Reserve boat slip before getting a boat?

[Cyclonegrey]

Guys, I'm in the market for a new boat but am holding off for a few weeks/months for refi to close and for demand to slightly cool.

The big question is do I reserve and pay for a slip before I get the boat? I need to lock in a slip before January first to get the preseason discount and also to guarantee a spot.

What are the thoughts on this? Go for it or wait until I get the boat and take my chances? If I miss out on a slip I can always trailer it and drop it in. IF something happens and I can't get a boat I may be stuck.

 

[mike220022]

If youre definitely buying one then go ahead and get the slip. If places around you are anything like here you have to jump on them as soon as they come up. Im on a waiting list for a slip and last I hear there was still 6 people in front of me.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

Guys, I'm in the market for a new boat but am holding off for a few weeks/months for refi to close and for demand to slightly cool.

The big question is do I reserve and pay for a slip before I get the boat? I need to lock in a slip before January first to get the preseason discount and also to guarantee a spot.

What are the thoughts on this? Go for it or wait until I get the boat and take my chances? If I miss out on a slip I can always trailer it and drop it in. IF something happens and I can't get a boat I may be stuck.

@Cyclonegrey .....that's what both my friend and I did.

 

[jjmparsons]

I concur with consensus above. Slips are not easy to come by now seeing as how the boating community is growing exponentially. We had a slip at our local marina that we were wanting to keep but we were looking to sell our Cabin Cruiser. Buyers wouldnt even consider the bayliner without the slip being included and seeing as how it was a 32' boat, its not like it could just be pulled out of the water whenever. Regrettably, we let the slip go but it made for a quick sale of the cabin cruiser. Speaking to the marina management though, the list for wet slips at this time is a mile long. If you know for a fact you're getting a boat, do yourself a favor and lock the slip in. Though we don't have to trailer far to get to the water, Id rather have the boat in a slip over putting in and taking out when we do get a chance to get on the water. We often don't get back until well after dark and having a slip available as opposed to taking the boat out would be an ideal course of action.

 

[Cyclonegrey]

Thanks. You all reinforced what I was thinking. I have to start making some calls and get on the list.

I concur with consensus above. Slips are not easy to come by now seeing as how the boating community is growing exponentially. We had a slip at our local marina that we were wanting to keep but we were looking to sell our Cabin Cruiser. Buyers wouldnt even consider the bayliner without the slip being included and seeing as how it was a 32' boat, its not like it could just be pulled out of the water whenever. Regrettably, we let the slip go but it made for a quick sale of the cabin cruiser. Speaking to the marina management though, the list for wet slips at this time is a mile long. If you know for a fact you're getting a boat, do yourself a favor and lock the slip in. Though we don't have to trailer far to get to the water, Id rather have the boat in a slip over putting in and taking out when we do get a chance to get on the water. We often don't get back until well after dark and having a slip available as opposed to taking the boat out would be an ideal course of action.

You sort of have me worried that there won’t be a slip at all! Ha ha

 

[mrcleanr6]

i am at the only marina on the river. the wait list is about 4 years and thats if you suck up and the owner likes you and if you have a nice boat lol. def lock in the slip now if you can. the only kink in you not having the boat is that the marina will probably require you to have them listed on your insurance policy for the boat. without the boat you cant do that but maybe they will agree to giving you the slip as long as you provide proof of ins at the beginning of the season or before the boat goes in the slip.

 

[jjmparsons]

Thanks. You all reinforced what I was thinking. I have to start making some calls and get on the list.

You sort of have me worried that there won’t be a slip at all! Ha ha

LMAO!!! Definitely not my intention @Cyclonegrey, but at this point it is what it is. A couple of years ago when we first bought the cabin cruiser and started looking at our local marina we had a choice of a few different wet slips to choose from. Dry storage was the issue back then. The wait list for it was close to 2 years if not more. Fast forward to the punch in the mouth we are calling the year 2020 and open options for wet slips are a thing of the past and the wait list just keeps getting longer. Again, just a recommendation from me. I think you'll be happier with the wet slip and the ease of accessibility as opposed to having to put in and take out when you're on the water!

 

[Sean R]

The marine I have been at for the last ten years has a 50 plus waiting list. They have never had a waiting list for dry storage. Ever winter I bring my boat home and go back in early spring and usually get the same spot. This year we are keeping it all winter, dont want to deal with public lauch next spring. Crazy year.