MacGregorSailors.com

[quote="LOUIS B HOLUB"]Paulieb...real interesting survey questions. We, and a couple of other Macs rent a full time slip at a bargain: $90/month each locally. quote]
Can you post a link ?

Thanks guys for all the great replies. I think I was leaning toward a slip for next season despite the expense, which I was not happy about .
You you've certainly given me a great perspective on how to think about the expense. If I can get quick access to my boat for a quick sail, have access to water, electric, and shower facilities, that sounds pretty good. For that level of amenities in my area the cost is about $2200 per season, but if I think of it as a Summer get-away spot like a condo or an apartment, the cost does not sound so bad anymore, in fact it's downright cheap.

Thanks again and keep the replies coming.

You guys made me feel better about the expense, now I can sell my mooring equipment and dinghy and put it towards slip fees next season.
Oh no, already looking to next season. It's going to be a long Winter

Paulieb

#1 (no bottom paint). I just got a free slip for the sailing season, but Ive got to get the bottom painted. Im tired of cleaning the bottom. At the same time I wonder if painting the bottom would slow the boat down allot.

Oh Yea, I guess we slip folks should have mentioned bottom paint.
If you choose to slip do the bottom paint. I just did mine after 6 seasons of waxing (I am a slow learner) because I now have a year around slip. Cleaning the bottom and re-waxing every 4-6 weeks is a dirty ugly back breaking job, you will learn to hate it. Just paint it and be done with why be stupid like me and go through agony every 4-6 weeks. Mine is epoxy barrier coated and bottom painted now, well worth it.

as stated, I slip but I dont bottom paint though I may paint , next year with that new 10 year bottom paint. Mary Kate and pressure washer and good to go..

I could not agree more with Highlander.

because I'm 1hr away from the water I will not drive that far for a days sail & set up wait an hr or more at the ramp and sometimes longer

I'm only a half hour away, but being able to walk down a ramp, and be off in a few minutes is priceless

The first year we trailer sailed. The time to rig (1.5 hours at the time) and de-rig (again 1.5 hours) took up far too much of the sailing day. Along with that, there were all of those boats coming and going. Now, as we slowly pass the launch ramp on our way out of the marina, we look with pity at those who are going through what we did.

For an example, Saturday evening we arrived at the marina at 7PM to go out for a sunset sail. In a short time we were on the water. At 7:26 we watched a colorful sunset over the river. The red, pink, and orange sky was beautiful. After the sunset we turned and waited 15 minutes or so for the moon to rise. This time the moon was pink as it slowly rose over the trees. As we headed back into the marina, it was getting dark, but not dark enough to prevent us from seeing the beautiful "V" formation of low flying geese that were overhead. I'm glad I only briefly looked up, as suddenly we were dumped on by the entire flock I mean goose cr*p was coming down like bullets No Joke this happened Goose guano was everywhere I was hit on the hand, forearm, and shoulder. I'm glad I was wearing a hat. The admiral was hit just as well I am reminded of the little didy which we used to recite as children. Little birdie in the sky, dropping bird-wash in my eye. Me no worry! Me no cry! Me just glad that cows can't fly

Ray

NiceAft wrote:Little birdie in the sky, dropping bird-wash in my eye. Me no worry! Me no cry! Me just glad that cows can't fly

So you're telling us, Ray, that your bottom paint may be OK but the geese have taken care of your TOP paint?

We have done all three . . .

First year we kept the boat on its trailer, in mast-up storage, at a marina 90 miles from home (Lake Michigan). 20 minutes from arrival to being on the water was sweet but the cost of gas for the tow vehicle, plus the 3 hours on the road was getting old by the end of the season.

Last year, I had it on a mooring 5 miles from home (10,000 acre lake) and hated it. Rowing the dingy out to the boat with all the power boats kicking up their wake made getting in/out of the boat a real chore. Fighting for dock space to pickup/drop off passengers & gear got real old too, especially when the duck population in the area used all the boats as open toilets.

This year we are back on the big lake 90 miles away but have the boat in a slip. We aren't rich but we did realize that a boat is no good to you if you don't use it. This has been great and we get more time on the water than we ever thought we would. Barrier coat to protect the gelcoat and bottom paint to reduce the marine growth are a must.

2b) I am cheap and always keep my boat in a slip, ready to go.

I know alot of you guys will hate me for this, but I pay approx. $190 USD per season for my finger pier slip, which includes electricity and water at the slip. It's subsidized by the city of Espoo where I live in Finland. And the fuel dock, ramp, and pump out (when needed) is about 100 yards away.

Of course, the season is alot shorter here than most elsewhere...

(and as for fuel costs here in Europe, grrrrr....)

We just purchased a 1998 26x and decided to get a slip as right now I just borrowed my brothers truck to launch. So rather than buy a truck we paid the $1800 for the slip for the year. This is at Harrison Lake and is 20 minutes from home. So we saved the $16k that I could buy a reasonable used truck and also have access to go sailing for a couple of hours if we decide on a whim to head out.

We bought the Mac because it is trailerable and can be stored in the driveway on the trailer and we can move to other areas to sail. We will be trailering next year to other locations, but I think with the rig up time I would want to make these trips so we had at least a few days to spend on the boat after we get to the new location.

All in all the Mac is great, but I vote for a slip for my home location so the boat gets used rather than sitting in the driveway. Today is a great sunny day and we will be sailing by 10:00 am.

Paulieb wrote:Thanks guys for all the great replies. I think I was leaning toward a slip for next season despite the expense, which I was not happy about .
You you've certainly given me a great perspective on how to think about the expense. If I can get quick access to my boat for a quick sail, have access to water, electric, and shower facilities, that sounds pretty good.
Paulieb

Paulieb...just a suggestion that I've discovered which may be worthy for you to consider. Try to find a "wind protected" slip...it makes it much nicer for overnighting, docking, and comfort. This makes a BIG difference in my opinion.

Having a nice slip is unquestionably the way to go -- at least it has been for us. Our Mac-X (& my 2 friend's Macs) endured Hurricane Ike within our slips. The boats raised above the rizers above the pier pilings...and handled the surge and winds just fine. (its having a "wind protected" slip that makes a lot of difference).

Slips are nice. These provide a water-front boat site for your family to enjoy every month of the year.
A small elect. space heater during the winter, and a small 5200 BTU A/C for summers work just fine within the slip. Fine Marina neighbors add to the fun...

Fair winds, and happy "slipping" and sailing...

We pay $1,000 for a 5 month slip on Lake Granby, Colorado---no amenities except for a porta pottie or two, a bait shop and restaurant. Bottom paint is definatly necessary as I have three dock mates with no paint that are really slow with hairy bottoms. Since the is slow to begin with, bottom paint does not negatively affect my sailing enjoyment since I don't compete with the racing crowd anyway. A quick spong-off around the waterline and I'm done for the season.

We also treat the like a lake side vacation home at a fraction of the cost of our previous mountain condo. If we want to entertain the family we rent a home and sail the or rent a pontoon boat. We are dollars ahead and I still have the option of pulling the boat out and go on a road trip--I have boating friends that can use the slip while we are away.

I will find other areas to cut living expenses before I'd give up the slip .

Bob