I'm thinking of storing my H240 in a slip instead of on the trailer. Figure I'll be able to get a lot more use out of the boat that way. I haven't done this before so can you advise as to the additional maintainence that is required for a boat kept in a slip as opposed to trailer stored? Do I need bottom paint, other things to worry about.... Thanks Tony
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That's a Good Question
Bottom paint is a definite requirement and with a hard paint, depending on your threshold for drag, one will probably need some intermediate cleaning between haulouts. If your boat has a gel coat bottom there will be a reduction in performance by keeping it in the water. Since the boat is dry stored it is probably covered with a tarp which really helps to reduce oxidation (less waxing req'd). Once it is kept in the water with the mast up, covering it with a boat cover will be much more difficult so it probably won't have this nice protection. Weather really takes a toll on a boat kept outside. The savings in time to hookup, launch, retrieve, and stow will probably be off set by bottom painting. Maintenance on a boat at the slip is harder - the tool or screw that you want is always in the garage!! If the boat can be kept at home then maintenance will be much easier. Maintenance at a dry storage facility will be slightly easier than at a slip because one can drive the car right up to the boat which saves a lot of time walking down a dock. Keeping the boat in the water will require more zinc maintenance. Trailer sailing allows for faster travel to new cruising grounds. If you can't tell, I like trailer sailing and I have one boat on a trailer and a nice 35 footer in the water (the expensive one). Once the bottom is painted it's hard to go back to that new smooth gel coat. Good luck in your decision!
Bottom paint is a definite requirement and with a hard paint, depending on your threshold for drag, one will probably need some intermediate cleaning between haulouts. If your boat has a gel coat bottom there will be a reduction in performance by keeping it in the water. Since the boat is dry stored it is probably covered with a tarp which really helps to reduce oxidation (less waxing req'd). Once it is kept in the water with the mast up, covering it with a boat cover will be much more difficult so it probably won't have this nice protection. Weather really takes a toll on a boat kept outside. The savings in time to hookup, launch, retrieve, and stow will probably be off set by bottom painting. Maintenance on a boat at the slip is harder - the tool or screw that you want is always in the garage!! If the boat can be kept at home then maintenance will be much easier. Maintenance at a dry storage facility will be slightly easier than at a slip because one can drive the car right up to the boat which saves a lot of time walking down a dock. Keeping the boat in the water will require more zinc maintenance. Trailer sailing allows for faster travel to new cruising grounds. If you can't tell, I like trailer sailing and I have one boat on a trailer and a nice 35 footer in the water (the expensive one). Once the bottom is painted it's hard to go back to that new smooth gel coat. Good luck in your decision!
Teflon paint
I get much much more use out of my 240 since putting it into the slip. If I want, I can be raising the main within 5 or 6 minutes of ariving at the dock. The only extra maintenance is bottom paint to prevent algae from coating & slowing the boat. The best pain for speed and also the easiest to maintain is VC17 (asuming you are in fresh water). All you have to do is de-gloss the bottom (do not sand) and apply 2 to 3 coats. You dont have to wait inbetween coats. You dont have to sand in between years. Just repaint after power washing the bottom just before painting. The paint is less than $75 per season (2 coats). The teflon paint also will increase your speed on the water. works great for me, I had the dealer do it the first time $600. I watched the second time ($150 plus the paint). Now its just the paint and rental of the hoist ($90)
I get much much more use out of my 240 since putting it into the slip. If I want, I can be raising the main within 5 or 6 minutes of ariving at the dock. The only extra maintenance is bottom paint to prevent algae from coating & slowing the boat. The best pain for speed and also the easiest to maintain is VC17 (asuming you are in fresh water). All you have to do is de-gloss the bottom (do not sand) and apply 2 to 3 coats. You dont have to wait inbetween coats. You dont have to sand in between years. Just repaint after power washing the bottom just before painting. The paint is less than $75 per season (2 coats). The teflon paint also will increase your speed on the water. works great for me, I had the dealer do it the first time $600. I watched the second time ($150 plus the paint). Now its just the paint and rental of the hoist ($90)
Slip=More Sailing
For most people, I think having the boat in a slip equates to more time spent sailing. You're off mere minutes after arriving. With my h26 I often dream of trailering to more interesting bodies of water, but in reality the ability to be sailing 20 minutes after leaving my house can't be beat. Bottom paint is a must, so you have added one item to your maintenance list. Since very few people I know cover their boats, during the sailing season, while on the trailer, I'd say other maintenance shouldn't change much. Let us know what you decide. We all have different likes and dislikes. To each his own.
