Possibly getting a slip - what to know before saying yes

[SkaterRace]

I have never had a slip and was talking to the harbour master today at a yacht club I joined to get back into sailing and he said they have a very rarely used area of the harbour that might fit my center console and that I should take a look at it. He told me the price and how it would let me into the bigger harbour sooner as those with slips get priority on other spots over the wait list.

So I am thinking of taking it but I am not sure what all I should consider. I know insurance, daily checks to ensure floating, work on getting shore power installed, higher fuel costs, gel coat will not last as long, will be pulling 1-2 times a month to take an hour away to see friends and family as well as for Lake Ontario so will clean hull well then, and I am sure I am missing something.

What am I missing and what will these added costs look like most likely? My boat is a 21.5ft center console that is pretty new

 

[Chris1956]

If saltwater, you will need antifouling paint, or she will be full of barnacles in 2 weeks or so. You may also need a barrier paint to seal the gelcoat as well.

Try to estimate how much wave or wind she will take during a storm, as well as how much the water will change with normal tides, storm tides and other acts of God.

Figure out how to tie her up. A lot of boats are tied up stern first to the dock, with crossed stern lines and lines from the pilings to the bow and stern. If she has finger piers, she can be tied off on all four corners, however, you need to leave enough slack for tide change. Snubbers can work.

If you have time, visit the marina during a storm....

 

[SkaterRace]

If saltwater, you will need antifouling paint, or she will be full of barnacles in 2 weeks or so. You may also need a barrier paint to seal the gelcoat as well.

Try to estimate how much wave or wind she will take during a storm, as well as how much the water will change with normal tides, storm tides and other acts of God.

Figure out how to tie her up. A lot of boats are tied up stern first to the dock, with crossed stern lines and lines from the pilings to the bow and stern. If she has finger piers, she can be tied off on all four corners, however, you need to leave enough slack for tide change. Snubbers can work.

If you have time, visit the marina during a storm....

No salt water around here on the St Lawerence River. Will I need a barrier paint if in fresh water? How long can I go without damage? I don't think I could get it done this year.

It would be tied up to her port side along a wall. Would run 3 fenders as that's my max I can fit.

Good idea about going during a storm, in that case hope one comes soon

 

[harmanoff]

This is not the same as your situation but ill give you my learnings from having my boat on our marina here in Missouri.

I have a 1862 Lowe Olympic Jon boat, I don't have shore power as i don't need it. I have a solar panel to keep my battery charged. The main thing i have always worried about is the rain, as long as you have a good bilge (if that's an issue for you) then weather should be fine. Wind and such shouldn't have a major impact but not 100% sure what your boat is! but yea that's all I worry about!

 

[SkaterRace]

This is not the same as your situation but ill give you my learnings from having my boat on our marina here in Missouri.

I have a 1862 Lowe Olympic Jon boat, I don't have shore power as i don't need it. I have a solar panel to keep my battery charged. The main thing i have always worried about is the rain, as long as you have a good bilge (if that's an issue for you) then weather should be fine. Wind and such shouldn't have a major impact but not 100% sure what your boat is! but yea that's all I worry about!

Thanks, any idea how safe it would be to flood my bilge on land and see when/if the pump kicks on?

 

[Jim Hawkins]

Consider a secondary pump with an automatic switch and a backup float switch in parallel (I've done this). My boat is always in the water save for a few weeks of the year, however it's at my house so I can check it every day. Harmonoff's idea of the solar backup is good. Check it as often as possible and hopefully you have a dockmaster that will alert you to any problem.

 

[SkaterRace]

Consider a secondary pump with an automatic switch and a backup float switch in parallel (I've done this). My boat is always in the water save for a few weeks of the year, however it's at my house so I can check it every day. Harmonoff's idea of the solar backup is good. Check it as often as possible and hopefully you have a dockmaster that will alert you to any problem.

A second pump might be a longer term idea if it doesn't have a second now. I suspect it might because of the previous owner/was kept in the water plus I seem to recall seeing two. The current one has a float and is wired directly to the battery. As for dockmaster, they have someone there to check on boats at 7-8am daily and people are there all day since mostly seniors as well as a nightly check at 6-8pm. Our phone numbers are in a book and they can call us if an issue and they will retie things or adjust if risk of damage and let us know.

 

[racerone]

Is it a gated marina.-----Well lit at night.----30 years ago I never locked my boats.-----Not sure about that today.

