Wet or Dry Slip Costs ???

[Venomous_1]

First of all, thanks for allowing me the opportunity to join this forum. I look forward to everyone's honest opinions and experience.

So, going to be buying a boat in the coming year. Somewhere in the 25-35 foot range, mainly for fishing and staying on for the weekend. I come down to Florida from TN about 6-10 times a year for weekends and long weekends. Was wondering if its best to wet slip or dry slip?

I would like to dry slip, for obvious reasons, but how often will a storage marina move the boat from storage to water for me? Should I expect there are additional fees for this?

Pro's/Con's?

Thanks for your advice.

[Badsanta]

Yes, they charge for each lift. Some include a lift and splash in the yearly fee. At my marina I pay a monthly fee for at dock and a cheaper price of on the hard storage. The hauling out fee includes launching, so you just pay when hauled out. But if you haul it out 8 times, the 8 fees.

[Venomous_1]

Hmmm. Good advice Badsanta.

So from what I gather, it may be best to do a wet slip for most of the year, then haul out once when I know I wont be down for awhile. Makes sense.

Just concerned about leaving it in the water that long. Don't want a bunch of buildup to occur between uses. When I do come down I want to use it, not have to spend my weekend cleaning bottom.

[Badsanta]

You could find someone to clean the bottom for you. Fairly common. Ask the yard or other dock holders and get the group rate.

[captstu]

I have a 25 foot ranger tug that I began drystacking about two years ago. It's a dream come true. No paperwork no zinc work no bottom scrubbing no storm worries no accident worries about being hit by another boat and the boat is always clean.

They put it in the water for me and it's waiting for me when I get there all the time at no extra charge. They rinse it down and stack it when I'm done at no extra charge.

Occasionally they compound and wax the boat at a small extra charge so it always looks brand-new. This is my best ever boating experience in terms of the maintenance versus usage ratio.

Since I no longer bottom paint the boat I save both the exposure to the chemicals and the 2000 bucks.

Best of all the drystacking is no more expensive than a wet slip.

In the south Florida area where I boat primarily makes no sense the wet slip about if it's small enough to be dry stacked. These folks treat the boat as it where their own.

[Ken Z]

shalimar marina in shalimar, next to ft. walton beach has slips for $11.00 foot electric $50.00 extra a month. Dry dock at a minimum. most others in the area $13-$14.

[SV Bacchus]

I used this marina: Welcome | homeportmarina.com/drupal
for a 30' Proline, kept on a stand, not under cover. Unlimited in/out. Great bar and restaurant along with a pool on premises. Restaurant is call Ozona Blue. It is located in the Palm Harbor area of west/central Florida (west of Tampa, north of Clearwater). Back then I paid $300 including tax. Great staff, never had a worry about the boat.

I used this marina: St. Petersburg Florida Marina : Mariner's Cove Marina for a 31' Chris Craft, also unlimited in/out but no amenities other than restroom and outdoor shower to rinse off. This one is in St. Petersburg. When there I paid $310 +tax but it was covered, inside storage. Great staff, never had a worry about the boat.

When thinking wet slip keep in mind this is Florida, all kinds of stuff grows on anything in the water pretty darn quick. If you go wet slip you have to figure in the cost of a diver to clean the bottom. I've found if you contract monthly it is a cheaper rate because they don't have to work so hard at cleaning. If you do it every 2 or 3 months they are going to hit you for more due to the buildup.

[denverd0n]

Obviously varies from place to place. In general, here in the Tampa Bay area, a "hi-and-dry" storage arrangement includes splashing and retrieving your boat once a day, every day (if you really want to take it out that often; I suspect it is EXTREMELY rare for anyone to use the service that much). A lot of the places also include a fresh-water hose-down on every retrieval, also.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by captstu

I have a 25 foot ranger tug that I began drystacking about two years ago. It's a dream come true. No paperwork no zinc work no bottom scrubbing no storm worries no accident worries about being hit by another boat and the boat is always clean.

