On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 13:48:09 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

JohnH wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 11:59:21 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Reggie Smithers wrote:
Harry Krause wrote:
JohnH wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 09:47:36 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

JohnH wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 07:45:58 -0500, Harry Krause

wrote:

JohnH wrote:
On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 21:28:43 -0600, Skipper
wrote:

Harry Krause wrote:

The only thing exceptional in this challenge is the
trailerablility of
the respective boats. Believe me, that Parker would be a real
PITA to
trailer...the Grady would not. And then when you get there, the
Grady
would do everything as well as the Parker. You've got to look
at the
total picture, IMO.
I've trailered the Parker. I have a first-class alum trailer with
stainless disk brakes and torsion bar axles. The rig tows
beautifully. I
just don't like to waste my time trailering boats any distances.
I'm sure that Parker is a fine boat. The towability issues are
over its
high boxy cabin, total weight, and width. The Grady would be far
easier
to tow.
I doubt if there's much difference between the Parker's cabin
height and
the Grady's hardtop height. The beam would be a problem, though.
Looks like
permits would be required.
--
John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************
Yeah, if I were towing my Parker any serious distance, I'd have to
get permits. But around here, in Anne Arundel, Calvert, St. Marys,
there are so many wide-assed boats being towed, no one seems to pay
a lot of attention.

Virtually all of my towing of Yo Ho has been from a parking spot at
the marina to the ramp. No permit needed.
The only way I'd tow a boat any more than a couple hundred miles
(max) is
if I were going to be at the new location for several months or
more. I've
got to get my brakes fixed so I can tow it to Solomon's. The Navy Rec
Center there is a good place to operate from, but the ramp stinks. I
launch
from the public ramp under the bridge.

I talked to the folks from Breezy at the fishing show in the horsey
place.
They've raised their prices about a $100 bucks a year. Still a lot
cheaper
than Harbor Cove though.

Did you ever get any engine maintenance done by the Breezy folks?
Have you
heard anything about them?
--
John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************
The ramp under the bridge is first-class, and well-maintained. But
the parking lot fills up fast.

I only let the dealer touch my engine. But I did have a minor
electrical problem fixed by the guy at BP. He was quick and
competent, but his hourly rate is the same as the dealer's. His shop
seems busy, though, and that is a good sign. I've stopped in his
store upstairs a couple times. Prices aren't bad.

I'm thinking of moving onto a liftslip this year with Yo Ho. It's
around $2500, I think, not a lot more than you paid for dry store.
And it puts you in charge of splashing and unsplashing your boat. I
prefer that.
Where? I notice there's a bunch at TriState's area there on Rockhold
Creek.
(I think it's TriState's area.) There's a pot full of Grady's and Parkers
there all the time and a few lift slips.

If the boat is going to be exposed to the elements, why not just leave it
on the trailer. Launching and retrieving isn't that big a problem at
Breezy.
--
John H
It's just a matter of convenience. Sometimes I like to go out for only a
couple of hours, and with a lift, it's very easy to do that on the spur
of the moment.
When I had a runabout, I initially kept it in coverage storage for about
$600/yr. I then moved it into a boatel for around $1200/yr. It was
well worth it to have the boat in the water when I got to the lake. We
would call before leaving the house, and it was ready always in the
water when we got there.

My wife could take the kids out if I could not make it. When it was on
the trailer, she always needed me there.



John keeps his boat at a first class boatel. The only problem with the
place is that the guys who operate the lift trucks are only there from 8
am to 5 pm or so. That means you are boating on their schedule,
especially if you insist on scrubbing down the boat after every use, as
I do. Of course, on a freshwater lake, scrubdown isn't that critical,
but it is on sal****er.

And it's getting worse. Neither Marvin nor Rodell are too happy with the
new manager. Both are talking of quitting.

Several times last summer I'd get in at 1:30 or so just to be told that
they'd 'just left for lunch'. The place is getting crowded, which is why
they can jack the rent up a couple hundred bucks every year.
--
John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

I wasn't aware there was another change in management.
Marvin is one hell of a ballsy lift driver.

The new guy is Jeff. Real nice guy, but unlike the previous guy he has some
higher expectations. I've talked to him about leaving the boats in the way
of incoming and outgoing boats there by the floating dock, and now he's got
the lift operators paying a little more attention.

They raised the price $200 this year, so I think I'll be moving to Breezy
pretty soon this summer.
--
John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************