On the Hard Cost vs In Water Slip Cost

[Jcody2121]

I am in the process of buying a new Catana 471. I live in Melbourne Beach Florida and I have been looking for a Marina. I need to do quite a bit of work on the boat over the next 6 mos and then I plan to move on the boat as a liveaboard. I assumed to save some money I would have the boat out of the water and do the work there for the first 6 mos prior to putting it in the water and paying monthly for a slip. So far this does not seem to be the case as most places are quoting me daily rates for having my boat in a DIY work area? Is this true pretty much everywhere and maybe I just have this wrong?

[ThereAndBack]

Having a boat out of the water is almost always more expensive than in the water.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by ThereAndBack

Having a boat out of the water is almost always more expensive than in the water.

While this might be the case in the US, it's not unanimously true.
We have our boat in France in a dry harbor (port-a-sec) and it's less costly as in a Marina or else.

Lady Rover measures about 10.5m x 6m and we pay a little over 2000€ a year.

The location is about 25nm from the mouth of the river Loire in France...

[C420sailor]

Depends entirely on the area.

Where I live, dock space is very very expensive. Certainly more expensive than storage in the yard. Supply and demand, not many slips available in the area.

[ThereAndBack]

Originally Posted by Franziska

While this might be the case in the US, it's not unanimously true.
We have our boat in France in a dry harbor (port-a-sec) and it's less costly as in a Marina or else.

Lady Rover measures about 10.5m x 6m and we pay a little over 2000€ a year.

The location is about 25nm from the mouth of the river Loire in France...

Let me be clear....

I mean in the OP's stated location, which is a city in FL in the USA.

[GreenWave]

And yes- even at DIY yards you will likely pay a daily fee to be on the hard. It is incentive to get your work done and move on.

[Dsanduril]

I'd say especially in DIY yards/areas. If you aren't paying the yard for their labor/services/materials then their only source of revenue from you is rental of space. If you use a full service yard the day cost may be somewhat negotiable because, to some extent, they control the schedule. IME on-the-hard is generally somewhat cheaper than in the water, but it all depends on the local supply/demand balance and the cost of providing the space.

In our neck of the woods the storage rate doubles after a year, the yard doesn't want boats that aren't boats. I've seen other places where that time is a couple of weeks or a month.

[JPA Cate]

It sounds like streamlining your process is what will save you money over the long haul, and it might even be worth your while to pay to have some of it done, especially if you are not able to work full time on the boat.

Do the jobs that MUST be done on the hard first, then shift and finish in a berth.

Ann

[Jcody2121]

Thanks for all the great info / replies. I just had things backwards for sure. My new focus is to find an in water slip for as cheap as possible close to where I live for 6 mos and do all the upgrades that do not require taking the boat out of the water. To be honest the bottom of the boat (through hulls, sail drives, bottom paint etc.) are all in great shape. I was simply WRONG about the cost of being out of the water verses in the water. Once all that is done I now know to focus on a lift that can pull my boat (Wide Beam) and get the projects done asap or even pay someone in certain situations where it makes sense. Thanks again!

[sail sfbay]

Depends on location. In the San Francisco Bay and California Delta dry storage for that size boat is very limited AND outside the bay. I stored my Hunter 386 on the hard for 3 years while living overseas for cost savings $200/month dry vs. $600/month in the water 2015 - 2018 up the Napa River many hours away from my marina in the bay. I would only haul the boat to do bottom or thru-hull work since keeping the boat out of the water for more than a short time requires a $4,500-5,000 bottom paint job if it is painted with a hard paint before splashing into the water and you may not have anyway to charge the batteries so potentially cost for new batteries. Best to do the work while the boat is in the water.

[Cabo Jim]

I stored my boat on the hard at St. Marys boat services for a monthly storage fee plus electrical charge. The best little DIY boat yard in the US. They loan you tools (free) and you have free access to a machine shop and wood working shop free of charge if you ask. Great advise and friendly. Local trades are available if you need them. Cost was 30 to 40% cheaper than a marina slip.

[Russ]

Cracker Boy Boat Works in Ft Pierce is one of the few places up can work and liveaboard on the hard It recently went up to $1.50 per ft per day plus a $10 a day liveaboard fee. Very good place, remember it's a working boatyard NOT a marina. PM me if you want more info.

Russ
Telemar Bay Marina Indian Harbour Beach, FL

[johnn33]

Hallo Cabo Jim Not my area - other side of the Pond - but is this the yard? Services & Rates
John

[Catboat Willy]

Check out Glades Storage on the far side of Lake Okeechobee. Yes, it's a bit of a drive but it's a DYI yard free from the worries of the upcoming hurricanes and reasonable rates. They will even lend you the tools to work on your boat.
Check it out

[smj]

Originally Posted by Catboat Willy

Check out Glades Storage on the far side of Lake Okeechobee. Yes, it's a bit of a drive but it's a DYI yard free from the worries of the upcoming hurricanes and reasonable rates. They will even lend you the tools to work on your boat.
Check it out

Glades can’t handle his beam or mast height