I am thinking of buying a used 23.5 or 24 foot Hunter. I like the idea of being able to trailer it but all the people with whom I have spoken have their boats in slips, and they are saying that I won't use the boat if I don't have it in a slip. I can deal with the cost of the boat and the upkeep but the thought of paying $1500 to $2000 a year to keep the boat in the water is keeping me from doing anything. Please give me your experience in dry storing your boat. Also, how long does it take you to put the mast and sail up? down? Thanks. John
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Sean Coerse
H240
I keep my H240 in a slip for the 6-7 months of sailing season, and store it on the trailer at home to save slip fees in the winter. I single hand alot so it is alot quicker to undo the dock lines and go. If you are sailing with someone you can set the boat up fairly quickly. But you still have the hassel of busy ramps on weekends. Even if it only takes 10-20 minutes to set the boat up, sometimes getting in and out of the ramp if it is busy can add alot more time to your day. I have launced twice by myself, it took 30 minutes to set the boat up. I have never retrieved by myself. And I hope I don't have to. You might consider finding a marina that will let you keep it on the trailer. That way all you have to do is hook up and drop her in the water. This type of storage is usualy cheaper than a slip
I keep my H240 in a slip for the 6-7 months of sailing season, and store it on the trailer at home to save slip fees in the winter. I single hand alot so it is alot quicker to undo the dock lines and go. If you are sailing with someone you can set the boat up fairly quickly. But you still have the hassel of busy ramps on weekends. Even if it only takes 10-20 minutes to set the boat up, sometimes getting in and out of the ramp if it is busy can add alot more time to your day. I have launced twice by myself, it took 30 minutes to set the boat up. I have never retrieved by myself. And I hope I don't have to. You might consider finding a marina that will let you keep it on the trailer. That way all you have to do is hook up and drop her in the water. This type of storage is usualy cheaper than a slip
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Ken Shubert
Options
There's no doubt that a slip is the handiest but most expensive way to go. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get the mast up and launch, once you've mastered the routine. Time to retrieve and step the mast is about the same but the problem comes on busy weekend when there's an hours queue at the ramp. When we trailer long distances, we put the motor, rudder, and anything heavy in the tow vehicle so it takes longer to rig in that situation. Renting a mooring is a possiblity too, but then you have to dingy everything and everybody out to the boat. I'd prefer dry-sail storage over a mooring. We kept ours in dry-sail when the weather was getting cold but we still wanted to sail on warm days. If the ramp is handy and no waiting line, it only takes 5 - 10 minutes to get on the water. You really don't worry about having the boat perfectly placed on the trailer since you don't go very far. It's pretty quick that way. You just have to remember to flood the ballast each time. Dry-sail also has the advantage of keeping the bottom clean. It makes a big difference whether you sail on weekends & holidays or on the off days, like I do. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
There's no doubt that a slip is the handiest but most expensive way to go. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get the mast up and launch, once you've mastered the routine. Time to retrieve and step the mast is about the same but the problem comes on busy weekend when there's an hours queue at the ramp. When we trailer long distances, we put the motor, rudder, and anything heavy in the tow vehicle so it takes longer to rig in that situation. Renting a mooring is a possiblity too, but then you have to dingy everything and everybody out to the boat. I'd prefer dry-sail storage over a mooring. We kept ours in dry-sail when the weather was getting cold but we still wanted to sail on warm days. If the ramp is handy and no waiting line, it only takes 5 - 10 minutes to get on the water. You really don't worry about having the boat perfectly placed on the trailer since you don't go very far. It's pretty quick that way. You just have to remember to flood the ballast each time. Dry-sail also has the advantage of keeping the bottom clean. It makes a big difference whether you sail on weekends & holidays or on the off days, like I do. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Tom
trailer is fine...
