Cobaltchat.com

BobRae99 wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:24 pm The marina operator wants quite a bit of money for mooring on one. Our current seasonal rate (May 15th - September - or as late as you want to haul out) for mooring in the water is around $750 for my 21' boat. They want $1,500 - $1,600 for the EZ Port. Given that the boat is only in the water for around 3 months, I wonder how much it costs a year to detail the bottom of the boat and out drive each year? Can they get the bottom looking like new year after year, or am I better off to take the hit and just keep it on a floating dock? We are in a fresh water lake.

NautiGirl wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:28 pm No one said this boating thing was cheap... Would we love to have a slip, yes. Am I paying 4k a year for a slip I can only use maybe 5 months out of the year. Nevermind the 6k for a lift of I had said slip.

We opted to go the storage shed route. 600 a year... Boat doesn't sit on the water and we have year round dry storage. Yes we have to put the boat in the water every weekend but I still feel like we are winning.

Maybe you need to consider other options besides leaving it in the water.

Big Block Power wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 7:38 pm If I could get a slip with a lift for 1500 dam I'm in.
Bobrae would you feel scared if you hit the throttle to go up one of those lifts and land on the other side on top of another Cobalt or on shore. Man that would scare me.

NautiGirl wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:28 pm No one said this boating thing was cheap... Would we love to have a slip, yes. Am I paying 4k a year for a slip I can only use maybe 5 months out of the year. Nevermind the 6k for a lift of I had said slip.

We opted to go the storage shed route. 600 a year... Boat doesn't sit on the water and we have year round dry storage. Yes we have to put the boat in the water every weekend but I still feel like we are winning.

Maybe you need to consider other options besides leaving it in the water.

Ytmsn wrote: Sat Jan 05, 2019 7:39 am

NautiGirl wrote: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:28 pm No one said this boating thing was cheap... Would we love to have a slip, yes. Am I paying 4k a year for a slip I can only use maybe 5 months out of the year. Nevermind the 6k for a lift of I had said slip.

We opted to go the storage shed route. 600 a year... Boat doesn't sit on the water and we have year round dry storage. Yes we have to put the boat in the water every weekend but I still feel like we are winning.

Maybe you need to consider other options besides leaving it in the water.

If I didn't own a place at the lake I probably wouldn't rent a slip. For that matter, I probably wouldn't own a boat. Too many times I've seen friends finance a boat only to end up using it 2 or 3 times a summer. That doesn't make sense to me... My boat is paid for, but if I'm not using that sucker on a regular basis it would be down the road motors.

Last year I had to put in and out every weekend while our new dock was being built. I've always been pretty handy at launching and loading so it was no big deal, and once in the water I'd just tie up to the dock or use a day slip. After doing it all summer, if I was looking at the price of the lift and slip rental, I'd be very hesitant to commit to the extra expense, but there are several reasons too.

I've had a slip and lift for ten years. My first lift was used and worked fine for all that time. If you look around, especially off season, you can find some pretty good deals.

It is "oh-so-nice" to be able to show up at the lake, pull the top off, let'er down in the water and take off! The first night at the lake we're usually out till 11 or midnight watching the stars. And coming back to the dock anytime you want without having to worry whether theres a place to tie up makes it really nice. Plus I dont have to worry about some drunk jakeleg hitting my boat while I'm not there. So the extra expense is worth it to me. Sometimes I get up pretty early and go down to the dock to piddle with the boat. I'll isten to music while wiping it down (bonding my wife says) or sometimes I'll pull out and take a cruise with my coffee. Or drive to a buddy's dock to drink coffee and BS until 8 or 9, then head back. Or hang out on the dock and visit with other friends. Its freakin awesome!

The drive on lifts are pretty popular for PWCs on our lake but I have only seen one for a boat and never a boat on it. Like BB, I'd be nervous about pulling up on a launching ramp. Too many things could go south. Also, at least on our dock, the Marina only wont allow one to be installed because it's too hard on the structure. So I'd talk to the guy that owns the dock and clear it with him before buying one.

And there's no way you can convince me that the hull wont get scratched up. When you go to resell the boat, that economic lift price wont be so attractive. So, I'd look for a used lift myself. You can always resell it for what you gave and not lose any money. But if the bottom of the hull is marred, what will that cost on resell?

Big Block Power wrote: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:33 pm You have zebra mussels and keep your boat in the water without a lift. Yea that's going to be a issue. We have them here and it's not pretty. I would get a lift or a truck and trailer.