Much much am I being ripped off?

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by shimari

I just recently sold my 37', and here were the charges for a well known marina in Annapolis. They were charging me for a 38' though.

Haul to winter storage: $237.50
Power wash: $66.50
Block: $104.50
Tarp: $47.50
Environmental surcharge: $22

On launch they charged:

Jackstands: $33
Launch: $237.50
Environmental surcharge: $22

So a total of $770.50 in charges and then storage was $333/mo.

I would haul out every other year and then only for 3-4 months.

I guess in areas where a winter haul out is optional owners have more flexibility and thus choices. Here in MA most if not all harbormasters do not allow pleasure craft to remain on the moorings, so I have 2 choices - haulout and storage on the hard at about $65/ft, October through May, or keeping her in wet storage at few marinas allowing it, at about $50-60/ft but with additional costs of hiring bottom cleaning in the Spring, ice preventers in the water, etc.

And the storage costs are rising fast since in the last several years we had 2 or 3 yards closed or downsized by real estate developers so the spill over is creating a demand pressure on the remaining yards. When I first hauled out in 2006 the winter storage with haul out was about $35/foot, may be a bit more. Some places in the state are $85-110/ft for the winter.

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

...Why some marina would have a lift inadequate to handle their customer’s boats is a marina problem, not the boat owner’s.

What's their problem? On the one hand you spend $$$$$ to provide a new travel hoist adequately sized to lift your customers boats; on the other hand, you spend nothing and instead charge the customers an additional $540 a pop to get around your equipment's shortcomings thereby making $$$$$. The marina has anything but a problem.
I have had to disconnect/re-connect either fore or backstay on a few occasions (small travel lifts, more often a crane/sling lift) but have never been charged for it.

[pjShap]

My marina in Pasadena, MD, near Baltimore, charges $14/ft for haul, power wash, block and launch, so $630 for my 45-foot boat. They remove and reconnect 2 forestays with furlers- no additional charge. 5 months storage is an additional $1300, so about $2,000 total for the winter.

[Ween]

all bargains

safe harbor RI Narragansett Bay

42'

Outside storage 3000 Nov-Apr (by square feet)
wash 250
block 250
mast removed and stored 780
shrink wrap 2000 with recycle/env charge (amazing winter storm proof full framed...)

boating is expensive - but this is my last winter on the hard...and it is a great yard with excellent amenities and DIY supported.

[odonnellryan]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

What's their problem? On the one hand you spend $$$$$ to provide a new travel hoist adequately sized to lift your customers boats; on the other hand, you spend nothing and instead charge the customers an additional $540 a pop to get around your equipment's shortcomings thereby making $$$$$. The marina has anything but a problem.
I have had to disconnect/re-connect either fore or backstay on a few occasions (small travel lifts, more often a crane/sling lift) but have never been charged for it.

This was exactly my feeling after seeing the bill.. other marinas I have not had to disconnect anything. If their lift is too small (doubt it, there are some really big boats here) why should I be charged extra?

[odonnellryan]

Originally Posted by Ween

all bargains

safe harbor RI Narragansett Bay

42'

Outside storage 3000 Nov-Apr (by square feet)
wash 250
block 250
mast removed and stored 780
shrink wrap 2000 with recycle/env charge (amazing winter storm proof full framed...)

boating is expensive - but this is my last winter on the hard...and it is a great yard with excellent amenities and DIY supported.

That does seem quite a bit..!

[Sailmonkey]

I’ll disconnect backstays all day long for 50% of the rate they’re charging!

[wingssail]

You are not getting ripped off if you aksed for the fees upfront and were told what they were. If you didn't do that, it's on you.

If you did get the prices ahead of time and then were charged more, you have an issue.

I an just happy that never in all the years that I have been boating (since 1976) have I had to haul my boat out for the winter. Even in Pacific NorthWest we sailed all winter. In Mexico, people haul out for the summer, except I don't.

I am also happy that never in all my years of boating have I hired anyone to disconnect anything on my mast. I do it or it does not get done.

