Store on trailer or in water?

[aya16]

I like this subject. I have mine in a mast up storage 100 feet from the ramp in Marina del rey. It is great for day trips as its a lot of work to set up the mast and things just to go out and sail for a few hours. as far as sailing over the same ground time after time You just have to find things to do like sail to Dennis wilsons watery grave site. or look for flipper. Or seek out an X boat to pass. ooppps sorry. cost 89 dollars a month.
What really makes it nice is 5 min shes in the water. and I can wax the hull instead of bottom paint.

[DLT]

I too use mast up dry storage a few hundred feet from the ramp.

Barrier paint being 'one' of the reasons. I'll probably get a barrier coat applied over the winter. Then, we'll probably look for a slip.

The lake also offers mooring balls and dinghys. But, than seems like a pain, when a slip isn't that much more expensive.

Of course, like I said, lack of a barrier coat is only one of the reasons. I live, and the boat is titled, in Kansas. But, the good lakes are all in Missouri. If I keep the boat on Missouri's waters for 60 consecutive days, I'm supposed to be titled in Missouri.

We also still need a place to store the trailer. So, we'll probably keep the dry storage space anyway, but add a slip later. Obviously, during the winter when the lake freezes, we'll need to store the boat in the dry storage anyway.

[Richard O'Brien]

I store mine mast up too. Raising the mast , pinning the furler, and attaching the boom, take the most time away from sailing. Not to mention that your waxed hull will be faster, and free of growth, and if it were stored in the water for several years, there is that osmotic water absorbtion factor for fibreglass hulls. If there were just a special tool for fending off those ubiquitous PWCs at the ramp?

[Terry]

For six to eight months we moor in our driveway, during the four prime sailing months we prefer a slip. It's more than just convenience, it's also somewhat equivilent to a summer cabin only much smaller, a destination so to speak. I pay $1000.00 USD for the four months at Point Roberts and feel it is worth every dollar. Knowing that our boat is rigged, in the water and ready to sail makes it an irresistable temptation, we spend more time on it. Considering the seasonal weather resrictions in the Pacific Northwest slip moorage gives us more use of our boat.

[Carl Noble]

I keep mine in a slip. I get to the boat, put the motor down and start it, take off my mainsail cover, put a few "pops" in the cooler, undo my docking lines, then head down the river for the lake. The entire process can be as short as five minutes at the dock and another 4 minutes to the lake. I use to have a sailboat in a mast up lot, (not a Macgregor) and I liked it but now I have arthritus in my knees and don't get around as fast as I use to so having a slip is priceless for me. Priceless to the tune of $1450/season. My Mac has a barrier paint on the bottom (6 coats) followed by an ablative paint (4 coats). The ablative paint is good for about two seasons and then all you have to do is give it a light sanding with a fine scotchbrite pad and put two more coats on. It is a messy job but it isn't hard. The bottom line is that for me I can sail singlehanded or with a crew most days after work whereas if I was trailering it I would probrably sail only on the weekends.

[Casey]

When we were in South Dakota, it was always on the trailer. Moving to Mandeville, LA, we kept it in a slip. The bottom paint did slow the speed while motoring. If not in the slip, I would not have used it as much. When we moved the boat to Biloxi, MS, it was in a slip. During hurricanes, I take it out. Since we have purchased an old shack on a canal, I have put it in the water again and this time with no slip fees. For me, it was a matter of how many minutes I had in a block of time and my finances at the time. If I was counting minutes and had money, I used a slip. But keeping a boat in the water is more expensive, ie: slip fees, bottom coats and wear and tear on dock lines and chasing leakes.

[mark,97x]

after having a boat break her lines during a thunderstorm and causing several thousand dollars in damage i will now keep mine on the trailer,,if you decide to use a slip or mooring check and see if insurance is required in the marina,,thankfully they started requiring it at the marina i kept mine at this jan,otherwise you can be left to fend for yourself,,,

[Merrick White]

I suspect this is my old stomping grounds - Lake Monroe Sailing Association.

If you are going to sail often then use the bouy. The Moores Creek ramp can often back up and the tiny dock will not be a good place to tie up while moving your truck and trailer.

Ask for a bouy near the south shelter. Very protected and by mid-June you can swim the few yards out to your Mac and skip the dingy.

Another good reason to rent a bouy is that LMSA needs the money

[Randy Smith]

First, bottom paint for 1500$.......man, I do it for a 150$ in supplies and two hard days labor...... Dude, I would only charge you 500$ and a bottle of good scotch..............

I like to have my boat ready to go, so I have a slip. I do dream of trailering, but I know that would be the odd thing for me. I also would not haul my boat without some major trailer upgrades....I do not like the trailer as it seems not too strong. Doubt anything would happen, but you know four wheels better than two and steel belted a plus........ Randy

[Randy Smith]

First, bottom paint for 1500$.......man, I do it for a 150$ in supplies and two hard days labor...... Dude, I would only charge you 500$ and a bottle of good scotch..............

I like to have my boat ready to go, so I have a slip. I do dream of trailering, but I know that would be the odd thing for me. I also would not haul my boat without some major trailer upgrades....I do not like the trailer as it seems not too strong. Doubt anything would happen, but you know four wheels better than two and steel belted a plus........ Randy

[Randy Smith]

First, bottom paint for 1500$.......man, I do it for a 150$ in supplies and two hard days labor...... Dude, I would only charge you 500$ and a bottle of good scotch..............

I like to have my boat ready to go, so I have a slip. I do dream of trailering, but I know that would be the odd thing for me. I also would not haul my boat without some major trailer upgrades....I do not like the trailer as it seems not too strong. Doubt anything would happen, but you know four wheels better than two and steel belted a plus........ Randy

[Tom Spohn]

We have done both:
Advantages of Dry Storage next to the ramp:
1. When you want to wax or clean the boat it is very easy to do so when out of the water.
2. When you install Mods it is easier to do so than when on the water.
3. It is generally a bit cheaper than full time in-water storage.
4. You can forego bottom paint if all you do is day sail or go out for a few days.
Disadvantages:
1. Takes a few minutes more to get under sail.
2. Where is the Taurus, er ah Tow Vehicle, parked? Is it secure?
3. Do you have to pay to use the ramp? (We had to pay $5.00)

Advantages of in the slip:
1, You are ready to go Now!
Disadvantages:
1. See advantages of Dry Storage above Plus costs more.

We had our boat in dry storage in Seattle right next to the boat ramp. Hooking up, launching, parking the Explorer and trailer, etc. took about one hour. When I would get the sudden urge to take a quick sail in the afternoon for an hour or so, the Admiral usually didn't want to invest as much time launching and retrieving as sailing. For me 30 minutes on the water is worth a day doing something else, but as someone on this board says YMMV. We discovered we could put the boat in the water in Tacoma for the same cost as dry storage in Seattle so the boat is now in the water. Since we live just about half way between both cities the drive is almost the exact same time. Admiral now much more ameanable to a quick sail in the afternoon.

One lesson I learned from all this is that the cost of moorage and storage varies all over the map. It will pay to really check out the cost. In your example of a difference of $1000/yr., I would still be in Dry Storage.

[midget]

At dock in backyard on canal leading to river leading to Gulf, no lift yet. Just bought last Nov., with bottom paint, hopefully will last another year.