John, A slip would be nice but storing your boat on a trailer is OK too. I do it. Where we are a slip is about $900 for the "season", usually May 1 - Oct. 31. Outside covered storage is about $45/mo. If you want to have a slip and keep your storage too, then ya pay both, this is of course unless you are fortunate enough to have the room to store your boat where you live. Otherwise, you just pay the storage and trailer the boat around, ya just have to do it; "pack up, this bus be leavin, we're goin sailin!". At least then you can go "somewhere else" and sail if you want, I'm generally talkin lakes here. You should be able to setup/take down in a half an hour each way maybe quicker, once you get the hang of it. Check the archives. Many such questions have been discussed at length there. Tom
John, A slip would be nice but storing your boat on a trailer is OK too. I do it. Where we are a slip is about $900 for the "season", usually May 1 - Oct. 31. Outside covered storage is about $45/mo. If you want to have a slip and keep your storage too, then ya pay both, this is of course unless you are fortunate enough to have the room to store your boat where you live. Otherwise, you just pay the storage and trailer the boat around, ya just have to do it; "pack up, this bus be leavin, we're goin sailin!". At least then you can go "somewhere else" and sail if you want, I'm generally talkin lakes here. You should be able to setup/take down in a half an hour each way maybe quicker, once you get the hang of it. Check the archives. Many such questions have been discussed at length there. Tom
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Mark Cooper
On the trailer sailor
I keep my 240 on the trailer and in a covered storage when I'm not using it for 2 reasons. One, the expense of a slip payment (which is $140/mo on average around here). The second reason not yet discussed is the wear and tear of sunlight (UV) on the boat's exterior. Keeping it stored in a shed keeps her looking newer longer. True, it would be sweet not to have to set up every time I want to sail; but the expense just isn't justified in my case. Besides, there are a lot of great lakes to explore in this part of Texas and I just don't want to be tied down to one.
I keep my 240 on the trailer and in a covered storage when I'm not using it for 2 reasons. One, the expense of a slip payment (which is $140/mo on average around here). The second reason not yet discussed is the wear and tear of sunlight (UV) on the boat's exterior. Keeping it stored in a shed keeps her looking newer longer. True, it would be sweet not to have to set up every time I want to sail; but the expense just isn't justified in my case. Besides, there are a lot of great lakes to explore in this part of Texas and I just don't want to be tied down to one.
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John Powell
Thank you!
Amazing! I posted my question this morning and I have four responses after lunch. I've learned from these and hope for others. Thnks. john
Amazing! I posted my question this morning and I have four responses after lunch. I've learned from these and hope for others. Thnks. john
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Jim Kolstoe
Slip is better
Sailing time from slip (single-handed) is about 3 minutes after I arrive. Sailing time from trailer (double handed) is 40+ minutes after I arrive. Slip rental is for the season but works out to about $65/mo. That provides a "vacation house" on the water anytime I want, with neighbors I've gotten to know (it sometimes seems people change slips less often than they change houses). I get the best of both worlds, easy to get on the water, but if I want to go to another lake, its not that hard to pull out for a weekend or two. How are you going to grab a nice summer evening sail if you've got to tow, rig and launch, then afterwards pull, rig for trailering and tow again. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Sailing time from slip (single-handed) is about 3 minutes after I arrive. Sailing time from trailer (double handed) is 40+ minutes after I arrive. Slip rental is for the season but works out to about $65/mo. That provides a "vacation house" on the water anytime I want, with neighbors I've gotten to know (it sometimes seems people change slips less often than they change houses). I get the best of both worlds, easy to get on the water, but if I want to go to another lake, its not that hard to pull out for a weekend or two. How are you going to grab a nice summer evening sail if you've got to tow, rig and launch, then afterwards pull, rig for trailering and tow again. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
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Ghery Pettit
Mine's in a slip
We keep ours in the water year round. The marina offers a spring special each year for those of us in slips that get real shallow on negative tides. Pay for 4 months up front around April and get the rest of the year free. This year, they didn't bill me for January through March (don't know why) and then offered the rest of the year for about $496. Got the whole year for 3 months rental. Got to love that marina. 5 minutes to drive to the marina from home, a few minutes to park and walk down to the boat beats the heck out of hooking up to the trailer, dragging the rig across town to the one launch ramp and then 40 to 60 minutes of fooling around stepping the mast, squaring away the gear and launching. Downside of keeping it in the water - got to have it hauled, cleaned and painted every 2 years. You pay for the convenience.