 

[SkaterRace]

Is it a gated marina.-----Well lit at night.----30 years ago I never locked my boats.-----Not sure about that today.

Yes gated with cameras and I'm told very safe. The area I would be in is a bit more dangerous than the rest though. Really close to a public launch which is a worry.

 

[flashback]

I don't like being tied up to a seawall.. especially if there's boat traffic nearby.

 

[SkaterRace]

I don't like being tied up to a seawall.. especially if there's boat traffic nearby.

My other option is trailer it for another 3-5 years... Usage is maybe 1/3 as much that way. If I get in on the sea wall I can probably get into the harbour within a year or two. Also if I know a bad storm or a crazy weekend is coming that the launch is bad I can go pull the boat.

 

[dingbat]

My other option is trailer it for another 3-5 years... Usage is maybe 1/3 as much that way. If I get in on the sea wall I can probably get into the harbour within a year or two. Also if I know a bad storm or a crazy weekend is coming that the launch is bad I can go pull the boat.

Kept my boat on the trailer at the marina for 3 years.

No bottom paint, not bilge pump worries, no dock checks between visits and no running down to pull the boat before blows.

Took less than 30 minutes to pull, rinse, flush (saltwater) and back into my assigned parking space.
Just rented a transient slip if I was going to stay multiple days

 

[SkaterRace]

Kept my boat on the trailer at the marina for 3 years.

No bottom paint, not bilge pump worries, no dock checks between visits and no running down to pull the boat before blows.

Took less than 30 minutes to pull, rinse, flush (saltwater) and back into my assigned parking space.
Just rented a transient slip if I was going to stay multiple days

The launch that I would actually want to use if I trailered is a 20 minute drive as the one at the Marina sucks and the local public ones are too busy for my liking. I do have free storage though now.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Everyone has their own level of comfort, but I could not leave my boat in the water without two bilge pumps wired to different batteries. Given the eyes of the marina workers on your boat, you might be OK with only one pump, but it would make me nervous.

 

[SkaterRace]

Everyone has their own level of comfort, but I could not leave my boat in the water without two bilge pumps wired to different batteries. Given the eyes of the marina workers on your boat, you might be OK with only one pump, but it would make me nervous.

I will be checking in a few hours if my boat has two or not. If not then I will probably make the call tomorrow to get a quote on timeline and such for install then make a risk call. I like the idea but if the cost is super high or timeline is long then not sure I can do it this year.

 

[dingbat]

The launch that I would actually want to use if I trailered is a 20 minute drive as the one at the Marina sucks and the local public ones are too busy for my liking. I do have free storage though now.

The ramp at the marina wasn't the greatest, but its private and 150 ft. from my parking space.

I will be checking in a few hours if my boat has two or not. If not then I will probably make the call tomorrow to get a quote on timeline and such for install then make a risk call. I like the idea but if the cost is super high or timeline is long then not sure I can do it this year.

Don't understand the need to two bilge pumps (although I have fore and aft) with a self bailing deck.

If you loose a thru hull no amount of bilge pumps are going to keep you afloat

 

[JASinIL2006]

Don't understand the need to two bilge pumps (although I have fore and aft) with a self bailing deck.

If you loose a thru hull no amount of bilge pumps are going to keep you afloat

That's a good point; I didn't see that it was a self-bailing deck. That would make a difference.

 

[SkaterRace]

The ramp at the marina wasn't the greatest, but its private and 150 ft. from my parking space.


Don't understand the need to two bilge pumps (although I have fore and aft) with a self bailing deck.

If you loose a thru hull no amount of bilge pumps are going to keep you afloat

That is a valid point I have a self bailing cockpit and the only water that gets into the bilge is from one deck hatch and it has a gutter and seal on it. Maybe will try flooding the deck around it with as much water as I can while on land to see worst case

 

[tpenfield]

Barrier coat. Shore power if you can get it. Make sure you have enough lines for bow, stern and spring lines, fenders (4-6). Also a beach chair or something to sit out on your dock and talk with your 'boat slip buddies'.

 

[SkaterRace]

Barrier coat. Shore power if you can get it. Make sure you have enough lines for bow, stern and spring lines, fenders (4-6). Also a beach chair or something to sit out on your dock and talk with your 'boat slip buddies'.

I think we have different classes of boats if you are thinking 4-6 fenders lol I can fit 3 max at the normal spots though could probably install some more. Will take a look and see tonight. No need for the beach chair the guys all hang out up on the patio about 200 yards away where the bar is lol