Trailering vs docking...

charlie_the_tuna

charlie_the_tuna

God
So I’m about to take possession of my next boat. It’s a hydra sports 2400CD. It’s sitting on a tandem aluminum trailer that needs a bit of work. My close ramp is less than half a mile drive. The next one is about 4 miles.
So I want to trailer the boat and my wife wants to rent dock space. Both have advantages but the main one I see is the boat/motor will last longer if hosed down and flushed after every use. Vs dock space which if I’m lucky, I’m looking at a minimum $1,500 plus for the season. In addition, most private dock space by me is in canals, which are pretty stagnant. Tons of errant charge flowing and the zincs get eaten up pretty quickly as well as the hull growth.
What do you guys prefer? I have little or no practical experience trailering, but I figure I’ll pick it up.
SO??

Oh, I have a relatively narrow street and I’ll be backing into a relatively long and narrow driveway.
 
As you said, both have pros and cons.

Docking

Pros: Convenience. Load up with your tackle and food, get in and go.

Con: The obvious con for docking is the cost(s) involved. Dock rental fee, more engine maintenance, shorter engine life, various fees for putting in and taking out the boat, Storage fees during the winter months unless you put her on the trailer and park and cover her in your driveway. And don't forget that fuel usually costs more at a fuel dock than at a service station.

Trailering:

Pro: Less cost overall.

Con: You have limited trailering experience. So you will have a learning curve on tight streets and a long driveway. DMV registration fees. Trailer maintenance. Launching and retrieving your boat at the end of the day. You are buying a 24' boat. Do you have someone to help you with the launch/retrieve process? (Not 100% necessary but it sure helps). Launch fees at the ramp.

I'm sure I've forgotten a few here and there, but you get the gist. If it were me (and it has been in the past) I would still go with trailering. Practice trailering in an empty parking lot. Backing up is a skill that requires patience and practice. You will need to be looking in your mirrors all the time, and you have to turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of what you would think is proper. If comes with time and practice.

.
 
It would most likely be a private home, but yeah. Keeping it in the water for the season. There are people who have 2, 4, 6 or more slips in their backyards and rent them out. Some supply water and electric. Some don’t.
 
I think I would trailer

Not that hard to do, if u have room to store at your house.

Easier to work on, easier to load, easier knowing it s not sinking
 
I agree with those points and as D said, it will last longer. Plus I wouldn’t have to worry about water intrusion. And any water intrusion that occurred earlier would hopefully drain and dry, after some time.
 
I prefer storing my boat close to the ramp so I don't have to how it 75 miles one way.keeping it in the water is very convenient but it also beats up your boat and motor Since your close to the ramp that's a plus but then after a day on the water who wants to struggle backing in your boat into a tight spot
 
leaving the boat in the water is the worse thing you can do, figure quadrupling your service cost. Not even counting bottom paint, diving service, dock fees, etc...Dry stack is a hit or miss, some do a good job of taking care of your boat, some do not. If you use your boat on a busy weekend, make sure to have them put it back in during the following week, when they haul it out, it will a actually get flushed. Nothing gets flushed on a busy weekend. Boat lift is the next level, it puts the responsibility on you, but some things are out of reach to service or flush. Trailer is the best situation, but honestly, if you re not going to take the time to flush and wash, its not going to be much better. I've had customers after leaving slat water, will go put their boat in a fresh water ramp, take the boat for a quick spin while someone stays with the trailer on the ramp. Flushed the engine, knocks a lot of salt off, and gives the trailer a much needed bath. When I run my boat, I'll leave it in the water for the weekend, when I haul it out, it gets washed from stem to stern. Engine gets flushed thoroughly, I use salt away as well. trim system gets washed with soap and water. Then sprayed down with crc. Powerhead gets washed if i see and salt residue, then after it dries, it gets hosed down with CRC656 protectant. Trailer gets washed down with extra care on the springs and hubs
 
If you don’t have the tolerance for all that goes with trailering / launch / retrieve ( and some risks) keeping boat in water will seem much better option.

So perhaps try one season of trailering and determine if it’s for you.
Then you’ll know what works best for you. Wife may agree too.
 
you mentioned WIFE.

Think about launching the boat with the wife. Recovering the boat with the wife. Parking the trailer with the wife.

When you have a dock, you pack your lunch and get on the boat. You will use the boat more and enjoy it more. You can use it for an hour. Your not going to trailer launch for a sunset cruise. You can go at 4am and catch the morning bite and still go to work.

Unless its really old and doesn't have a flush port, you can flush a motor at the dock. If its that old, you have more worries than flushing it.

Bottom paint is required. Does it already have bottom paint? If not you would need to do an epoxy bottomkote primer first. $$$

You are looking at private backyard dockage vs a marina. Its an inexpensive way to go but that has drawbacks too. Limited hours. Long no wake zones in canals. Dragging your stuff thru someone's backyard (in the dark). Parking on dead end streets in a neighborhood with canals... It helps if you are friends with the dock owner.

Trailer lights suck. Trailer brakes suck. Trailers suck the life out of you.

A 24' is not an easy pull.

I'm in the "dock it" camp. I docked my V20 for 17 years. Paid between $700 and $3200 a season depending on marina location, amenities, and supply.
Used the trailer twice a year and still always had problems. Trailers suck.

My Grady is too big to trailer. I pay $4500 a season to dock it in a marina one mile from open ocean. Pay $300 to have it hauled. Worth every penny.
 
SkunkBoat said:
you mentioned WIFE.

Think about launching the boat with the wife. Recovering the boat with the wife. Parking the trailer with the wife.

When you have a dock, you pack your lunch and get on the boat. You will use the boat more and enjoy it more. You can use it for an hour. Your not going to trailer launch for a sunset cruise. You can go at 4am and catch the morning bite and still go to work.

Unless its really old and doesn't have a flush port, you can flush a motor at the dock. If its that old, you have more worries than flushing it.

Bottom paint is required. Does it already have bottom paint? If not you would need to do an epoxy bottomkote primer first. $$$

You are looking at private backyard dockage vs a marina. Its an inexpensive way to go but that has drawbacks too. Limited hours. Long no wake zones in canals. Dragging your stuff thru someone's backyard (in the dark). Parking on dead end streets in a neighborhood with canals... It helps if you are friends with the dock owner.

Trailer lights suck. Trailer brakes suck. Trailers suck the life out of you.

A 24' is not an easy pull.

I'm in the "dock it" camp. I docked my V20 for 17 years. Paid between $700 and $3200 a season depending on marina location, amenities, and supply.
Used the trailer twice a year and still always had problems. Trailers suck.

My Grady is too big to trailer. I pay $4500 a season to dock it in a marina one mile from open ocean. Pay $300 to have it hauled. Worth every penny.
Click to expand...

I'm with SkunkBoat. One caveat: How close is the dock to your house or to your commute? If your boat stays in the water you need to check on it OFTEN, preferably daily. And make sure you can haul it out when tropical systems threaten. Ask me how I know...
 
Amen to what spare said. I pretty much do what he does every trip, except the trim assy soap and water. I noticed 2 years ago my trim motor was getting rusty, since then I hit real good with the salt away, but just buying a little time. Funny, on my 84 & 94 Mercs,never saw a spec of rust. Not so on the 2014.

If you want to see corrosion, go to Born Again Boaters on YouTube. He works at a marina in the keys
 
Another option ….
1. buy a house on the water with a near perfect location to where you want to use the boat.
2. Have a dock with boat lift installed so you can keep it “ out of water”
3. Have fresh water line connection so you can rinse the boat off after each use and flush motor.
 
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