Pricing for haul out

[Dean101]

I know most marinas charge slip fees based on the overall length of the boat, including the bowsprit. Do they charge in the same way when hauling out or do they go only by the LOD? I have never owned a boat with a bowsprit that amounted to more than a foot. I am saving to purchase another boat and like the looks of some of the more traditional hulls, many of which have extended bowsprits. It seems a shame that you get charged for 40' even though the hull alone may be 32'. I understand that parts of a boat sticking out in a fairway is a recipe for a collision, and the marina wants full price for the exampled 40' slip, but the extra extensions wouldn't weigh enough for a travel lift to notice them. It would be nice to hear they don't add them into the costs...

[mitiempo]

Call a few yards and ask.

[MarkSF]

I was charged based on LOA when mine was hauled.

[Faster]

I don't think many yards actually measure your boat (though marina staff will) so you're most likely going to get charged whatever you tell them when you book .. "I need a lift for a 32 foot sailboat"... you'll go in the books as 32 and be billed for the lift and the pressurewash (and perhaps cradle/yard fee) based on that.

[SlowButSteady]

Since LOA is longer than LOD, which one do you think they'll go by?

I suppose it would make more sense to charge my the ton for haulouts (with some sort of minimum), and by the foot for lay days. But, that would require actually weighing the boat to avoid disputes; and I've never seen a boat yard with a truck scale.

[mitiempo]

Probably varies.
In the marina I keep my boat in if you have a boat smaller than your slip you pay for boat length. If your boat is longer than the slip you pay for the slip length. For example a 35' boat in a 30' slip pays for 30'.

Some yards may be more generous than others. Keep in mind though that the per foot prices will vary as well. A lower per foot price may mean a lower total price even if they count the bowsprit if there is enough variance in pricing.

[MARC2012]

Most travellifts have gauges that determine wgt.marc

[Minnewaska]

You've identified the most frustrating thing in boat ownership. There is often a correlation to boat length and infrastructure, but not always. If your boat takes up more dock space, which prevents another from using it, it makes sense that you should pay more. When we both occupy identical slips, but our boats are 5 ft different LOAs, it makes no sense to me that the charge is different.

You've hit on the most aggregious, IMHO. Some argue the wear and tear and liability when using their travel lift is variable, so the relative pricing is justified. I don't buy it. If you car weighs more than mine, you don't pay more at the quick lube.

Charging for everything by length has just become customary, not fully defensible. I also know this mentality exists..... The bigger boat you have, the more you are expected to be able to pay.

All that said, I have seen some marinas (not many) with flat haul out fees, particularly for a quick haul. I've also had them bundled into whateve I was hauling out for, or even had it thrown in so that yard would get the work.

[SJ34]

Originally Posted by Minnewaska

You've identified the most frustrating thing in boat ownership. There is often a correlation to boat length and infrastructure, but not always. If your boat takes up more dock space, which prevents another from using it, it makes sense that you should pay more. When we both occupy identical slips, but our boats are 5 ft different LOAs, it makes no sense to me that the charge is different.

You've hit on the most aggregious, IMHO. Some argue the wear and tear and liability when using their travel lift is variable, so the relative pricing is justified. I don't buy it. If you car weighs more than mine, you don't pay more at the quick lube.

Charging for everything by length has just become customary, not fully defensible. I also know this mentality exists..... The bigger boat you have, the more you are expected to be able to pay.

All that said, I have seen some marinas (not many) with flat haul out fees, particularly for a quick haul. I've also had them bundled into whateve I was hauling out for, or even had it thrown in so that yard would get the work.

You make a good point...for folks with large boats but it would be cost prohibitive to launch my Cal 25 if I had to pay the same fee you pay to launch your 50'+ boat. I'm also sure they will take much more care and use more yard resources to launch your gleaming yacht than they will in launching my trailer queen.

A flat lift fee and a pro-rated length charge would probably be the most fair option.

There is a harbor in our area that has a flat hoist fee for boats less than a fixed tonnage, around 5 tons IIRC, and a $/ft fee for boats requiring the travel lift so there is less disparity in relative cost between the smallest and biggest.

[speciald]

Jabin's in Annapolis charged me $10/ft LOA (which they measured by tape) for the lift. Pressure washing and blocking was extra. That was seven years ago so it may be more now.