Buy a truck or join a marina?

[Home Cookin']

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

A few more things to consider, in response to some comments and your questions:

Overall, consider there is no meaning to the word "boat" because it can be anything! And same goes for "tow vehicle."

If the boat is a small ski boat you might be able to tow it with the sedan. You don't need a truck for every boat. Actually you don't need a truck at all. get a big old Lincoln or Caddy.

Many marina's have dry slips--a parking space for your boat on the trailer at the marina's ramp. It's a great set-up b/c it's cheaper, you don't have to worry about the boat in the water sinking, storms/tides, bottom paint, etc. but you also don't have to tie it down, etc. since you aren't travelling.
Even better with a dry slip, you can launch/retrieve a boat with a vehicle that is too small for towing. So slap a hitch on the sedan. And if you need an occassional tow (you said <10 miles) your sedan might handle it, or you can borrow a vehicle for annual maintenance, etc.

You may not be allowed to keep a boat in the driveway--or the trailer for that matter--and you may not want to for appearances. So you may be paying to store it anyway. If your boat is in the water, it's not too hard to store the trailer out of sight at the house, and you can tow it home empty with almost any vehicle. Or you can get cheaper storage for just a trailer since security isn't an issue (I pay $40/month for storage in the city for a trailer for a 21').

The comments about covers are something to consider. A boat in the water does not need the same covers that one under the trees does. Along these lines: why buy a boat that requires covers at all? Don't be a weenie. Get a real boat--something made for the outdooors and the water, not some fragile thing that falls apart in rain and sun. Something you can hose off and forget. Are you getting a boat to show, or for family fun?

As for unloading gear each time: some marina's are safe enough to leave stuff aboard. Some let you buy (or rent you) a locking dockbox, or maybe a storage locker. So you don't have to strip the boat and haul all the stuff home each time.

Many marinas have showers, snack bars, a pool, even a couple of motel rooms to add to your boating experience. Some have reciprocal privleges with others, at least on salt water. Most will allow limited work on the boat by a pro, in case you want to do your annual or occasional maintenance there. But look into this; some are restrictive.

Are the public ramps you would otherwise use the nightmares that are so often described here? If so it's way worth it to pay to avoid them. Boating is not an economical thing. It is money spent to have fun. Yes you want to be smart about it, but paying for convenience is part of paying for recreation. Dealing with an hour wait to launch or retrieve is a non-starter in my view, if you have the choice.

Consider if you will leave it there and use it year round, or seasonally (I don't know your situation) and look into your off-season options.

I vote marina over driveway.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

Many marina's have dry slips--a parking space for your boat on the trailer at the marina's ramp. It's a great set-up b/c it's cheaper, you don't have to worry about the boat in the water sinking, storms/tides, bottom paint, etc. but you also don't have to tie it down, etc. since you aren't travelling.
Even better with a dry slip, you can launch/retrieve a boat with a vehicle that is too small for towing. So slap a hitch on the sedan. And if you need an occasional tow (you said <10 miles) your sedan might handle it, or you can borrow a vehicle for annual maintenance, etc.

A marina local to me has in/out service with their dry slips. They have a fleet of large tractors that launch/retrieve the boats. Their rate is $650-750 I think for the season for this. Their winter storage is like $250. You could theoretically do this and never have to tow your own boat.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I looked into pricing at local marinas, and found one as low as $120 a month.

So the cheapest slip will cost you $1440 a year and you'll be paying for it even when you can't use it. An old truck is sounding better and better to me.

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

We kept ours at Portman Marina on lake Hartwell and were splitting a double wide slip with a friend. He had a 28' Cigarette he was keeping there already and since his boat was so long they only had doubles available to handle his length. We paid $150 a month for half of his slip. It was a real tight fit, but we got them both in there (which was always fun coming back in inches away from a $100K boat). Plus it would have been a pain to haul gas there so we paid the higher price for marina gas (actually the way the dock was set-up it would have been almost impossible to gas it from the dock without moving both boats). The one thing I miss is the people that we met there. We would always hang out for a little while after a day of boating. There was mostly huge house boats at this particular dock and there was almost always a party going on. There are pro's and con's to both, but @ $150 a month we would be over $7000 in slip fee's right now.

