Slip vs Storage

[JJwithaSearay]

Just moved up from a 16' Sea Ray to an old 21' Celebrity bowrider. Instead of paying for covered storage we ponied up for a year lease on a slip at a marina. Double the monthly $$. Put it in the slip last week. Bought a lift too. We are going to try it for a year. Hoping we get enough use to justify keeping it in a slip forever.

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences on the matter ??

JJ

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Slip vs Storage

keep it covered when not in use!!! still do your normal maintainance. flushing the motor etc.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Slip vs Storage

Or better yet buy a canopy for the boat lift. Protects the whole boat and faster in and out.

Here is an example.

 

[Mike722]

Re: Slip vs Storage

After we got our boat lift w/ cover, we spent twice as much time at the lake. Before it would take about 30-45 mins before and after boating to get the trailer and boat in and out of storage. Now we show up at the lake and can be on the water in 5 mins.

We have a pontoon boat that has a heavy travel cover that we snap on without the support poles and then raise the boat under the 22' cover of the lift. If we do not use the travel cover the boat gets very dusty and the spiders are worst.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Slip vs Storage

Boat lifts and canopy are the best investment for a boat. Like you said you get to enjoy more boating time and protect the whole boat.

We just bought our first boat. Since my father always had a lift it wasn't even a consideration to buy one or not. But being all aluminum, at 17,000$ for 40' docks, 6000lbs lift capacity and 28' canopy these will last forever. Except of course the canopy material. That will probably have to change after 15 years.

 

[m&m252]

Re: Slip vs Storage

just the relaxation of not having to trailer a boat to a boat ramp and deal with the other congestion of trailers parked in stacks is comforting enough...

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Slip vs Storage

once you slip a boat, you'll never trailer again, trust me. i can be driving home from work, decide i want to take a spin, and be on the water in 5 minutes.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Slip vs Storage

canopy is great, but still use your covers. keeps the bird crap out of the boat.

 

[jspringator]

Re: Slip vs Storage

I use specialized boat storage about 2 miles away from the launch ramp. Boat is in constant darkness unless it's being used. I buy gas on land at a substantial savings. Cost is $500 a year as opposed to $2,000 or so for a covered slip. My 89 looks almost new. A moored boat would have looked awful after all these years.

 

[UST2TOW]

Re: Slip vs Storage

The boat lift and canopy are great if you have a place to put it. If you are renting a slip on top of the lift and canopy cost, what will the total cost of storage be (assuming the slip rate doesn't increase) over the next 10 years?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Slip vs Storage

just the relaxation of not having to trailer a boat to a boat ramp and deal with the other congestion of trailers parked in stacks is comforting enough...

Yep...I wil NEVER give up my slip!! NEVER (and I have Concealed Carry License to keep it that way)..

 

[tic]

Re: Slip vs Storage

Well lets see.. If you slip your boat you should have bottom paint and a barrier coat.. If not you might get blisters. 40% of all I/O boat sinkings are because of bellows failure.. Muskrat might chew through it etc. etc... Fresh water? o.k.. you STILL need at least a barrier coat and you'll still be hauling it out to clean the hull.. UNLESS YOU HAVE A LIFT!... Man, that covered lift is the way to go..

 

[Blue Bomb]

Re: Slip vs Storage

My buddy set me up with a non-covered slip and a lift for the last couple of months. We put a cover on the boat, but it comes off in 5 minutes. It's too cool. Granted, the gas costs more, the slip w/lift costs more, but you get more out of your boat.

If you find your self saying, "I'd get out on the lake more if I had more time." ... you need a slip with a lift.