Considering sizing up from 25' Davis and buying a 30' flybirdge slipped boat. Talk me out of it!

[Reel 007]

Mikey your situation is slightly different...you have a trailer to pull the boat out to do maintenance. Buy a 30 and that boat has 1 home and that's in the water. If for some reason money were to get tight in your situation you pull the boat and it sits at your house. Not an option with a 30.
Believe me I have thought about a bigger boat...many pros but many more cons for me.

Over the years I have seen two 30' Skipjacks on trailers, I was in Marina Del Rey a couple years ago and saw some one launching a 30; Skipjack, he was pulling it with one of those mini looking big rig set-up. I also saw a 30' skippie in Ensenada on a trailer several years ago.

 

[downtime]

Fortunately the finances aren't a major concern, that said, I don't want to waste money either.

Would appreciate hearing more on how often people use their boats after going to a slip, and how much it changed their prep time for a trip. I more interested in saving time and having it be easy to roll out and load up for a trip. We went out with the family, 6 of us, on saturday. Pretty full rig and between getting ready and loading up and filling tank, to cleaning after we went out, I spent about 5 hours if you factor in launch ramp time on both sides. I'd really like to shave that number down.

With that said...most negatives of a slipped boat are due to extra costs.
If your loaded you should have a slipped boat. Like others have said it is very convenient.

Cons
Fuel prices at fuel dock. No Costco fuel
Haul outs
Slip fees
Mobil mechanic
Bird poo on canvas
Zincs

Pros
Load and go
Condo on the water
Use more
Clean at dock before crew bails
Keep bait at slip
Just a few..

 

[bman440440]

by buddy had a 26' blackman that was slipped... and he used it a lot!! it was a no brainer on the time saved... he had a trailer for it and never used it.. he sold it after 2 years of sitting in his driveway... now his was shaft drive so the only thing it had to be pulled for was bottom paint... as far as fuel prices at the dock... the more you go the more you save per gallon... they have "levels" of pricing depending on how much fuel you buy... he was getting 40c off per gal than the posted price so it was not much more than the on land fuel prices... to put a "time" savings label on it for him an easy 3 hours per trip!

 

[af dreamer]

I have a big boat in a slip,have had one since 1972.I also have a Whaler with a 70HP engine,all the best electronic etc etc.I virtually dont use the whaler,just too damn lazy to drag it out of the storage,launch,put back on,drag home to clean up and drag back to storage.Thank God my sons use it.I had it out once in 2017.FWIW,Tom

 

[ratboy]

Fortunately the finances aren't a major concern, that said, I don't want to waste money either.

Would appreciate hearing more on how often people use their boats after going to a slip, and how much it changed their prep time for a trip. I more interested in saving time and having it be easy to roll out and load up for a trip. We went out with the family, 6 of us, on saturday. Pretty full rig and between getting ready and loading up and filling tank, to cleaning after we went out, I spent about 5 hours if you factor in launch ramp time on both sides. I'd really like to shave that number down.

slip is way easier, load gear and go!

 

[UnBelievable]