In fact I have never been absent when the boat was hauled or launched, any of my boats. I am there and if it needs doing I either do it or I supervise it.

If we pay others to do things on our boats when we are gone we pay more and have little negotiating power over what they charge.

Travel lifts often require removal of either the backstay or forestay, it depends on the length of the travel lift vs the length on deck of your boat, also, how high they have to lift it relative to the height of the beams. If it is the backstay that comes off it usually results in issues with the SSB antenna, so I am happy the travel lifts here in Mexico are pretty big.

[odonnellryan]

Originally Posted by wingssail

You are not getting ripped off if you aksed for the fees upfront and were told what they were. If you didn't do that, it's on you.

If you did get the prices ahead of time and then were charged more, you have an issue.

I an just happy that never in all the years that I have been boating (since 1976) have I had to haul my boat out for the winter. Even in Pacific NorthWest we sailed all winter. In Mexico, people haul out for the summer, except I don't.

I am also happy that never in all my years of boating have I hired anyone to disconnect anything on my mast. I do it or it does not get done.

In fact I have never been absent when the boat was hauled or launched, any of my boats. I am there and if it needs doing I either do it or I supervise it.

If we pay others to do things on our boats when we are gone we pay more and have little negotiating power over what they charge.

Travel lifts often require removal of either the backstay or forestay, it depends on the length of the travel lift vs the length on deck of your boat, also, how high they have to lift it relative to the height of the beams. If it is the backstay that comes off it usually results in issues with the SSB antenna, so I am happy the travel lifts here in Mexico are pretty big.

Well, I knew how much haul + jackstands would cost, but no idea they were going to charge me over $500 for disconnecting the backstay.

This yard doesn't tell you when they are hauling.

[SuW]

This is a picture at haul out this year. The lift is large enough for the recreational boats commonly in the 1000 Islands, I think it'll do 15' beam and 30 tons. Boats come here specifically because there are not many lifts of this size.

Many boats are lifted with the mast up. We prefer to take it down. Easier to cover and we're painting it, 10 feet at a time

[SuW]

Originally Posted by odonnellryan

Well, I knew how much haul + jackstands would cost, but no idea they were going to charge me over $500 for disconnecting the backstay.
This yard doesn't tell you when they are hauling.

Whoa! That would be a deal breaker for me...we are always there whatever they do to the boat. Our yard performs services at the owner's convenience, not otherwise.

It's not that we don't trust them, but it's our baby!

They also allow basically unlimited DIY.

We welded up a massive cradle, cut down from one that held a 40 foot sailboat. We don't trust jackstands that much.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by odonnellryan

Well, I knew how much haul + jackstands would cost, but no idea they were going to charge me over $500 for disconnecting the backstay.
This yard doesn't tell you when they are hauling.

Did they have to loosen a furler on the forestay to take the backstay off? Some of those are tricky.

[odonnellryan]

Originally Posted by SuW

Did they have to loosen a furler on the forestay to take the backstay off? Some of those are tricky.

No, if they did they didn't need to.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by odonnellryan

Well, I knew how much haul + jackstands would cost, but no idea they were going to charge me over $500 for disconnecting the backstay.

This yard doesn't tell you when they are hauling.

Maybe I was not clear enough. Before you contract to have your boat hauled you need to find out what services they offer and what they cost. If they don't volunteer that information you need to ask a written quote.

If they charge you for something that is not on the agreement, then you are being ripped off.

One thing I would not accept is that they would not notify me as to the date and time ahead of time.

But I think that the yards in the NE have so much to do every fall (and again in the spring) that they just do it and the owners have gotten complacent about it, which opens the door to surprises.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Ween

all bargains

safe harbor RI Narragansett Bay

42'

Outside storage 3000 Nov-Apr (by square feet)
wash 250
block 250
mast removed and stored 780
shrink wrap 2000 with recycle/env charge (amazing winter storm proof full framed...)

boating is expensive - but this is my last winter on the hard...and it is a great yard with excellent amenities and DIY supported.

“Safe Harbor” those words send me running out to the most fierce of storms. Ha ha. I have a better chance of coming out alive and with most of my money.