to moor or haul out

crui05 · 14 January 2018, 15:53

i have the choice for the coming season.
leave her on a mooring and row out to her or haul out onto trailer every time
what would you suggest.
not a cost issue just practicality.
everytime she is hauled out fresh water is washed through the engine and hull but on a mooring ????
any help would be appreciated guys.
james.

Poly · 14 January 2018, 15:59

It really depends how often you will use it, how convenient it is to launch and recover and even how far the row is to the mooring. Keep in mind you will need to antifoul the hull (and possibly tubes) if keeping it afloat for more than a few weeks without a serious scrub.

The engine will likely be fine, the killer in modern engines is not corrosion but salt crystals in the cooling passages, by staying afloat you keep the passages wet so the crystals shouldn’t form. If really worried there are bags you can get for flushing while still afloat.

crui05 · 14 January 2018, 16:02

thanks for that Poly
i am assuming the engine is left in the vertical then while on a mooring ?#

Fender · 14 January 2018, 16:24

Dry sail? Lots of yards now offer the service and for convenience and keeping your boat in good order ( i.e it’s not sat in the water fouling up ) it’s unbeatable - over the years we’ve done everything and find dry sailing the preferred option, at least for us

ShinyShoe · 14 January 2018, 16:27

Small extras to consider...

- Mooring may require bilge pump. That uses power. Do you have some means to recharge.

- If you have family are you rowing them all out, or coming in to get them?

- Where are you storing the tender? If it needs deflated and set up you are taking more hassle on.

- Maintenance jobs become a PITA compared to working on a boat ashore (stable) on a trailer with access to mains power etc.

But plusses - if full tide mooring - no need to worry about tides for launch / recovery

willk · 14 January 2018, 16:55

Consider your fuel plan as well - can you use dockside gas or are you carrying tanks/cans. Will your gas station allow you to buy 100L of fuel in one sitting?

jwalker · 14 January 2018, 16:59

Haul it out each time if you're slick at it...no contest IMHO!

crui05 · 14 January 2018, 17:01

thanks for all your suggestions. food for thought.
only me sailing. on board tanks and not too far to go for re fuel
i addumed my engine would put charge back into the battery.

Last Tango · 14 January 2018, 17:33

Once your trailer is properly set up launch or recovery less than five minutes....no contest.

Poly · 14 January 2018, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by crui05

thanks for all your suggestions. food for thought.
only me sailing. on board tanks and not too far to go for re fuel
i addumed my engine would put charge back into the battery.

Depending on size of engine though and frequency of use, cans will be more hassle than launch and recovery and filling directly.

The engine will change the battery, but if you aren’t using it for a few weeks of miserable weather it may not last, or the next trip out may not be long enough to put all the amps back in.

The size of your car, boat, quality of slip, tidal range it’s usable at etc will all also make a difference (as will whether you can store then tender ashore or need to inflate/pack of each time).

Fender · 14 January 2018, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last Tango

Once your trailer is properly set up launch or recovery less than five minutes....no contest.

Not from my experience.....

Once launched you’ve got to tie/anchor the boat up somewhere, park the car and trailer ( if you can find spaces ), then get back to the boat. Once finished playing on the water you return to the slipway and and find it blocked by any number of scenarios and you can’t conveniently recover the boat, that’s if the tide isn’t out and you’ve run out of water

Dry sale - phone / email yard to arrange time, turn up, step on boat and have fun.................... 100% winner

crui05 · 14 January 2018, 20:29

thanks for your info.
water is good even at low tide here but i do get ur points about launch/tie up move car etc etc. yard want quite a lot of cash for every launch and if i want to use boat every w/end....
but wise points you make.

GuyC · 14 January 2018, 21:08

Regardless of which route you take, you could try it for a season and then assess the pro's and con's and see whether you are happy with it

Having said that, my preference would be to go the haul out route particularly if you are using a launching trailer rather than a road trailer. I like to go down to the boat for a tinker and that is easier if it is on dry land.

crui05 · 14 January 2018, 21:17

thanks for that.
boat on road trailer. thinks she is a little too big for anything else. i did get a trailer extension for launching when shallow at xmas. but being on my own has a few probs. reverse trailer into water, get on board, move boat to pontoon. go to car and park then start to enjoy. then coming back, the reverse.

GuyC · 14 January 2018, 21:41

launching trailers are quite often old road trailers that have been stripped of their brakes, electrics etc and are just used within the yard to launch the boat. As they don't go on the road they need minimal maintenance.

Do you keep the boat at the place you launch from or are you towing the boat there?

Having read your last post, you could try the mooring option first and see how you get on.

lachanpb · 15 January 2018, 08:09

I would also add security has a thought. Theft and accidental collision would be riskier out on the water.

two stroke mick · 15 January 2018, 12:01

If the slip way is good, boat not too big (less than 5.5m), good car and trailer then it is not a verb big job to launch and recover.

However If you have to travel a long distance with boat and trailer then the towing becomes a pita rather than the launch and recover.

I have a small rib, decent tow car, good trailer and medium quality slips available to me and I would prefer to launch and recover.

TSM

crui05 · 15 January 2018, 13:29

yes boat is near launch site so very little towing
ta.

Poly · 15 January 2018, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by lachanpb

I would also add security has a thought. Theft and accidental collision would be riskier out on the water.

I wonder if insurance stats back that up. My gut feel is there will be fewer boat or engine thefts from moorings (but perhaps tenders, handhelds etc) than parked up outdoors. Likewise I’d hazard more RIBs come to serious harm on their trailers (or falling off them!) than being hit on a mooring. Of course moored boats to break free sometimes...

Maximus · 15 January 2018, 20:07

The advantages of trailing and removing the RIB ..Some of which Like Choice in Venue/Location/Launch site..Ease of Maintainace/Modification/Cleaning/Pre cruise/Equipment/ checks..Re fuelling ..Weather Protection(Salty environment is harsh..at the best of times,before any mishaps!)
..Security.(no small consideration these days)...Overall Peace of mind if you can store it at home...Cheaper (mooring fees soon mount up)and No Antifoul ...which is a P.I.T.A..and yet another expense ..messy and ...needs doing on a regular basis! (and which in turn may detract from the desirability/price of the RIB in the future) Far outweigh any benefits of a permanent mooring IME..
....Especially with a RIB of you're size..which with a little practise you will handle with ease