Ok you asked for it so here is my 35 plus years of having boats in a slip. Get as large as a boat that you can afford. Then what happens is the wife decides to nest in it, sounds ok at first but let me tell you when all that expensive crap hits the deck and breaks well it’s not pretty. What’s the solution? Here is what worked for me. You purchase a large in my case a 42 foot Carver aft cabin motor yacht for the wife to totally screw up with her nesting, not to mention getting it all fishy smelling.....that’s just another issue. You then get ANOTHER dedicated fishing boat just to fish on in another slip adjacent to the motor yacht so you can sleep in the condo yacht and just stagger over to the fishing boat, get it all stinky with fish to return back to the yacht to here you wife tell you you stink and take a shower. The better part is she can every once in a blue moon make you dinner while you shower. However in my case she usually orders from the hotel and brought to the boat. Sooo on the next day down there you can clean the fishing boat while your wife goes up for more hotel/resort meals while you clean the fishing boat. Oh forgot to mention you need to retire at 40 as I did so you have time to get rid of all your money. In short here is my conclusion. A boat is nothing more than a really bad girlfriend and I mean really bad. She wants and takes all your money, she demands all your time and for all this every once in a great while you may and I mean may get just a lil bit o pleasure. And just like a very very bad girlfirien if you leave her alone for a while.......your going to pay dearly upon return......So all that being said I further show my stupidity by owning yet another 45 foot Beneteau for when the fishing is not so hot and the sailing bug kicks in. Maybe you shouldn’t take my advice....hack reading this maybe some therapy is in order!!!!! Life is short and live without regret, I can die today a happy man and would be missed some really good friends and such......go for it, live out over the edge as that is where life gets interesting. Good luck to you and remember most of all.....lucky people always make there own luck happen!!!!!!

 

[kindafishy]

Ok you asked for it so here is my 35 plus years of having boats in a slip. Get as large as a boat that you can afford. Then what happens is the wife decides to nest in it, sounds ok at first but let me tell you when all that expensive crap hits the deck and breaks well it’s not pretty. What’s the solution? Here is what worked for me. You purchase a large in my case a 42 foot Carver aft cabin motor yacht for the wife to totally screw up with her nesting, not to mention getting it all fishy smelling.....that’s just another issue. You then get ANOTHER dedicated fishing boat just to fish on in another slip adjacent to the motor yacht so you can sleep in the condo yacht and just stagger over to the fishing boat, get it all stinky with fish to return back to the yacht to here you wife tell you you stink and take a shower. The better part is she can every once in a blue moon make you dinner while you shower. However in my case she usually orders from the hotel and brought to the boat. Sooo on the next day down there you can clean the fishing boat while your wife goes up for more hotel/resort meals while you clean the fishing boat. Oh forgot to mention you need to retire at 40 as I did so you have time to get rid of all your money. In short here is my conclusion. A boat is nothing more than a really bad girlfriend and I mean really bad. She wants and takes all your money, she demands all your time and for all this every once in a great while you may and I mean may get just a lil bit o pleasure. And just like a very very bad girlfirien if you leave her alone for a while.......your going to pay dearly upon return......So all that being said I further show my stupidity by owning yet another 45 foot Beneteau for when the fishing is not so hot and the sailing bug kicks in. Maybe you shouldn’t take my advice....hack reading this maybe some therapy is in order!!!!! Life is short and live without regret, I can die today a happy man and would be missed some really good friends and such......go for it, live out over the edge as that is where life gets interesting. Good luck to you and remember most of all.....lucky people always make there own luck happen!!!!!!

tell me more about retiring early, and being able to afford 3 slipped boats.....thats the story i'd love to hear.

 

[FishAcquisition]

Reading and Learning here. Can anyone toss out some rough expenses yearly and maybe for a day of fishing on a bigger boat 40+ sportfisher. I know it all varies drastically. I don’t own a boat but if we were to buy a boat I’d look at it more like a condo in that we live in La Quinta so with 110 degree temps for 4 months for us it would be more of a second home mindset. Would I be spending 30K a year,
Slips, tax, maintenance, fuel, etc?

 

[UnBelievable]

