Boating Question

[Sheriff Dill]

Calling advice from all boaters out here. 
 

My wife and I are getting ready to purchase a boat. The boat is bigger than what our SUV can tow. However older boys both have a truck that can tow it. We have come across the idea of a boat slip at a marina. 
It’s a little on the pricey side for the season but the services they offer before, during  and after the season are an extremely huge convenience for us not always having to rely on making sure the boys are available. 
 

For all you boaters. Have any of you used the slips at marina and if so was it worth the price.? Did you find yourself using the boat more than if it was trailered. The marina is just shy of an hours drive but the boat would be able to stay there onsite year round. 
 

Thanks in advance 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

What's the total weight with trailer.

What's the hull length? 

[Sheriff Dill]

Around 5.5 k give or take 

24 ft 

[El Sobrante Kid]

No advice on towing, sorry. As far as storage, DO NOT LEAVE IT IN THE WATER for any length of time. Either put in on a trailer and take it to a secure storage yard, take it to a service that will pull it from the water for you and store it indoors on a rack, or find a lifting dock that you can use (or some variation of those options). Short term it is not a big deal for the boat to sit in the water, but over the long term leaving your boat in the water can lead to a number of issues.

[Sedalia Dave]

Boats have a lot of hidden costs that only show up AFTER you buy one.  The old adage that "a boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into" is very accurate. 

 

Seriously consider how much you will use the boat BEFORE you buy it. You live in Vermont. realistically how long is the recreational boating season. Consider that the boat will spend over 1/2 the year on long term storage. How much will this cost?

 

Find out what it costs to rent a boat. For recreational use renting is almost always cheaper than owning.

 

Boats depreciate faster than almost any other major purchase. They are expensive to repair and the wait time to get one into a reputable shop is measured in months. Only use non-ethanol gasoline. NEVER EVER use gasoline that has ethanol in it. Not all marinas have non-ethanol fuel so be sure to ask and even then be skeptical. Fuel at the marina will cost 1 to 2 dollars more a gallon. Add fuel stabilizer to the fuel EVERY time you fill up. The boat will have to be winterized the end of the season. Done properly all the fuel in the tank will have be drained and this is often not easy. Batteries need off-season maintenance too.

At the beginning of the season it will have to be de-winterized. This includes replacing all the fluids and verifying proper operation of the impeller that circulates water through the engine for cooling.  Find out what the local shops charge for all the above.

 

If after weighing all the costs you still decide to buy a boat do not leave it in a slip that is uncovered. Also take a hard look at the other boats in the marina. How well are they protected from the sun. Look closely, how much bird poop is on them. Bird poop will damage the finish and vinyl seats and carries diseases.  

[Sedalia Dave]

I did some checking and an all day rental on Lake Champlain is about $1000.00  Sounds like a lot but add up the cost of a seasonal slip plus off season storage, plus maintenance plus the cost of the boat and $1K starts to sound like a bargain.   

[Sheriff Dill]

23 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

I did some checking and an all day rental on Lake Champlain is about $1000.00  Sounds like a lot but add up the cost of a seasonal slip plus off season storage, plus maintenance plus the cost of the boat and $1K starts to sound like a bargain.   

So far what I’ve found for the slip, storage, winterization including shrink wrap and getting it ready again in spring is 4 k  

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

3 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Around 5.5 k give or take 

 

5.5 Kilo ? 🤔

Edited Wednesday at 09:34 PM by The Original Lumpy Gritz

[Sheriff Dill]

24 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

5.5 Kilo ? 🤔

Thousand lol 

[Texas Lizard]

Get one with NO holes in the bottom...Might just work over time....

 

Texas Lizard

 

I do not do ocean boats in any way, shape or form....Fresh I am OK with.....

