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Does anyone have any comments about stack storage (where they move
your boat out of storage with a crane or forklift)? Does this damage
the boat at all.
QUESTION:I just bought an 18' boat and am trying to decide where to keep it.
As far as I can tell, the options are:
1. Keep it in my garage (40 mins from the lake)and banish my car to
the driveway
2. Storage unit 5 minutes from the lake
3. Uncovered storage at a marina
4. Stack storage at a marina
5. Slip at a marina
My priorities:
1. Cost
2. Not looking like a fool in front of a bunch of people while trying
to trailer my boat on a public boat ramp (having zero experince).
3. Security of the boat
I'd like to hear any horror stories or recommendations.
I'm in Austin, Tx where I've heard slips on the lake start at $200/mo.
I'd rather pay closer to the $100 range, but am willing to pay $200
if the benefits are good enough.
Does anyone have any comments about stack storage (where they move
your boat out of storage with a crane or forklift)? Does this damage
the boat at all.
I've found some enclosed storage units near the lake for about $70/mo.
That doesn't sound too bad.
Also, any thoughts on uncovered dry storage at a marina?
ANSWER: -Don't know if you have the room, but you could keep the boat outside at your
house and just covered. ~ Loading and unloading the boat to/from a trailer
is not that hard. You might as well learn. Just go to the ramp at some
time (weekday midafternon maybe) when it is not busy and you can practice
w/o lots of people waiting and watching.
Personally, I like when I keep my boat in a slip - it is SO fun and
convienient. But it is certainly not the cheapest alternative. Also, I
lived 10minutes from the slip and went down there all hours of the day and
night on a whim.. At 40 minutes away, you'll probably be making more
planned type trips - so a slip is probably not as useful.
-If the stack storage is under cover, it is probably the best all around deal.
Your boat come out of the water when not in use so blisters and bottom
scrubbing aren't much of an issue and you have the convienience of being able
to call the marina before you leave the house or work, and they have it
launched and in the water before you get there (a habit of small tip to the
operators everytime pretty much assures you "first in line" service on those
busy times), plus there's always someone working there who can wash, clean and
wax your boat for you should you desire it, and generally have a wash rack on
the ground if you want to do it yourself. Is damage possible? Sure it is, but
no worse than on a trailer, and it's the marina's liability, not your's. It's,
I think, the best of both worlds. Your boat doesn't have to sit in the water
all the time, yet it's ready to go when you pull up at the marina. After the
drystack option, I'd go for the enclosed storage near the marina, saves the
wear and tear on the boat, trailer, and tow vehicle as well as leaving your car
in the garage. Slipping a boat is okay, but then you end up with the growth on
the bottom and blisters and the risk of it sinking in the slip.... For big
boats it's the only option, but with a small boat, heck I'd let the marina dry
stack it.
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