For most people, I think having the boat in a slip equates to more time spent sailing. You're off mere minutes after arriving. With my h26 I often dream of trailering to more interesting bodies of water, but in reality the ability to be sailing 20 minutes after leaving my house can't be beat. Bottom paint is a must, so you have added one item to your maintenance list. Since very few people I know cover their boats, during the sailing season, while on the trailer, I'd say other maintenance shouldn't change much. Let us know what you decide. We all have different likes and dislikes. To each his own.
Just did it
Just went through the whole process myself. It's a trade-off; but I think keeping it in the slip has a decided edge. In the month we've kept it in the water, we've slept overnight on it 7 times- 4 in the marina (and would be doing more of that if it wasn't so hot in Texas); and sailed every weekend- including a midnight sail under the full moon. In the two months before we slipped it, we sailed a half dozen times, camped on it overnight once and wished we could have done more. Though it's nice to be able to travel to other places, it's sometimes a beating to put it up and take it down. Give me a slip anytime; and, if I want to try a new lake, I'll just pull it up on the trailer. Having a slip doesn't mean you have to get rid of your trailer.
Just went through the whole process myself. It's a trade-off; but I think keeping it in the slip has a decided edge. In the month we've kept it in the water, we've slept overnight on it 7 times- 4 in the marina (and would be doing more of that if it wasn't so hot in Texas); and sailed every weekend- including a midnight sail under the full moon. In the two months before we slipped it, we sailed a half dozen times, camped on it overnight once and wished we could have done more. Though it's nice to be able to travel to other places, it's sometimes a beating to put it up and take it down. Give me a slip anytime; and, if I want to try a new lake, I'll just pull it up on the trailer. Having a slip doesn't mean you have to get rid of your trailer.
PAINT FOR TRAILERALBES
When selecting a bottom paint, ensure you buy a paint that is designed for trailerable boats. Most "hard" paints lose biocide effectiveness when not kept wet. Most thin film teflons fall into this catagory, often having to be launched within days of inital painting. Most ablative paints don't lose effectiveness, and have the benifit of gradually wearing away, so you don't have to sand off old layers. Just look in the catalogs, or brochures in the store for the right type. Hunter also advises not to paint the rudder a dark color, to reduce heat buildup in the sun while trailering. If you must paint the rudder dark, use a white cover for the rudder to protect against delamination. I keep my 23.5 in the water by my house, and get out on it many times for just for an hour or so(great cocktail lounge). Keeping it in the water does get the ballast water smelling funky... 1 -2 cups of clorox added kills off the growth for a month or so.
When selecting a bottom paint, ensure you buy a paint that is designed for trailerable boats. Most "hard" paints lose biocide effectiveness when not kept wet. Most thin film teflons fall into this catagory, often having to be launched within days of inital painting. Most ablative paints don't lose effectiveness, and have the benifit of gradually wearing away, so you don't have to sand off old layers. Just look in the catalogs, or brochures in the store for the right type. Hunter also advises not to paint the rudder a dark color, to reduce heat buildup in the sun while trailering. If you must paint the rudder dark, use a white cover for the rudder to protect against delamination. I keep my 23.5 in the water by my house, and get out on it many times for just for an hour or so(great cocktail lounge). Keeping it in the water does get the ballast water smelling funky... 1 -2 cups of clorox added kills off the growth for a month or so.
Then there are the birds...