 

[security6]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I think a lot depends on what sort of person you are. Do you like to wash your car yourself? Do you find value in doing your own car repairs/maintenance? A lot of us on here are do-it-yourselfers, so a marina isn't always the best fit. Many marinas frown on having you do your own repairs/maintenance in their lot or on the water. Some marinas have wash stations setup for owners, but many don't.

When I first got my boat I stored it away from my home (not in a marina), and it drove me nuts to have to get the boat anytime I wanted to do maintenance/cleaning/prep. Now I store my boat in my driveway and I'm much happier. The only time that I would prefer to be in a marina is when we go out on a busy Saturday or holiday. The DNR launch usually has a line, and I'd prefer not to wait. However, the wait usually isn't too bad and I like having the flexibility of trailering my boat.

For us the tow vehicle isn't an issue since we've had a Suburban for a while, and my wife tells me she will always drive a Suburban. Thus I never have to worry about having a tow vehicle.

 

[Erin Stewart]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I grew up boating every weekend and we used to trailer it in every weekend! I have a slip at a marina now and think that's the most convenient way to go! It is expensive, but it's so much less stressful when you were getting ready to go! Nevermind trying to get the thing on the trailer straight, correct and in a timely manner! Good luck & have fun on your boating adventures!

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I have a 2004 Ford 250 V10 4 x 4 that I used only to pull the boat and travel trailer with. Sometimes I will use it to haul stuff inside the back of the bed.
Its nice to have a Muscle truck to haul stuff with. Other times it just sits in the drive way. I agree with the suggestions on getting an older truck because a truck is a must in any family. IMO.
You will find plenty of uses for it. My wife drives the family van and I drive a 4 banger car for work commuting. FWI.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I always view buying a truck as an extra vehicle and having a more fuel efficient DD a false economy. Lets take my Crewcab 09 Ram - gets 15-21MPG (mixed-highway) at my average 20K miles a year I'm consuming 1333 gallons at 15MPG. ($5200 at $4 a gallon).

Now lets say that I've got some little car that gets 25-30MPG at 20K miles per year 800 gallons at 25MPG ($3200 at $4 a gallon) I've saved myself 2K per year on gas - now you've got to buy, insure, store and maintain a second vehicle for that.

Not worth it - if you need a truck, buy a truck. (Alternately if you don't need one then don't buy one - silliest thing ever is these highly polished pimped out 3 ton "cars" that some people drive and never tow or haul anything with)

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I am looking into buying my first boat. Would it be smarter to trade in my Celica for a pickup (so I can tow it to the lake), or keep my car and get a membership at a local marina where we could keep it in the water? We live in Garland, TX about 10 miles from a lake, and I plan to get a small used ski boat, which we would probably take out every other weekend or so. My husband drives a sedan, and we both enjoy great gas mileage currently; I have never driven a truck... We have a 2-car garage and a circle driveway that could store a boat if needed, but it would probably live outside, covered, if we kept it at home. Another option (to save gas mileage) would be to get a third vehicle ? the cheapest thing I could find that would tow the boat safely ? and keep my car and current great gas mileage. Any advice from seasoned boaters would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I live right up the road from ya in Mckinney.

I store my boat in a covered RV-boat storage due to the BS HOA rules. I can certainly understand the appeal of keeping the boat at a marina however I have to kind of disagree with some of the posters. Within an hours drive of Garland, there's a half dozen great lakes to boat in. If the boat is stuck at the marina, you're going to mainly use that lake which is fine as many folks do. However you'll be limiting yourself to one lake most of the time. North TX has wonderful boating oportunities .

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

Oldjeep has it right about the false economy that typically comes from having two vehicles, one high and one low MPG, than just using the low MPG vehicle. Depends, obviously, on your annual use.

Crusader has a good point about portability; I assumed the OP would only boat where the boat is stored. However, if she owns a trailer, she always has the option to occassionally pull it out and take it somewhere else. Nonetheless, a "small used ski boat' doesn't require a truck.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I always view buying a truck as an extra vehicle and having a more fuel efficient DD a false economy. Lets take my Crewcab 09 Ram - gets 15-21MPG (mixed-highway) at my average 20K miles a year I'm consuming 1333 gallons at 15MPG. ($5200 at $4 a gallon).