Ok so if you read my rant above here is the other side of the equation. While I do enjoy all three boats here is the bottom line on fishing here in San Diego. I’m a native and here is how I see it. My fishing boat is pictured. It’s a very nice Whaler with all the latest electronics. The bottom line here is yes I catch it all, Tuna, Dorado, and all the rest. Also deep drop for daytime Swords. The bottom line IS I have two bait tanks and a slammer for up to 3 scoops. That is not enough to raise fish deeper than 150 feet or so. Not to mention it’s so nice to have someone make your breakfast lunch and dinner and clean the boat with unlimited bait. Once you figure the fuel, bait, slip and maintain everything it’s a bargain at 3-400 a day on a local or long range boat. I do 4 long range trips a year along with some 2-4 day shorties along with lots of local fishing. To buy a local fishing boat is not the smartest investment. My lovely wife pointed out to me that we could easily eat at Anthony’s every night for the rest of our lives for what I spend on fishing and she is correct. However all of us fishing folks know that is not the point! So while it’s seems like a good idea to own a boat here is the reality. You go to the fuel dock and all aboard do the Macharana looking to find the missing money clip, must have left it in the car! Same thing at the bait barge. Not to mention private boaters only get the green bait most times and the lines some mornings make you wonder what the heck were you thinking? And then let me tell you 90 percent of fishing is fishing were the fish are....So subscribe to all the reports is just a few more bucks and it’s still the Captains fault the fish are just not wanting what you have to throw at them.......Hmmmm I think that therapy comment in the above rant is not only a good idea but maybe money better spent! The bottom line is to OWN A BOAT you better have a sense of humor as a boat will do things to you that just defy any logic. Take bait pumps. I went through 11 this year so far and the year is not over yet. Just imagine going out to the Cortez bank after a 10 hour boat ride with you driving only to wake up to a silent boat as is no bait pump running. That’s 120 miles each way in fuel and lots of dead bait. So now you have two full tanks of bait on the next trip so THAT won’t happen again. Live and learn and keep learning. Also have a lot of money in the bank to fix all the stuff that goes wrong that shouldn’t. If you speak with a seasoned boat owner the statement that “it’s a boat” is clearly understood. If you join this club of crazy boat owners you sir are a masochist as I am. Go boldly where you should not and burn 100 dollar bills on the way as we all do in the search to find LARGE DUMB FISH. By the way, large dumb fish don’t exist. We all just look for them!

 

[kindafishy]

so the bottom line is???





just being a smart ass. no harm intended.

 

[Albiebac]

Hmm, what's going on with your pumps Norm? I use a Shurflo Pro Blaster, mounted next to my Shurflo Pro Blaster washdown pump (back-up, for quick change) on my Offshore 45, and it does great, on year 5 now...
BTW, your money rant is spot on, I tell my friends and family, I have only "one" vice, fishing...
I paid $30K for my boat 17 years ago, and I've spent many times over on "owning" it through the years, absolutely the worst investment in the world, but damn I have some the great memories!

 

[UnBelievable]

They are sure flow 1100s mounted transom. Have 2 for when the one fails for an easy switch. The impellers just come undone or sheer off the shaft usually. Always have a total of 4 on board. Used to solder and shrink wrap. Now it’s wire nuts with liquid tape until they fail. They also say made in Mexico. I think it may be a way for them to get even!

 

[Albiebac]

Impeller vs. Diaphragm.
Trade-offs, noise and amperage, but they've done me well. My boat came with them, otherwise I wouldn't think to use a washdown pump, while I did put the Shurflo 1100 on my old boat.

Just to stay on course with the OP, I'm torn too with the trailer vs. slip, my fall back is "I never have to worry about my boat sinking while on the trailer, unless I forget to remove the drain plug"....

 

[S2DM]

Anyone have any comments on something in the 30-34' range that has lots of headroom? I'm 6'6" tall and so far the skippy 30 is the only one I can stand up in. I looked at a 34 and 36 riviera and it didnt really jive, too fancy pants, but I also couldnt stand up in it. Same with a 35 cabo.

 

[miaf]

There's a lot of affordable big boats to buy out there right now.

There's not a lot of big boats affordable to run and maintain though.

Slip a boat you can afford to run. I know a lot of guys on my dock that have awesome big boats, but they cost an arm and a leg to run and rarely leave the slip. Look at your realistic burn rate and just see how much that multi-day trip to the outer banks cost. Then really estimate how many times in a given season you can afford to make those trips.