Even though I have a trailer, I keep my H23 in the water year round. You will need bottom paint, select one that is appropriate for your sailing area (the West Marine catalog has a good write up on this subject). I would also suggest that you put a barrier coat on the hull before you apply the bottom paint. It will reduce the chance of blistering. Then there are the birds, who like to sit on the masthead, spreaders and fertilize the deck and sail cover. Ugh!I solved that problem by tying fishing line from the mast to the upper shrouds and the topping lift, about two inches above the spreaders and sail cover. The lines keep the birds from landing, so they can't leave me any "gifts". After the fireworks this past July 4th, it was a pleasure to motor past all those powerboaters who had left me in their wake and were now backed up three deep at the ramp waiting their turn to get out. I just turned into my slip and tied up. Is a slip worth it? Oh yeah! Peter S/V Raven
Even though I have a trailer, I keep my H23 in the water year round. You will need bottom paint, select one that is appropriate for your sailing area (the West Marine catalog has a good write up on this subject). I would also suggest that you put a barrier coat on the hull before you apply the bottom paint. It will reduce the chance of blistering. Then there are the birds, who like to sit on the masthead, spreaders and fertilize the deck and sail cover. Ugh!I solved that problem by tying fishing line from the mast to the upper shrouds and the topping lift, about two inches above the spreaders and sail cover. The lines keep the birds from landing, so they can't leave me any "gifts". After the fireworks this past July 4th, it was a pleasure to motor past all those powerboaters who had left me in their wake and were now backed up three deep at the ramp waiting their turn to get out. I just turned into my slip and tied up. Is a slip worth it? Oh yeah! Peter S/V Raven
Salt or fresh water?
Bottom paint may not be necessary if you are keeping your boat in fresh water. I have trailer sailed, slipped and moored in salt and fresh water. Sailing off the trailer adds some time to get the boat on and off the trailer, deal with ramp traffic. Add mast raising, etc. if you can't leave the boat near the ramp. The boat on the trailer gets a lot less wear and tear compared to one in the the water. How much wear and tear in the water depends on the degree to which your boat is protected from wakes and wave action. Salt water also ages the boat faster, but waxing and polishing can keep the boat looking young longer. I have to agree that having the boat in the water makes the whole boating experience more enjoyable and allows me to make the most of my valuable sailing time. If you need bottom paint, check with local professionals and boat owners for advice. I sail in the northeast (Boston area) and use Woolsey Hydrocoat -- a multi-season, ablative, water based paint. It holds up to trailering well. I am on my second season and expect to get a third season with a little touch up. Fair winds... Tom
Bottom paint may not be necessary if you are keeping your boat in fresh water. I have trailer sailed, slipped and moored in salt and fresh water. Sailing off the trailer adds some time to get the boat on and off the trailer, deal with ramp traffic. Add mast raising, etc. if you can't leave the boat near the ramp. The boat on the trailer gets a lot less wear and tear compared to one in the the water. How much wear and tear in the water depends on the degree to which your boat is protected from wakes and wave action. Salt water also ages the boat faster, but waxing and polishing can keep the boat looking young longer. I have to agree that having the boat in the water makes the whole boating experience more enjoyable and allows me to make the most of my valuable sailing time. If you need bottom paint, check with local professionals and boat owners for advice. I sail in the northeast (Boston area) and use Woolsey Hydrocoat -- a multi-season, ablative, water based paint. It holds up to trailering well. I am on my second season and expect to get a third season with a little touch up. Fair winds... Tom
Excellent point about the bottom paint, Tom
Tony: Ask the boatyard near the marina you are considering which bottom paint they use the most and why. I am at Hidden Harbour Marina in Sanford, and the yard there recommended Pettit Trinidad. I ended up using VC17 because I thought I would be trailering the boat more than I did. VC17 has worked for me. I have only had to brush algae off twice since last October. Based on what I have read here since then, I would like to try Micron CSC when the VC finally wears out. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
Tony: Ask the boatyard near the marina you are considering which bottom paint they use the most and why. I am at Hidden Harbour Marina in Sanford, and the yard there recommended Pettit Trinidad. I ended up using VC17 because I thought I would be trailering the boat more than I did. VC17 has worked for me. I have only had to brush algae off twice since last October. Based on what I have read here since then, I would like to try Micron CSC when the VC finally wears out. Good luck. Peter S/V Raven
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