Trojan Boat Forum

k9th wrote:

captainmaniac wrote:k9th - Totally unrelated to the post... but I see you say you are in Michigan City, IN... my niece and nephew moved to South Bend a couple of years ago - he is going to Notre Dame. I have been a bad uncle (according to my siblings) and haven't visited them yet, so I might be down there some day 'in the not too distant future' for a visit. If you are only an hour away maybe we can arrange a visit at the same time...

That would be great. The boat is in Michigan City but I actually live in Ft. Wayne which is 3 hours away. If you are here during boating season we are at the marina every weekend and for vacations and would enjoy meeting you. There is a micro-brewery about 1/2 mile from the marina so we can have a cold one if you want - I'm buying.

Let me know.

When I know when I am going to be in the neighbourhood, will drop you a line to see what we can do!

Thanks for all the comments. I secured the slip yesterday and will move around the end of Feb. I guess covered or open has their advantages and disadvantages.
I never even thought of the spider poop, and that will be great to get rid of. I know I can park at the dock to get fuel, so this won't be much different than that, and that will reduce my stress level a great deal just by it's self.

Larry

Covered slip??? We do not have such things here in Norway. My opinion is a boat is made for use in the water, under nice weather as well as hash conditions. Put on a layer of boat wax every spring, when the snow and ice is gone, and put her into the wet where she belongs. Simple?

Out in the open, but stored covered in a marina facility. We, too, like the view from the dock, but like it best when we're outta there!

I've never had a covered slip, but have worked on boats in them at a yacht club. I love it when the members get together with their 410 shotguns and blast the birds that make nests (and poop) above their boats.

Ron

Had the choice, went with open slip, covered was just about double $2200 vs $1700, that's a lot of gas, plus the view from the open slip was better. Oh, did not factor in the price of the golf cart to get to the boat! Still prefer the open slip. Love the sun!

interesting, in still watching all the replies. as i said earlier its the guys in the north who all want to be outside in the sun. new york,canada, maryland,washington,indiana etc. no problem if thats what you like. i like the sun also but not at the everyday cost of the heat and humidity of tennessee and the wear and tear on the boat. i think larry (who is also in tennessee) will see how hard his ac will work this summer. we all know that f series trojans arent that well insulated. i hope him the best in his decison

OUTSIDE
I dont have a cover here in florida, although alot of people do have their boats on lifts with covers,
something to think about as the heat and sun are tough to deal with some days, but isnt that what boating is about?

i'm not saying outside is bad by any means but the whole post is about a choice which he had . i know everyone doesnt have a choice and larry made his like we all do. no worries just an observation

Looks like I'll have to go with the "outside" slip, for two reasons, first being, it should be easier to get the boat up to, and away from the dock and therefore we hope to get out on the water a lot more this year. The second, it's cheaper and that will help buy us more gas to get out on the water more.
If I was able to, I'd rent a covered 40 ft slip, which are 16 ft wide here at my marina. I'd use the width to help get the boat in and out easier and the length to build a deck for use during windy or rainy stormy days. We love being at the marina, etc just for the atmosphere.

guglielmo6160,,,,You have the same boat and year as I, but I was wondering what the long poles were that are at the dock and what function they perform?
Perhaps they are something I could use?

Thanks again for all the comments, I appreciate them.

Larry

larglo wrote:guglielmo6160,,,,You have the same boat and year as I, but I was wondering what the long poles were that are at the dock and what function they perform?
Perhaps they are something I could use?

They are called "mooring whips", and like heavy duty fishing poles attached to the dock. They are used to help hold the boat off the dock. You can see in the picture that the lines from the tips of the wips to the cleats on the boat are actually holding it off (at least you can tell by the stern line .. the bow almost looks like it is vertical).

Thanks Capt,

I'll have to look into them. Not sure how they work, still looks like the boat could move around alot?

Larry

You tie your regular lines to the dock (perhaps a bit looser),and use the mooring whips to pull your boat away from the dock.

You still use your normal bumpers and all as well. You don't see them used much on larger boats. Your 25's are probably the limit, because wind can still catch your boat.

Ross,

That were my thoughts also. I was thinking about using old tires along side the dock? I see them alot in movies a such being used. They ain't pretty, but maybe I could paint them.
I checked on pricing of the whips, and it looks like $300.00 for my size boat, so, looks like their out anyway.

Larry

Yeah... whips are typically for smaller boats (runabouts). You are probably a bit heavy unless you are in an area not heavily affected by waves/wake and wind.

Re the tires - would prefer you don't use them (paint will come off quick and you will have nice 'skidmarks' all over the hull), but if you DO decide to use them, lay carpet over them instead. Fasten the tires to the dock, then securely fasten sections of long pile carpeting (nail/screw/staple, whatever) to the dock and hanging down over the tires... then the hull will rub against carpeting and the tires will absorb the impact. Use broadloom, not indoor/outdoor (if it's scratchy on your feet it will be scratchy on the hull... if it's comfy-cozy on your feet, the boat will thank you).

OR Fender boards.... fasten tires to the dock, hang a few fenders off the boat, but then hang a plank (8-12" wide, probably 2" thick, as long as you can get) between the fenders and the tires... Plank helps spread the load across everything, fenders between the hull and the plank/tires stop the tires from contacting the hull.