They put it in the water for me and it's waiting for me when I get there all the time at no extra charge. They rinse it down and stack it when I'm done at no extra charge.

Occasionally they compound and wax the boat at a small extra charge so it always looks brand-new. This is my best ever boating experience in terms of the maintenance versus usage ratio.

Since I no longer bottom paint the boat I save both the exposure to the chemicals and the 2000 bucks.

Best of all the drystacking is no more expensive than a wet slip.

In the south Florida area where I boat primarily makes no sense the wet slip about if it's small enough to be dry stacked. These folks treat the boat as it where their own.

Pretty much my experience with "rack and stack" as it was called.
If I were you if you don't already have the boat, find the Marina you want, then look for the biggest boat that they can take out and stack.
My Marina it was part of the monthly rent, I don't know if they had a max number of time or not, but I'd call on the way down and when I got there the boat was in the water, when I would leave they would put it on the wash rack, I'd wash it and flush the engine and they would put it away.
A boat stored out of the water and under a roof will age at about 1/10 the rate of one in the water and out in the sun

[saisoon]

Originally Posted by SV Bacchus

I used this marina: Welcome | homeportmarina.com/drupal
for a 30' Proline, kept on a stand, not under cover. Unlimited in/out. Great bar and restaurant along with a pool on premises. Restaurant is call Ozona Blue. It is located in the Palm Harbor area of west/central Florida (west of Tampa, north of Clearwater). Back then I paid $300 including tax. Great staff, never had a worry about the boat.

I used this marina: St. Petersburg Florida Marina : Mariner's Cove Marina for a 31' Chris Craft, also unlimited in/out but no amenities other than restroom and outdoor shower to rinse off. This one is in St. Petersburg. When there I paid $310 +tax but it was covered, inside storage. Great staff, never had a worry about the boat.

When thinking wet slip keep in mind this is Florida, all kinds of stuff grows on anything in the water pretty darn quick. If you go wet slip you have to figure in the cost of a diver to clean the bottom. I've found if you contract monthly it is a cheaper rate because they don't have to work so hard at cleaning. If you do it every 2 or 3 months they are going to hit you for more due to the buildup.

300$ and 310$ are monthly fees?

[GBonjour]

I know that I have seen fresh water enclosures put under boats to keep the salt water away. They do that in a lot of marinas Slip the bag under the boat; fill with fresh water and throw in a pint/ quart of bleach. Just another idea that some use.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by captstu

I have a 25 foot ranger tug that I began drystacking about two years ago. It's a dream come true. No paperwork no zinc work no bottom scrubbing no storm worries no accident worries about being hit by another boat and the boat is always clean.

They put it in the water for me and it's waiting for me when I get there all the time at no extra charge. They rinse it down and stack it when I'm done at no extra charge.

I saw drystacking in action when I was in Annapolis MD. I was very impressed. The crew there made it look so easy, and the boats were stacked 4 high...looked so cool. If I had a powerboat I would totally do that.

[Sailmonkey]

6-10 times a year your best bet is to dry stack or rent.
Forget about keeping a boat wet for the amount you're going to use it.

[SV Bacchus]

Originally Posted by saisoon

300$ and 310$ are monthly fees?

Yes, they charge by the foot and these were 30 & 31 footers. As A64 said no limit on in and outs, put it on rack for you to unload and rinse/flush then they put it up.

Sounds expensive I guess but for me it worked. I used to tow the 31 footer to St. Pete from Land O Lakes, with a 1 ton dually, and was spending $50 a weekend in diesel fuel. For me it was a money and time saver plus out of the sun storage. In Florida that can almost be priceless..

[Venomous_1]

Wow. Looks like I came to the right place. I only expected a few responses, but this is incredible. All of you are awesome and I thank you.

Your advice and experiences have given me a lot to think about. Guess my next step is to decide which area I want to be in and visit/call some marina's.

Again, thanks to everyone for your input.

Rick in Tennessee