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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:SAILING
Notice:Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:UNIFIX::BERENS
Created:Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2299
Total number of notes:20724

770.0. "mooring: rent or buy" by MILVAX::HO () Fri Mar 18 1988 13:44

    After waiting patiently for eons my name rose to the top of the
    harbormaster's list last season and I received my permanent mooring
    permit.   
    
    Now that I have a square foot of bottom to call my own, I've been
    wondering if it makes sense to buy my mooring gear outright rather
    than renting it.
    
    The advantage of renting is that I just pay my $$$$$ and hook the
    boat up.
    
    The disadvantage is the $$$$$ every year.  But then I don't worry
    about chain replacement, winter sticks, and what to do with the
    weed encrusted float at the end of the season.
    
    Have any of you who moor your boats thought about this?
    
    -gene ho

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770.1on the bright side ....MSCSSE::BERENSAlan BerensFri Mar 18 1988 14:1232
>>>    The advantage of renting is that I just pay my $$$$$ and hook the
>>>    boat up.

Right!    

>>>    The disadvantage is the $$$$$ every year.  But then I don't worry
>>>    about chain replacement, winter sticks, and what to do with the
>>>    weed encrusted float at the end of the season.
    
Right!
    
The gotcha is that even if you buy your mooring, you will still have to 
replace the upper and lower chains every so often, and eventually the
block or mushroom. Part of the rental fee goes toward replacing the
chains. In Marblehead (which is where you are, I think) the mooring
regulations REQUIRE that the upper and lower chains be replaced every
two or three years (depends on where you are in the harbor). If you
don't replace them, your mooring permit is cancelled. Chain replacement 
usually requires a mooring barge at umpty-ump dollars per hour. The only 
cost saving is that you can buy the chain at a discount while the 
mooring rental folks will charge you list (probably). One additional 
advantage of renting is that the rental company will relocate at no 
charge your or your neighbors' moorings if need be to get the best 
spacing between the various moorings. If you own your mooring, they will 
charge for this. Our Marblehead mooring has to be shifted at least once 
every year. Look on the bright side -- mooring rental is $14 per foot. 
Compared to $85 per foot for a slip we're saving $2272 per year. That'll 
buy lots of goodies for the boat or dinner out every week of the sailing 
season. 

Alan

770.2Rental vs OwningSEDJAR::SAFFERMon Mar 21 1988 16:046
    Good reply, Alan.  We too are in Marblehead (Salem Harbor) and looked
    at the same scenerios (renting vs owning).  We ended up renting
    from Barneguat.  If we end up close to another boat, or we want
    to be in deeper water, we just call.  I just hope that the rental
    prices don't get too steep.

770.3RENT OR BUY ?WILVAX::LANEMon Mar 21 1988 19:318
    I OWN A MOORING ON THE CAPE.  LOCAL BOAT YARD WILL RENT A MOORING
    TO ME OR MAINTAIN MY OWN HARDWARE.  WITH THAT IN MIND I FIND IT LESS
    EXPENSIVE TO OWN.  MY TOTAL COST IS ONE YEAR'S RENTAL.  I'VE GOT
    A PRIVATE PERMIT THAT GUARANTEES ME A SPOT FOREVER AND I'M NOT AFFECTED
    BY POTENTIAL RATE INCREASES.  RISK TO ME IS IN LOSING MY HARDWARE
    DURING WINTER. (I COULD HAVE IT HAULED TOO.) I ALSO TEND TO BE A "DO IT
    YOURSELF TYPE" ALTHOUGH I FREQUENTLY WONDER WHY !!!!

770.4Better check your charts.TOPDOC::AHERNDennis the MenaceWed Apr 06 1988 10:2315
    RE: .2  "Sail 'em Head"
    
    
    
    
    
    
                  Since when is Salem Harbor in Marblehead?