We keep ours in the water year round. The marina offers a spring special each year for those of us in slips that get real shallow on negative tides. Pay for 4 months up front around April and get the rest of the year free. This year, they didn't bill me for January through March (don't know why) and then offered the rest of the year for about $496. Got the whole year for 3 months rental. Got to love that marina. 5 minutes to drive to the marina from home, a few minutes to park and walk down to the boat beats the heck out of hooking up to the trailer, dragging the rig across town to the one launch ramp and then 40 to 60 minutes of fooling around stepping the mast, squaring away the gear and launching. Downside of keeping it in the water - got to have it hauled, cleaned and painted every 2 years. You pay for the convenience.
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Joe R
SLIPSLIPSLIPSLIPSLIPSLIP
I find I get much more use of the boat when it is stored in the slip. The thought of riging it each time you go out will void all of the quickie sails in the late afternoon or evening. When I drydocked, I used the boat once or twice a week, two or three weeks a month for 3 months. With the ease of just jumping on board and taking off (plus the commitment of $1500 or more) I find I use the boat 3 to 4 times a week for 5 to 6 months. The marina makes a great social setting. Even to just get on the boat and vege is a nice experience. Plus the next guy over is having a cook out or over stocked on beers etc. Its just a very nice way of living six months out of the year. Joe R. Skooky 2 (H240)
I find I get much more use of the boat when it is stored in the slip. The thought of riging it each time you go out will void all of the quickie sails in the late afternoon or evening. When I drydocked, I used the boat once or twice a week, two or three weeks a month for 3 months. With the ease of just jumping on board and taking off (plus the commitment of $1500 or more) I find I use the boat 3 to 4 times a week for 5 to 6 months. The marina makes a great social setting. Even to just get on the boat and vege is a nice experience. Plus the next guy over is having a cook out or over stocked on beers etc. Its just a very nice way of living six months out of the year. Joe R. Skooky 2 (H240)
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Paul Jordan
Time Keeps Slippin...
We bought our H240 last July. My wise wife said I could buy the boat ONLY if it was kept in a slip. I had planned on trailering it. She was, of course, right. I just renewed my slip fees for 2000-2001 season and have no regrets. We use the boat a great deal as it is ready to go when we are (a 45 minute drive to the marina, followed by actually sailing, not launching and rigging). The other bonus is all the great people we have met. The marina really is a community unto itself and most people are friendly, happy to help you with a problem or share advice on problems with the boat. At this point, I cannot imagine doing it any other way. Of course, our $1200 a year in slip fees means year round sailing in central NC. Part of the decision might involve the yearly cost vs how many months you can sail, etc. In summary, my free time is valuable and becoming more scarce all the time. Keeping the boat in the slip means more time sailing with a lot less work.
We bought our H240 last July. My wise wife said I could buy the boat ONLY if it was kept in a slip. I had planned on trailering it. She was, of course, right. I just renewed my slip fees for 2000-2001 season and have no regrets. We use the boat a great deal as it is ready to go when we are (a 45 minute drive to the marina, followed by actually sailing, not launching and rigging). The other bonus is all the great people we have met. The marina really is a community unto itself and most people are friendly, happy to help you with a problem or share advice on problems with the boat. At this point, I cannot imagine doing it any other way. Of course, our $1200 a year in slip fees means year round sailing in central NC. Part of the decision might involve the yearly cost vs how many months you can sail, etc. In summary, my free time is valuable and becoming more scarce all the time. Keeping the boat in the slip means more time sailing with a lot less work.
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John Larsen
Do both
I keep my H25 in a slip during the summer but tow it back and forth to Minneapolis for storage. I save the winter storage charge and have the boat clost to home for work in the spring. If I do want to move it somewhere temporarily in the summer, the tow option is great.
I keep my H25 in a slip during the summer but tow it back and forth to Minneapolis for storage. I save the winter storage charge and have the boat clost to home for work in the spring. If I do want to move it somewhere temporarily in the summer, the tow option is great.
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