How to Store a Boat Cheaply ?

[ViribusUnitis]

I'm looking at the idea of taking a leave of absonce, cruising for a year or so, and then working for 3 or 6 more years.

Are there any cost effective places/methoids to store a boat for an extended peroid? A year or two?

Assuming I can't sell the thing after I've used it, or I completely fall in love with it.

Anywhere in the gulf of Mexico or carabien would be fine with me. Even the Pacific coast of Mexico if something is an outstanding deal.

Thank you.

[skipmac]

For long term storage by far the cheapest is to haul the boat off to private property away from the marina or boat yard. The initial cost is not cheap. I paid about $1600 including hauling my 42' Pearson, pulling the mast and trucking to my property 80 miles from the yard. But now it's there I pay nothing to keep it.

You have to find a guy with a Brownell hydraulic trailer or equivalent which can pick up or drop a boat on any flat, solid piece of land. I can refer you to a guy that does it in FL and who will probably travel.

Skip

[ViribusUnitis]

How big is too big to haul?

Is it possible with a mid-50' trawler?

That is a VERY intersting idea. I like it, if it's possible.

[perchance]

Originally Posted by ViribusUnitis

How big is too big to haul?

Is it possible with a mid-50' trawler?

That is a VERY intersting idea. I like it, if it's possible.

It is the beam not the length that matters. Oversized loads require permits and other complicating bits.

[ViribusUnitis]

Originally Posted by perchance

It is the beam not the length that matters. Oversized loads require permits and other complicating bits.

Anything I get would be oversized width. Yuck. I assume 13" feet wide would be double bad?

Any other ideas?

[maxingout]

Take the boat to New Zealand. They have affordable pile moorings in Whangarei.

[perchance]

Originally Posted by ViribusUnitis

Anything I get would be oversized width. Yuck. I assume 13" feet wide would be double bad?

Any other ideas?

You would have to contact a specialist hauler and get them to quote it. It could be expensive if it involves by passing low bridges, lifting wires and hiring escort vehicles

[Wavewacker]

I'd check with the HP of the state you want to haul in. I have seen 15 wide with escorts and flag guys. If you're willing to pay, you can move almost anything, they do move houses, taking out guard rails, lifting wires and stopping traffic. The route will have alot to do with what you can do.

In my state, I think 13' requires only a following escort vehicle in radio contact, signs, lights and daytime travel only.

That's the reason I'm not going larger than 8 or 8 1/2 feet.

[skipmac]

Beam and vertical clearance are biggest issues. Moved my boat with minor permits and one escort vehicle. Beam 13'. Vertical clearance I think was about 14'.

You can move bigger but takes more permits, special routing to avoid vertical clearance issues and load restrictions on local roads, etc. Big power boats you might have to remove the bridge to get the vertical clearance down. You can move wider beam as well but also have to get more expensive permits, two escorts, may have to move only during certain hours.

I can refer you to an expert if you're interested.

Skip

[zeehag]

friends of mine took their 45 ketch to the desert near 29 palms-- to their front yard. yes is wideload/oversized load. needs appropriate permits, etc.

[ViribusUnitis]

That is a really intersting idea that I simply had not thought of. It appears to be clearly possible for just about anything a travel lift can lift and put on a trailer. (looking at some of the quotes in yachtworld for shipping companies.)

I was origionaly hoping for some sort of dry storage marina. I take it that's a no go for anything "afforadably priced"?

Thank you

[Bash]

Originally Posted by ViribusUnitis

I was origionaly hoping for some sort of dry storage marina. I take it that's a no go for anything "afforadably priced"?

The only problem with marinas is that the people who own them expect a return on their investments.

I once stored a boat in a packing shed on an artichoke farm. Didn't cost me a dime other than to be available for professional consultation once in a while.

[ViribusUnitis]

Originally Posted by Bash

The only problem with marinas is that the people who own them expect a return on their investments.

I once stored a boat in a packing shed on an artichoke farm. Didn't cost me a dime other than to be available for professional consultation once in a while.

I have to admit, it is amazing what people think is a acceptible return on investment for owning a rather small peice of land near a coast. I was hoping for some sort of trick, but the truck it to a peice of property sounds most reasonable.

[capnorv]

Around here I see people who don't want their boats anymore crushing them and putting them in dumpsters, but that's probably not what you want. Maybe you should advertise for a mooring in your chosen area. Many of them go unused and can be had reasonably along with a little maintenance. The yard thing sounds interesting, especially if it's ocean front.

[JayCall]

Hauling a mid-50's trawler over the road may be a bit more difficult than sail. Mostboats that size will have a beam in the 15-18' range and will weigh 80,000 lbs and up. Most will exceed any allowable wieght limits over the road. For instance, my 58' has an 18' 10"" beam and weighs in at 96,000 close to empty. That is even before you get to the height issue, a trawler that size, out of the water is a very tall boat! I am 16' from the waterline with everything down, add close to 6' draft, and I am 22'.