[Texas Maverick]

I guess I am beating the odds after reading all the posts. I bought a 19 ft Ranger bass boat back in 2007. It was a 2006 519VX with a 200 Mercury on it. I fished almost every weekend for about 4 years all up and down the eastern seaboard (VA to FL) including TN, AL and GA as an amateur in the pro/am circuit while I lived in TN. I paid $25k for it when I bought it from the original owner. It has always been garage stored when not in use and has sat for the past 8 years here in Texas in our garage. Other than the normal maintenance it hasn't been a cash drain pouring money in a hole in the water. I did have to put on new power heads but that was covered under warranty. I have been offered $24k for it a couple of months ago and am considering selling it since it is just sitting. It only has about 200 hours on it since the power heads were installed. I have a hard time taking it out and putting it in the garage by myself when going to the lake. Old age is creeping up on me and that is why it has been sitting for so long. I got my money's worth out of it and its value has stayed high. It still looks like new with a few scratches from branches and docks but overall it is in excellent condition. I do agree if you are going to keep it in the water to have a dock that will allow you to raise it out of the water when not in use. The other problem you need to be concerned about is critters invading it while it sits. One friend of mine had racoons make a home in his and chewed up all the wiring. Cost him a few thousand to have it rewired. I believe insurance paid for most of the cost though. Another had a black widow get into one of his compartments and he almost got bit reaching in but saw it before he did. Good luck and go have fun. We only live once.

 

 

 

TM

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Thousand lol 

A 3/4T truck could easily handle it.

[sassnetguy50]

Yes, it was worth it until the grandkids came along and tied up weekends.  Then the boat sat and was eventually sold.

 

We kept pontoon boats on the water for years.  There were open slips in a protected marina 15 minutes away.  Removed in the winter, trailered home to clean the pontoons, back to the marina for pole building storage.  We used it enough to want the slip: park vehicle, walk down, uncover boat, load up, untie and go.  Much quicker than waiting in line at the public ramp for up to an hour on busy days.  No storage worries, no boat ramp loading accidents, no government environmental inspections for transporting an invasive species.  We did have wasps build their home on every dock we ever rented.  Another boat had raccoon problems after they cleaned fish on their boat.  Security can be an issue, a stranger can untie and joyride a boat with little effort. 

 

We trailer a fiberglass boat now, the current water we use is dirty and we only get out 5-7x a year.

 

[Sheriff Dill]

2 hours ago, Texas Maverick said:

I guess I am beating the odds after reading all the posts. I bought a 19 ft Ranger bass boat back in 2007. It was a 2006 519VX with a 200 Mercury on it. I fished almost every weekend for about 4 years all up and down the eastern seaboard (VA to FL) including TN, AL and GA as an amateur in the pro/am circuit while I lived in TN. I paid $25k for it when I bought it from the original owner. It has always been garage stored when not in use and has sat for the past 8 years here in Texas in our garage. Other than the normal maintenance it hasn't been a cash drain pouring money in a hole in the water. I did have to put on new power heads but that was covered under warranty. I have been offered $24k for it a couple of months ago and am considering selling it since it is just sitting. It only has about 200 hours on it since the power heads were installed. I have a hard time taking it out and putting it in the garage by myself when going to the lake. Old age is creeping up on me and that is why it has been sitting for so long. I got my money's worth out of it and its value has stayed high. It still looks like new with a few scratches from branches and docks but overall it is in excellent condition. I do agree if you are going to keep it in the water to have a dock that will allow you to raise it out of the water when not in use. The other problem you need to be concerned about is critters invading it while it sits. One friend of mine had racoons make a home in his and chewed up all the wiring. Cost him a few thousand to have it rewired. I believe insurance paid for most of the cost though. Another had a black widow get into one of his compartments and he almost got bit reaching in but saw it before he did. Good luck and go have fun. We only live once.

 

 

 

TM

Nice looking boat. I grew up fishing off of a Ranger. 

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

I owned boats since I was 16 in 1957. The only problem they kept getting bigger. 