Now lets say that I've got some little car that gets 25-30MPG at 20K miles per year 800 gallons at 25MPG ($3200 at $4 a gallon) I've saved myself 2K per year on gas - now you've got to buy, insure, store and maintain a second vehicle for that.

Not worth it - if you need a truck, buy a truck. (Alternately if you don't need one then don't buy one - silliest thing ever is these highly polished pimped out 3 ton "cars" that some people drive and never tow or haul anything with)

Except most of the two grand (arbitrary number) is a one time expense (purchase price), not an annual one. Liability insurance on an old truck is dirt cheap, and storage is free. My daily driver is also my TV, but I drive it fifteen miles to work in the morning and park it all day, otherwise the Coops might be better off with a third vehicle. Plus, if you're towing and hauling with your DD you're putting stress and miles on it that you wouldn't if you had a dedicated work/tow vehicle. Not categorically disagreeing with your logic, just saying it doesn't universally apply. Sometimes a third vehicle is false economy, sometimes it isn't. In Laura's case I believe it makes sense.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I'm not going to drive my F250 V10 64 Miles each day round trip for work.

I might as well buy a gas station with the truck.

My wife needs the van for soccer mom type stuff.

So in my situation I have a 32mpg commuter vehicle.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

Except most of the two grand (arbitrary number) is a one time expense (purchase price), not an annual one. Liability insurance on an old truck is dirt cheap, and storage is free. My daily driver is also my TV, but I drive it fifteen miles to work in the morning and park it all day, otherwise the Coops might be better off with a third vehicle. Plus, if you're towing and hauling with your DD you're putting stress and miles on it that you wouldn't if you had a dedicated work/tow vehicle. Not categorically disagreeing with your logic, just saying it doesn't universally apply. Sometimes a third vehicle is false economy, sometimes it isn't. In Laura's case I believe it makes sense.

Liability insurance cost is pretty much the same regardless of vehicle type - and if your are carrying 300K/100K as required by my umbrella policy and the state required uninsured/underinsured its about $400 a year for just liability with no collision/comp.

A 2K truck is one of those things that may cost you little or a lot to maintain. Most trucks that are in that price range are likely to be ripe for transmission issues if you are doing any towing with them. The 2K truck equation also depends on who does the service. If you are handy then the cost is less - I can rebuild an auto trans myself for under $250, pay to have someone do it and you are into the truck for another 2K. Brakes, etc - plan on spending a few dollars over aquisition price for a cheap truck (like buying a cheap boat)

Strain on DD isn't really an issue in my case since the family vehicles get replaced with new ones every 4-5 years. I'm not real concerned with the wear and tear of towing 4K lbs with a truck rated to pull just under 9K

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I'm not going to drive my F250 V10 64 Miles each day round trip for work.

I might as well buy a gas station with the truck.

My wife needs the van for soccer mom type stuff.

So in my situation I have a 32mpg commuter vehicle.

And that is a whole different calculation, I'm assuming a modern DD truck that gets half decent milage- Fords with the V10 get some of the worst unoaded and loaded milage of any truck built - part of the reason that people practically give them away these days.

 

[Navigator_Victory]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

I live 9 miles from the ramp....marina is 15 miles and I must say I am torn since I have lived both worlds....each has its own merits and pitfalls.....although I am kind of leaning towards marina life.....sure is nice having shade and a kewl breeze......kids love fishing and it provides room for them to move around and keeps the boat cleaner....lots of pros and cons either way.....but at least you have tons of ideas and information to make an informed decision that will work best for you.....good part about being on the same lake is you learn the lake.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

Liability insurance cost is pretty much the same regardless of vehicle type - and if your are carrying 300K/100K as required by my umbrella policy and the state required uninsured/underinsured its about $400 a year for just liability with no collision/comp.

