Dockage Dilemma

[bljones]

Okay, here's the deal.
Here's Dock Six, the dock that we have called our home away from home for the last three years:



We like our dock. We like the merry band of freeloading drunks who have founded the Dock Six SCarrrrrrrds (Sailing Club and Rum Drinking Society). it is an unserviced "Gilligan's Island" dock (no water, now power, not a single luxury..) and we like that. We like the fact that we are the only boat that is occupied overnight. we like the quiet. We have a problem:
The max length allowed on our dock is 25' (okay, a narrow beamed 26', maybe even 27', as long as nobody gets salty.)... and as much as we love Whiskeyjack, we'd like a boat that could accommodate our kids/guests. this season we simply rented a second slip for a second boat, our 25' cold moulded cabin cruiser, a "guest boat" if you will. It sort of worked, but we also added two dogs to the mix this season, and when sailing you can only take one boat and Whiskeyjack, as perfect as she is, is sorta, kinda... cramped.

So, Neptune help us, we think we have found the right next boat. Actually, we really fell for the next boat, hard. The dilemma?
She is 35' ish, overall. Ergo, we would have to leave Dock 6. Yeah sure, we'll stay in the same marina, but none of the other docks are as appealing as good ol' Dock 6. Friends of ours remark on the drunk-free serenity of our dock (up until it is pointed out that the drunks are, uh, US,), and we like the solitude- We are lobbying for an end slip on one of the docks across the fairway, or a slip on dock 1 seen here from the stern of Whiskeyjack:



IF we end up with a new boat, the separation will not be immediate, as we would still slip Whiskeyjack while she is listed for sale... or we may still keep her, as a "guest boat'.. i dunno. But, in any event, the center of our nautical universe is gonna change

It feels kinda bittersweet. Anybody else faced a similar dilemma?

[smackdaddy]

bl - no dilemma, dude. You're just becoming this guy.



It's the circle of life. Those country clubbers with the big boats will love you.

[Faster]

Seems to me it's just one of the costs of moving up in boat size... I'm assuming you're living aboard, in a marina that has no issue with that. It's obviously not reasonable to put a 35 footer into a 25 foot slip. Sounds, too, like there will be/is a35 slip available (also liveaboard?) - in a marina that you like. Marina rates must be reasonable if you're already keeping two boats... Can you forgo the services on the larger dock, if they are there and you don't want them?

If indeed you're living aboard then you'll love the extra space..

I can tell you there's a lot of boatowners here in Vancouver that would LOVE to have your problem.

[Sabreman]

We've had your dilemma several times. All in all, it's a really good one to have - "Where to keep my yacht?"

We spent 10 years in a yard similar to yours and then left because our 6 year old daughter (who grew up on the boat) wanted some more excitement and we felt that a pool and little sandy beach would enhance her boating experience. So we moved to a very family oriented yard with lots of kids, pool, beach, etc. Then we moved again 4 years later when the yard management changed and the rates doubled. Now we're at an even better yard that's much cheaper, with the same amenities and on a sailboat dock.

Sometimes the change is for the better even if we didn't chose to make that change.

PS. Our 16 year old daughter still sails with us but insists on bringing her pack of friends (teens are pack animals). It's cool, we bought a boat 10' larger to accommodate them. Like I said, it's a nice problem to have!

[cgaskell]

the pictures say it all. you're in a fantastic place - even across the slipway!

[jrd22]

Sheesh, simple solution BL. Just get all of your dockmates to buy bigger boats and move to the new dock with you. Or, if there aren't enough slips available on the new dock invite your friends (drunks) over on a very regular basis and there will soon be ample slips for them.:-))

[sailjunkie]

Originally Posted by Faster

I can tell you there's a lot of boatowners here in Vancouver that would LOVE to have your problem.

I'll second that motion!

[hellosailor]

No problem!

1-Buy marina
2-Change rules

See how easy that was? Pass the Gossling's, please.