 

I am assuming the hull is fiberglass and you mentioned the slip is on a lake. A boat that is slipped (either in salt or fresh water) needs the bottom prepped before you put it in the water for the season. I would wax the bottom. Also check the engine for an unpainted piece of metal on the outdrive, make sure it is there and not painted. It is there to prevent metal damage from electrolosis. I would also have the bottom cleaned at least once a month from scum, moss  or any other growth. Turn your battery (s) of when you are not using it. I would also cover the boat. prevents birds from crapping on it. bees/wasps from making nest in it and keeps UV rays from damaging the plastic and upholstry. Talk to those who have slips and you neighbors and ask if they have experienced any theft. If so, remove your electronics and any loose stuff that could "disappear". The yellow one is my first boat

Edited Thursday at 01:11 AM by Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life

[Sheriff Dill]

38 minutes ago, Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life said:

I owned boats since I was 16 in 1957. The only problem they kept getting bigger. 

 

I am assuming the hull is fiberglass and you mentioned the slip is on a lake. A boat that is slipped (either in salt or fresh water) needs the bottom prepped before you put it in the water for the season. I would wax the bottom. Also check the engine for an unpainted piece of metal on the outdrive, make sure it is there and not painted. It is there to prevent metal damage from electrolosis. I would also have the bottom cleaned at least once a month from scum, moss  or any other growth. Turn your battery (s) of when you are not using it. I would also cover the boat. prevents birds from crapping on it. bees/wasps from making nest in it and keeps UV rays from damaging the plastic and upholstry. Talk to those who have slips and you neighbors and ask if they have experienced any theft. If so, remove your electronics and any loose stuff that could "disappear". The yellow one is my first boat

Is there a specific wax you would recommend? 

[Sheriff Dill]

Here’s the boat we are looking at. 
 

[watab kid]

yes , ive used a marina slip but only for weekend or weeks long stay for all the reasons mentioned above by El Sobrante Kid but specifically the invasive species infestations , 

[Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967]

That's a cool boat!

 

But no matter how cool, a twenty-four foot, two and a half ton boat is a lot of boat to be hauling and launching as often as you're likely to want to use it.  Do-able, of course, but it's a significant effort... and I can tell you from experience that it can be a deterrent from enjoying the craft as often as you'd like.

 

I and friends have done it... and we've done year-round berthing in both salt and fresh water (salt has more issues than fresh), as well as seasonal berthing.  If you're going to be sticking with one lake or waterway, seasonal berthing could be a good way to go.  Haul 'er home during the off-season for storage and maintenance.  Some marinas also offer dry storage; a bit more of an expense, but another off-season option.  Or even ON-season "dry berthing," if launching facilities are handy.  It's really easy to get used to packing a lunch and refreshments and bolting out the door to a waiting boat.    

 

If you do store it in the water, the sacrificial anodes @Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life mentioned are a must.  Heck, I'd do 'em even if I was dragging it to the water every weekend.  Zinc for salt water; magnesium for fresh.  🙂

 

Whatever you decide, have fun!  😄

 

 

 

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

11 hours ago, Sheriff Dill said:

Is there a specific wax you would recommend? 

It's been a long time (over 25 years) since I owned a large boat and lots of things have changed. There have been all kinds of state of the art coatings for cars and I am sure that the applies to fiber glass boats. I used to use the old (labor intensive) hard car wax that was a pain to apply. I would go to a local boat shop and ask them .

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

I just googled "Fiberglass boat wax" and got a ton of information. 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Of no Help, but I have had several acquaintances whom lamented the happiest days of their Boat Ownership were the Days when they bought the boat and the DAY THEY SOLD the thing. 🙄   Yeah yeah I know, no help at all.

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

The definition of a boat is "A hole in the water you pour money In"  LOL

[Texas Maverick]

Just don't use Pledge to shine the boat with. I know of a fellow bass fisherman that did it to his BassCat and it did shine but when he took it out the next weekend to a tournament the sides were so slick from the Pledge he ended up in the water a couple of times when he stood on the edge of the boat. It was funny to us but not him.