Sometimes a smaller slipped boat is a better choice if your main objective is to fish more often.

That being said, there's no way I would ever go back to a trailer boat.

 

[MYNomad]

Owning a boat makes no financial sense, and the bigger the boat the less sense it makes. If the objective is to spend time fishing, it is far cheaper to go on a party boat. But, under that line of reasoning, fishing makes no sense -- the price per pound is better at your local market. But if you enjoy fishing, and can afford it, it makes sense to spend the money to catch your own. And if you enjoy the adventure, etc., of running your own boat, and can afford it, it makes sense to buy an appropriate boat.

 

[af dreamer]

some people just cant help it!17 boats over 28 ft in 45 years!Tom

 

[theman772]

Make sure you get a boat with a straight shaft
Single motor less fuel less maintenance
Not sure where you like to go but if it was me go to Ventura

 

[Chuck Roast]

there's a 37' topaz express for 40k listed on this website ( just came on last night) that might be worth a look see. good luck!

 

[chevy72]

Fortunately the finances aren't a major concern, that said, I don't want to waste money either.

Would appreciate hearing more on how often people use their boats after going to a slip, and how much it changed their prep time for a trip. I more interested in saving time and having it be easy to roll out and load up for a trip. We went out with the family, 6 of us, on saturday. Pretty full rig and between getting ready and loading up and filling tank, to cleaning after we went out, I spent about 5 hours if you factor in launch ramp time on both sides. I'd really like to shave that number down.

I only have a 24 skipjack Flybridge, but when I bought the boat it was in a slip in long beach. I was able to keep it in the water for 6 months, then had to put it back on the trailer. I can tell you I used it 10x's more then I do now that it is on the trailer in a storage yard.

It is so nice to be able to go down after work and just hangout, or take friends out for a harbor cruise, a quick few hour fishing trip, whatever. I totally agree with you about loading the boat up too, it is way easier to get it ready in the slip then on the trailer, and makes cleaning way easier too.

Personally, even though it is more expensive, I think the benefit of using it more, is totally worth the money.

 

[sbsurfer]

I'm going through the same thing now. I just bought a 2006 29ft Radon and decided I'm going to slip it (it's in Don's yard now getting bottom paint). It has a near new trailer and launching it is not an issue at all...but after slipping the boat in SB over Thanksgiving week I decided it's time to bite the bullet and get a slip. Up until now i have had a 20ft Radon on a trailer that we use ALOT, but having the boat in the water was such a nice experience. Me and the family hit the islands on Thanksgiving day and then hung out on the boat every time we went to the harbor. It really just extends the experience, which is important for me with 2 daughters to keep happy/entertained. We could have gone with a bigger boat but I love these Radons and what blows my mind is that this one gets 2.8-3 mpg from 20-30knots...not bad for a 12,000lb boat....better than my 20fter! I do know of another 29 that will be for sale soon if you're interested. They're just a bit larger than your 25 Davis so not sure if it'll be the jump up you're looking for.

 

[Fisha]

I agree with what others have mentioned, and I've heard everywhere I look......go with straight shaft if keeping it in the water, not outdrive. I have a trailer boat, but have always thought it would be great to have a slip.

 

[rowdyrosco]

sounds like a great idea.

 

[marlineer84]

A Skipjack 30 Flybridge is the perfect SoCal boat. It's the biggest 30 footer out there. Super comfortable. Super fishy. Super efficient.

A slipped boat is SO much more enjoyable than the trailer boat program.

Do it and you'll be happy and never look back.

 

[Reel 007]

A Skipjack 30 Flybridge is the perfect SoCal boat. It's the biggest 30 footer out there. Super comfortable. Super fishy. Super efficient.

A slipped boat is SO much more enjoyable than the trailer boat program.

Do it and you'll be happy and never look back.

Where does one put a decent size bait tank on a 30' Skipjack, the cockpit is two giant access hatch.