget is the limiting factor.

Well said, Home Cookin'.

I have always kept my boats in the water, from a 10 footer on up. In saltwater. Without bottom paint I would pull her every couple weeks and clean the bottom. I figure more grows on the botom here in the saltwater than freshwater. I have never owned aboat that needed to be covered, nor will I. Jump in, check the fluids, and go! When she returnes to the slip I only hope she is a mess with fish blood.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Should I slip the boat this year?

I love having a wet slip. Half the time I go out to the boat and don't even go anywhere, except maybe a morning or evening cruise, and have a WONDERFUL restful weekend at the dock watching everyone else's madness