 

TM

[watab kid]

to the OP , your into more boat than iive ever owned - always could move mnine with my suburban , ill never own one that i have to have moved for me , but i respect what your doing - beware of pirates on the high seas , they are real comments from friends that sail , 

[Sheriff Dill]

4 hours ago, watab kid said:

to the OP , your into more boat than iive ever owned - always could move mnine with my suburban , ill never own one that i have to have moved for me , but i respect what your doing - beware of pirates on the high seas , they are real comments from friends that sail , 

You could probably tow this with a suburban. My youngest boys Canyon is supposed to be able to tow it. But we haven’t hooked it to it yet. We shall see how much strain it puts on it if we use his truck. We have a large family whether biological ,adopted or foster and the grandson oh yeah and SIL😀we  wanted everyone to be able to come with us and enjoy our dream with us. 

Edited Friday at 10:24 AM by Sheriff Dill

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Sheriff Dill said:

You could probably tow this with a suburban. My youngest boys Canyon is supposed to be able to tow it. But we haven’t hooked it to it yet. We shall see how much strain it puts on it if we use his truck. We have a large family whether biological ,adopted or foster and the grandson oh yeah and SIL😀we  wanted everyone to be able to come with us and enjoy our dream with us. 

Towing it isn't a big deal. Stop'n it is!

3/4 T truck has the braking you need.

[Eyesa Horg]

Will depend a lot on whether the trailer has brakes too. My half ton GMC has zero issues towing my 8K# camper or stopping it. And gets great fuel mileage to boot! Average of 15 MPG towing, a couple less in the hills. The truck is factory rated for 9600#

[Sheriff Dill]

35 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Will depend a lot on whether the trailer has brakes too. My half ton GMC has zero issues towing my 8K# camper or stopping it. And gets great fuel mileage to boot! Average of 15 MPG towing, a couple less in the hills. The truck is factory rated for 9600#

I’ll be right over to borrow the truck to drive to Maine 😁

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

47 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Will depend a lot on whether the trailer has brakes too. My half ton GMC has zero issues towing my 8K# camper or stopping it. And gets great fuel mileage to boot! Average of 15 MPG towing, a couple less in the hills. The truck is factory rated for 9600#

Anything over 1500 lbs GVW has to have brakes.

[Eyesa Horg]

4 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Anything over 1500 lbs GVW has to have brakes.

I made that comment not knowing if boat trailers had good brakes since they get immersed in water regularly. Especially those in salt water! Towed my new camper home from the dealer and in one camping trip before I found out the trailer brakes had never been adjusted and thus did nothing. The truck stopped it just fine. Definitely a difference with them working after I adjust all 4 wheels that were completely backed off from the factory.

Noticed the issue because I tested the break away switch !!!

An emergency lock up the brakes could have been a whole different ball game however!

 

[Sheriff Dill]

14 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Anything over 1500 lbs GVW has to have brakes.

Here’s the specs on the trailer. Assuming being a fuel axel it has brakes. 
 

[Eyesa Horg]

Doesn't mention brakes. One axle or both. Be sure the truck you take has a brake controller installed and working. Depending on where in Maine you have to go, you'll have to up and down the mountain. Don't get carried away in the down side!! 

[Texas Maverick]

Another problem not mentioned is getting it out of the water on a slick concrete ramp. I have seen a number of vehicles that could not pull the boat out of the water and get up the ramp.

 

TM

[Eyesa Horg]

At the boat ramp in Norwich Connecticut, I watched a station wagon with a boat they had just loaded but not strapped down yet slide backwards on the slime and go over the bulkhead! The boat floated to some extent, bow under water as the trailer and car sunk!! Later found out it was 40' of water at the bulkhead at high tide in the Thames River. Used to be where supply ships would dock back in the day. It was the grossest boat ramp we ever used! All kinds of gross trash and slime just gathered at the ramp.

Hanging out at a boat ramp can be very entertaining! Lots of folks have no clue how to back up a trailer!! Some even think the boat will just stay there all by itself after getting it off the trailer. Move they're vehicle and trailer only to come back and find the boat out to sea all by itself. Never a dull moment at the ramp!! 🤣