Boat high and dry
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I did boatel the last two years because it was a brand new boat and didn't want to bottom paint it. I am going back to wet slip this year mainly because my marina's customer service sucks and many times they forgot to put the boat in for those early trips and left me and my crew waiting hours, also they stopped service on Nov 15th, as you know the season runs to Dec 31st.
They also dinged up the boat in several places, which I think is inevitable with the in/out service, they crushed my trim tabs and I have several gel coat dings I have to repair.
Basically I am not happy and will go back to a wet slip/ bottom paint set up this year.
But this is mainly because my ex-marina sucks (Harbor Cove, Deale, MD) you might have better service at yours
They also dinged up the boat in several places, which I think is inevitable with the in/out service, they crushed my trim tabs and I have several gel coat dings I have to repair.
Basically I am not happy and will go back to a wet slip/ bottom paint set up this year.
But this is mainly because my ex-marina sucks (Harbor Cove, Deale, MD) you might have better service at yours
I've had mine in a boatel for the last 4 seasons. My experience has been similar, maybe almost identical, to CaptNemo. I've contemplated switching to a wet slip as well, just haven't pulled the trigger yet. I still like the idea that the boat is out of the water when not in use, and I don't have to worry about maintaining the bottom paint.
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8,680 Posts
A friend of mine had their bayliner stacked and the boat was always extemely dirty when he would use it despite washing it good before them racking the boat. I dont know why. It was an outside rack with a roof over it. The downsides he experienced is that if you get home from work at 5 in the summer, eat dinner and want to go out on the boat after wards as a last minute decisionhe couldnt as the staff would leave right at 5pm. For fishing he either had to call the day before to have the boat splashed before the staff left or he had to wait until the fork lift operator got in in the morning and then he would miss the first light bite. I also know that due to some people not arriving at a marina when they said they would and not having tons of dock space that some dry stack places wont launch the boat unless you are present. You could call in advance but they will not splash you boat until you get there on the weekends when they are busiest. Going down for maintenance is hassle too as they have to un rack the boat and get you on a stand. Sometimes they will only give you limited time to do this or even charge extra for this service. He didnt use the boat as much as I use mine but he said that the fork lift operator tips added up too as he had them lift the boat, flush the motor while on the forklift before racking the boat again. He had and i/o power so he thought the dry rack was the best option for him but he noted that it was a hassle. He sold the boat as he used the boat very little the last year before he sold it. Of course this was one persons experience and it was not at the facility you are inquiring about.
Personally I would wet slip or find some place to store on a trailer with a ramp so you control boat.
Personally I would wet slip or find some place to store on a trailer with a ramp so you control boat.
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3,311 Posts
What are the cost with the high and dry??
TED
TED
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2,160 Posts
In Deale it was $2500 for a 26' boat, thats an outdoor covered rack, not including winter storage $500, and trailer storage $50/month.
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2,590 Posts
WOW....3600/year and lousy service thrown in for free !!!!!!
I thought the marina next door to you was a dump (it is).......but the wet slip for my 25 ft was like 1800/yr....
I'm sure you can lower your cost anywhere in Deale.....
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354 Posts
Boatel California
I've kept my boat high and dry for the last 15 years - most of them at Boatel California on the Pautuxent.
Only way to fly. I call them and the boat is sitting by the dock when I get there 20 minutes later. It's a floating dock so everything is very easy to manage. The also have a small ramp so you can get the boat on a trailer if you need to. Pool and other amenities are also nice. Good people.
They are closed on Tuesdays so you have to plan ahead a little. Open at 8:30 so, again, have to plan ahead if you want to leave at 0-dark-30. They do close in late December but that hasn't been a big problem for me. Over that period of time there have been a couple of lift break downs that can be frustrating but not nearly as big a pain as stripping and painting the bottom.
Only issue is that they don't have gasoline but not a big problem.
I've kept my boat high and dry for the last 15 years - most of them at Boatel California on the Pautuxent.
Only way to fly. I call them and the boat is sitting by the dock when I get there 20 minutes later. It's a floating dock so everything is very easy to manage. The also have a small ramp so you can get the boat on a trailer if you need to. Pool and other amenities are also nice. Good people.
They are closed on Tuesdays so you have to plan ahead a little. Open at 8:30 so, again, have to plan ahead if you want to leave at 0-dark-30. They do close in late December but that hasn't been a big problem for me. Over that period of time there have been a couple of lift break downs that can be frustrating but not nearly as big a pain as stripping and painting the bottom.
Only issue is that they don't have gasoline but not a big problem.
Just a suggestion that may help. Sometimes you can find an unused boat lift at a residence that someone is willing to lease. For example, I live in Edgemere, MD and keep my boat on the lift, but in the winter I pull it and keep it on the trailer. This was my first year offering this and had no takers. In addition, I wasn't the only one offering. Check Craigslist for "boatlift" and you may find something closer to you or your "fishing grounds." Good luck.
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439 Posts
Thanks for the info guys. The marina's in the area must be hurting right now. I have gotten prices no higher then 2300 for the year. That is trailer storage and boatel. I have look for people willing to rent out their lifts at there houses and have not found any. I have a 26 foot boat. If anyone here of anything please let me know would love to do it.
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