On Fri, 13 May 2005 04:42:14 -0700, "ed"
wrote:

Im looking to use it for fishing mainly and a little cruising. I live in the
Pacific Northwest and there are a lot of places to go see. Im not sure what
size I should get yet. I was also wondereing is it better to trailer a boat,
to have it moorage? Does marinia have drydock storage ? I have a lot to
consider. Any advice is appreciated.

Ah - well, that narrows things down a little.

So you are looking for a fishing boat that can be used for a little
cruising. That means that you are probably looking in the 23/27 foot
category if you are wanting any sort of amenities. I know your
significant other, assuming you have one, will probably DEMAND
amenities. :)

Mooring/slips mean that you can probably get away with a larger boat -
more like an express type in the 27/30 foot category. Trailers mean
that your pretty much stuck in the 23/27 foot category remembering
that you can't go much over a 8'6" beam due to lane width regulations.
The good thing is you can take your boat to a gas station if it's on a
trailer and that may count for a lot.

Trailering doesn't mean that you are limited to choice - there are a
ton of different manufacturers who make good boats in the 23/27 foot
range in walkaround or cuddy cabin styles - Trophy, Polar are a couple
to start with. There are some manufacturers in the Pacific NW like
Palmer Marine who build Shamrock/Defiance boats and it would seem they
are just about what you are looking for. I like the Shamrock series
of boat and to tell the truth, I wouldn't mind selling my Ranger and
buying the 200 Defiance - I like that boat a lot. Our very own
Chuckie Gould did a review on Defiance a month or so ago - open up
your newsreader to all messages and do a search for it. Failing that,
do a Google newsgroup search for it.

Trailering give you a range of options with respect to a lot of issues
like taking the boat with you on extended trips, launching in
different states, that sort of thing. It also allows you to keep the
boat at your residence which can sometimes reduce the insurance costs.
On the other hand, if reduces the ultimate size of the boat you can
purchase if you wish something over 27 or so feet.

Slips have an advantage as you don't have to mess with hooking up,
launching, recovering and all that goes with that. I can tell you
from experience that as you get older, it can become a problem in
particular if you suffer from an arthritic conditions like I do.
Those problems can be overcome with technology (like power winches),
but it still can be problematic. Slips are more expensive, but
balanced against fuel costs, trailer maintenance and such, it comes
out to be a wash.

Then there is the combination slip/trailer deal like I do with my
Contender. I have a custom trailer for the boat and use it to not
only store the boat over winter, but for pulling out twice a season to
wash the bottom, wash/wax the boat and just generally check the boat
over.

So, hope that helps. What's the next subject? :)

Later,

Tom