After buying a boat how soon does it need to be moved?

kldzx9r · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

I heard some marinas do not have available slips and I also heard marinas have fewer rental slips for boats over 40' so if you buy a 41' boat which is located at the broker's business does it need to be moved immediately or do they allow you 30 days to take it away or is this anything to worry about?

cklanac · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

We're in Chicago and the waiting list for some docks is 5 years but you can usually get a mooring ball or a star-dock quickly. And they allow boats to stick out in the lane 1-2'. So technically you could put a 41' boat in a 40' slip but you should check with the harbor master.

My suggestion is to ask you local harbor master what the wait list is for your size boat. It would be a bummer to buy a boat and not be able to sail it for a couple years just because you don't have a slip.

good luck

KeelHaulin · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

I think it depends on the location of the boat. If the boat is at the brokerage dock it will probably need to be moved to a private slip or mooring within a few days of it selling, but you would need to find out from the brokerage in question what their policy is. You also need to be sure you can get insurance; if you don't qualify you may not be able to get a slip in some places. Many marinas now are requiring insurance and the marina to be "named insured" for their protection. If you don't have insurance you will have to pay "transient berthing" usually at double, possibly triple the monthly rate.

In terms of a private slip it would depend on if the boat owner is keeping his slip and if the slip is transferrable. Many marinas are full and have a wait list; so if the owner sells his boat you don't have privilege to take the slip (it will go the person on the wait list for that slip). In that case you could be left without a slip in an impacted area (like Santa Cruz, CA where the wait list is 20+ years for a slip in the south harbor).

Depending on the boat; a 41' boat (that is not beamy) can fit into a 40' slip but it will stick out into the fairway a couple of feet. Some marinas will allow this; others will want you to rent a 42' slip or longer if no 42' slip is available.
HTH...

bogdog · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2007

We just bought our 3rd (bigger) sailboat and because it was already fall and the boat was already on the hard, made storage for this winter part of the deal when when we made the offer. everybody seems to be happy except me but only because we have been having the best sailing weather all summer right now here on the west coast of L. Michigan. darn! ya just never know.
Bogdog

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2007

It really depends on where the boat is, and what arrangements you've made as part of the purchase. If you don't have a place to store the boat, making temporary storage part of the purchase might be a very wise idea. A friend of mine just bought a new-to-him 36' boat, and winter storage was included in the purchase along with a spring launch.