too big!

[dingbat]

Re: too big!

I save all kinds of money by fueling my boat on dry land and not paying for a slip. Between the cost of the slip $50-$75/week and the added cost of fuel on the water the savings is substantial. I generally only trailer a short distance but if I were driving much further, I'd still have to drive (although at better mpg) there even if not towing the boat. I'd say that drive time would shoot down my boating trip long before fuel cost difference from towing the boat.

The cost savings is going to vary depending on the distances traveled and the number of trips per month.

I rent a slip for a April for Spring Stipery season and then again for 3 weeks after Thanksgiving Nov/December when the fish return from their northern migration. Everything considered, in a month (20 trips) I save $300 (fuel less slip cost) and 15 hours of commute time.

The 15 hours is worth a lot more than the money.

Slip = Minus $200
$3.50 a gallon on the street verse $3.75 at the marina x 600 gallons = Minus $150
35 mpg verse 8 mpg @ 130 miles round trip x 20 trips a month ($265 verse $1140) Plus $850
Not to mention it cuts a good 45 minutes a day off the commute. Plus 15 hours a month

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: too big!

I don't think your problem is going to be what size boat but what your going to tow it with,Vans are not my choice of tow vehicles. I hope it's a 4x4 .How big is the motor.?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: too big!

Dingbat yes definitely 20 trips a month over that distance with that big of a mpg difference it could make a big difference. As another subject it might be a great way for some people to save money.
Either way economics don't automatically require a slip for a boat that size... The 23' boat is not too big to tow daily

Here fuel is much more expensive on the water and I get 12 mpg towing vs 15 mpg empty and I use the boat once or twice a week on average over 8 months of the year. It is also only a 15 minute drive to the nearest ramp at 30 mph and 25 minutes at 50 mph to the nearest marina so my numbers are much different
Time is about the same for me as I can launch n load every bit as fast as docking and plugging in. and both trips take about the same amount of time.
$1200 for the slip $685 in fuel for my truck
vs $320 in fuel for the truck
= $1565 in savings plus whatever I save by buying fuel on land......I used around 30-50 gallons a week last summer

That said, I have actually considered slipping the boat because the marina is 6 miles closer to my favorite destination by water so I'd burn a LOT less gas in the boat and I enjoy hanging out on the boat at the marina and socializing



a 3/4 ton van will be FINE for a lil 23' boat.... a buddy of mine hauled his 28' regal with one and it was not great but ok

A 2wd van will pull a boat up a ramp much better than a 2wd truck

 

[Black Snow Slide]

Re: too big!

I have a 25' express cruiser and tow it from Dartmouth Ma to lake George NY to Sebego lake in Maine to Cape Cod to anywhere I want to go. You can clean and stock it at home. Fuel at the gas station down the street. I can launch in 5 minutes and retreave in the same time frame. Love to have bigger but I love the versatility of going to different waters as the mood strike.

 

[Mike Zee]

Re: too big!

My boats a Celebrity 231. I can launch and load it with little to no issue. It is uneventful to launch and just about loads itself. It does like to strain the 4.6 in my F150, pulling it up some hills or longer grades. My Expedition acts like it ain't even there, except it gets worst mpg's than the boat. My 17' boat is much lighter but for some reason it sucks to launch and load. With the brakes on the tandom trailer my vehicles feel better stopping with the larger boat. The 17'er its all vehicle+ the 2900 lbs of boat, you can feel it braking.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: too big!

View attachment 130436
When I bought this 26ft Wellcraft I thought I would keep it parked on the side of the house where I've parked a 20Ft boat... I was wrong.

My problem was not the towing , but parking. My driveway has a steep sharp incline and in a residential street- too damn hard to park.
If I had a large area it would have been fine. I got a slip at the local marina and loved it but after a few years realized it was too $$$ and got my current boat.

Hey that's a good point!