rack storage vs slip vs trailering...better for boat

[HookMan]

I tried Wet Slip & considered Dry Rack but On a Trailer covered at home it my choice. Like having it always available for maintenance and cleaning, sometimes the fish stay in the fish box packed on ice for cleaning the next day when too tired late at night. Easy to take it to local mechanic when needed. Loading fishing gear from garage to boat to garage beats loading from garage to truck to dock to boat and back.. We’ll load 125 lbs of ice from the store’s parking lot into the fish box vs to truck, pier and boat. No bottom painting necessary. It can be hectic at the ramp but can usually launch or load in 20 min.
Most important is mobility to fish anywhere they’re biting. Since your driving that distance anyway towing and launching can be easier if your crew is organized. Trailer maintenance is an issue but not as expensive as Dry or Wet storage. Expenses for storage will pay for the trailer in a few years. It’s all a lot of work just less IMO to trailer.

[HookMan]

I tried Wet Slip & considered Dry Rack but On a Trailer covered at home it my choice. Like having it always available for maintenance and cleaning, sometimes the fish stay in the fish box packed on ice for cleaning the next day when too tired late at night. Easy to take it to local mechanic when needed. Loading fishing gear from garage to boat to garage beats loading from garage to truck to dock to boat and back.. We’ll load 125 lbs of ice from the store’s parking lot into the fish box vs to truck, pier and boat. We hitch and load up the night before and at 4AM jump in the truck and go. No bottom painting necessary. It can be hectic at the ramp but can usually launch or load in 20 min.
Most important is mobility to fish anywhere they’re biting. Since your driving that distance anyway towing and launching can be easier if your crew is organized. Trailer maintenance is an issue but not as expensive as Dry or Wet storage. Expenses for storage will pay for the trailer in a few years. I can shop around for fuel prices, a hundred or more gallons at the gas station beats marina prices. It’s all a lot of work just less IMO to trailer.

[dry doc]

in 30 years of hi-dri, only damage was a month
ago when my anchor light got cracked...replaced
the lens....my marina (VERY experienced in the
hi-dri activity) drops one boat a year, on
average.....this is the only real risk unique
to hi-dri.....the damage to the boat is amazingly slight, ie the keep or stem has a
typical crush injury, readily repaired to
good-as-new by any good glass worker....
this more than balances the risks of theft,
tidal surges (like isabel!), and fouling of
the bottom and running gear.....fire, tornado,
and being hit by an errant vehicle are pretty
much shared across all storage methods....dan

[powhatanone]

Is there anyone on this board that keeps their boat at Garretts Marina in Bowlers Wharf, VA? If so, I would be interested in your opinion on their service etc.

[powhatanone]

In particular, I am interested in your experience with the hi-dry storage.

[hblac]

After several years of being on an outside rack I decided to trailer this year. And, for this year it was OK because I didn't get to go that much due to the shitty weather and something called a job that always seems to get in the way of fishing time.

I live about 75 miles from the ramp but kept it on a trailer 2 miles from the ramp this year. Given the small amount of use this year, it was a real cost saver (well, not really, I had to replace all the rollers on the trailer plus three new wheel bearings and one new tire). Trouble is it's a real pain in the a$$ launching the boat when my boating partner is my wife who at 5'1" tall weighs 103 lbs. She can't handle the boat and can't back the trailer down (yet).

For me a good marina with good service, a great I/O mechanic and a reasonable price for an outside rack is the way to go and that's what I'll do next year! I just gotta make sure they don't put my boat under the guy that leaked pogey oil over my boat two years ago.

Hal

[grunthunter]

The damage I've seen to boats that are dry rack stored have been to transducers and trim tabs that are not placed up prior to moving the boat. At my facility , it is the owners responsibility to remember to do this when they are finished for the day, prior to getting lifted out.