A 2K truck is one of those things that may cost you little or a lot to maintain. Most trucks that are in that price range are likely to be ripe for transmission issues if you are doing any towing with them. The 2K truck equation also depends on who does the service. If you are handy then the cost is less - I can rebuild an auto trans myself for under $250, pay to have someone do it and you are into the truck for another 2K. Brakes, etc - plan on spending a few dollars over aquisition price for a cheap truck (like buying a cheap boat)

Strain on DD isn't really an issue in my case since the family vehicles get replaced with new ones every 4-5 years. I'm not real concerned with the wear and tear of towing 4K lbs with a truck rated to pull just under 9K

Understood, but I doubt whether her Celica or her husband's sedan is rated to tow anywhere near nine thousand pounds. Chances are they're not set up to tow anything, even a small Bayliner, which by your logic means they would have to trade one of their likely paid for daily drivers for a $15k or higher pickup or SUV that gets half the MPG of their current vehicles. You're right of course that there would be maintenance costs, but vehicles down here aren't subjected to the harsh conditions they are in your neck of the woods (cold winters, road salt, etc.), and consequently they just last longer and don't break as much. You really can spend under $2k on a pickup somewhere like Texas and have the reasonable expectation that you'll get several years out of it without spending a lot on repairs, especially assuming fairly infrequent use. You can also expect to get significantly more than four to five years out of a DD if you're so inclined. Again, I take your point. I'm just saying in some cases a third vehicle makes sense, and I think this is one of them.

 

[hostage]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

Food for thought:

I got a seasonal launch pass ($275) at my Marina and store the boat across the street for $40/month. I just trailer it up drive it across the street and put it in. I am faster than most people that keep their boat in a slip. The slips cost anywhere from $1000 to about $2000. Depending on the place. The cheaper the further away it is for me. I did go from a large sedan to a SUV that gets about 18mpg average that tows very well. Also having 4x4 and good all terrain tires help for the snow we get up here. I also don't have to worry about my boat sinking and ducks, spyders, and insects making a home or toilet out of my boat.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

Back to marina v driveway ... been both routes, worked at a marina, etc.

*The cost has been pretty well covered, you have to make that determination yourself.
*How big is the boat you want to buy, and how much work will it be to load and unload. This is a VERY important part of the equation. Most of the boats I have had have been a breeze to load and unload. I am also relatively experienced in the load and unload process and can do it quite quickly and efficiently ... faster than I can prep a boat at a dock. But if you are talking a larger boat that is more difficult to tow/launch/retrieve, well, then the marina would be more to your liking.
*Are you a one lake person or multiple lake person ... a stay at the marina will probably keep you to one lake, and there is nothing wrong with that.
*Clean freak? Easier to clean the boat in the driveway than at the marina.
*Covering - is the marina covered storage? Can you get an inexpensive aluminum "garage" or canopy to store the boat under when at home? Mine is garage kept so all the fishing tackle and electronics get to stay on the boat and there is no deterioration of monofilament, seats, or oxidation from the UV rays of the sun. I have the electric outlet right beside the boat for charging batteries and the hose bib is right there for cleaning (when I have time ... I am not a clean freak, however).
*Insurance - you will want insurance on the boat, but how much coverage might depend on where it is stored. In my garage, or on my property, my homeowners policy will cover in the event of damage or theft. Off my property, it will be up to my boat insurance to cover such things and with just liability, well, if it was at the marina, chalk up another expense, increased insurance coverage.

In the end it comes down to where you and your husband think you will get the most useage out of the boat. There is something about having it IN the water that makes it more inviting than in the garage ...

Did that help any, or just confuse you more?

 

[BeerRanger]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

Everyone here has given some great responses. I have refrained from putting my boat in a slip as I like to clean it up, fuel at street prices and not feel locked in to boating at one location. However my local marina on the river offers covered guest slips for $20/night. So if I know we have a weekend of cruising locally I haul it down Friday and pick it up Monday after all the weekend yahoos are out of the way. Friday I can take a evening sunset cruise. Saturday play all day. Sunday a morning coffee run, then maybe keep playing while the boat ramp is clogged up as everyone comes off the lake. That marina charges $285/month for the same exact slip that I use for less than half the price. I have an odd work schedule that permits this, but something to consider.

Edit: I thought I should add these are California prices, the concept may work in other areas though.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Buy a truck or join a marina?

It's hard to haul a load of peat moss with a marina.