Boat trailering advice needed

[pburton]

New boater here. I hope to soon be the owner of a 26’ Cobalt R5. While the boat comes with a trailer, I do not own a vehicle that can tow it, nor do I plan to get one. I have a slip at the resort and the boat should be in the water the entire season. There are many marinas very close to me and it’s time for me to start figuring out logistics. The resort provides free storage of the trailer during the boating season, and is associated with a small marina that can store winterized boats for a fairly cheap rate and I get access to their boat ramp.

However, there is no mechanic at that marina. The boat (about 10 yrs old) has a Volvo penta duo prop with EVC and there is a marina nearby that is Volvo certified. There are 3 other nearby marinas that I have heard good things about regarding their mechanics but it is general information and not specific to this boat or this Volvo engine.

My questions are about getting the boat and trailer from point A to point B. If the boat needs to come out for mid-season service, the trailer will be at the resort. At the end of the season, if I get the boat winterized somewhere other than where it is stored, how do I get the boat between these locations? How important is it that the Volvo certified marina be used?

Appreciate the insights from the group

[jhnmdahl]

If the marinas are on the same waterway, they will likely be perfectly happy if you bring your boat by water instead of on a trailer. If not, I've rented a truck for cheap (don't remember, but it was under $50) from Home Depot to move my boat around when my tow vehicle was unavailable. A much cheaper solution than buying something else.

As for Volvo-certified dealers, I'd say its a nice thing to have, but a really good independent shop that has a lot of Volvo experience is probably just as good. It really has to be your call whether it's worth the potential extra work and/or money.