How often do you use your boat?

jakew009 · 26 October 2020, 21:56

Was going to do a poll but can’t see how to.

a) Is your boat in a marina/dry stack, on a morning or on a trailer?

b) How many days do you get on your boat a year?

c) Do you do day trips or do you tend to spend longer periods of time using the boats (week holiday etc?)

Just interested to see how much use others get

Lisilou · 26 October 2020, 23:35

Ours is drystacked & we get out in her most weekends in the summer, sometimes (rarely) get in a midweek blast. Day trips mainly which is what we prefer these days. Easy for us tbh as we now live 3 mins drive from the marina.
L

beerbelly · 27 October 2020, 05:30

on a trailer at the yacht club where they have a slip ( 10 mins from home ) we get out most weekends during the summer and once /twice a month winter weather depending .were usually out 4-5 hours a time as the slip is tide dependent . oh and then we like to take it up to the west coast of Scotland for a week a couple of times a year where it will be on a pontoon for the week

smallribber · 27 October 2020, 06:22

One in a Marina, One on a swinging mooring and several on trailers and some blow ups.

In a normal year probably get out a total of about 40 plus times

Oldman2 · 27 October 2020, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallribber

One in a Marina, One on a swinging mooring and several on trailers and some blow ups.

In a normal year probably get out a total of about 40 plus times

So about twice a year in each craft then

Dry Run · 27 October 2020, 08:31

Hi,

Interesting topic

Our Dry Stack contains about 125 boats. Mostly day-boats but a few cuddy-cabin ones. So our clients mostly go out for the day rather than longer. A fair few have holiday homes on the IOW and so use their boats as "taxis". Last year was the first year we kept a log of client usage. It showed that last season we performed well over 2,000 launches. This season (we haven't crunched the number yet),has been our busiest ever and so we expect to be closer to 3,000 launches.

Ferryman · 27 October 2020, 11:15

Ours is on a marina by the house and we get out a couple of times a week for an hour or 2 with the odd longer trip.
We are trying to justify 1 proper voyage every year if there’s some really nice weather.
The plan was to use the boat like a car when going into Cowes or Newport but when it comes to it, it’s too difficult in the summer and we only sometimes do it in winter due to laziness!

smallribber · 27 October 2020, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldman2

So about twice a year in each craft then

No some are Zero...... But why does that matter.

How many times do you use a picture on the wall or indeed money (or should I say electro magnetic on and offs) in a banks computer

Last Tango · 27 October 2020, 13:08

Probably on average about every third week, more in the summer a bit less in the winter. Four weeks holiday spread through the year. Out three out of four days then on day trips, typically about 100 miles plus or minus 50 per day.

100 hrs plus per year but not so good this year only about 80hrs.

Maximus · 27 October 2020, 16:50

About 80 hours in a good year....mainly Day trips with the Family although with a good Trailer set up trips From one end of the Country to the other are pretty usual!...with stop overs various lengths ....Lyme Bay ...South Coast ...Solent...Bristol Channell ....Scillies..West Coast of Scotland..Cross Channell..Anglsea ect

By the way are you still up for a Lundy Run??
I spoke to the Island last week....no restrictions above the usual for South West
Marisco fully open for food ect just have to pr-order if you want Dinner

paulbrown22 · 27 October 2020, 20:03

Our big Ribtec lives on it's trailer at the yacht club a couple of mins walk away, and either gets day/weekend launch when used, or if in action for a longer period, we keep afloat in the yacht club marina for a few weeks (or this year, a few months).

This year given COVID that actually massively changed/increased my RIB usage, as I have been living in Poole since March instead of mainly living in London, and only visiting Poole every few weekends. I was using it daily, then it sat afloat unable to move during the strict lockdown, and then when boating was permitted again I was out pretty much every evening until 17th July, when a baby arrived. Since then I've only managed occasional maintenance and jobs, I haven't had the time to actually get it wet again!

March -> July, I did just over 60 engine hours, and numerous trips between Poole, the Solent, and Weymouth, albeit with no tasty lunches ashore as I normally would have done.

But overall, general boating is definitely massively down for us this year, partly due to COVID meaning we couldn't get the sailing yacht launched until very late, and then by the time that happened baby was nearly here, restricting our ability to use it. So whilst the RIB got reasonable usage before the baby's arrival, the sailing yacht has sadly barely moved this year - we'd normally have spent numerous weekends and a 2-3 week holiday living on it, but I haven't slept onboard a single night in 2020.

jakew009 · 27 October 2020, 23:57

Interesting to read all the responses so far.

I get the impression those who keep their boats in a marina or next to a slipway where it’s easy to launch use them a lot more than those who keep them on a trailer away from the sea.

It always feels such a palava by the time I have done the whole trailer and launching process even though no particular bit of it is that bad.

Someone needs to build a marina or some sort of dry stack in North Devon.

Wight · 28 October 2020, 06:16

When i was trying to decide where to keep the new RIB ease of use was high up on the list. Trailer on drive would have been cheapest option obviously, but I could see myself falling into the "too hard" camp, and finding excuses not to go out. Now it's at a boat yard and gets put in the water with 24 hours notice by yard staff... now I am trying to find excuses to go out!

But to answer the OP question.. two days a week (most weeks) in summer, and once or twice a month in winter (thats a guess as this is first winter!)

RickW · 28 October 2020, 07:47

Also a new boat owner -got the boat just after lockdown and it was delivered to the Drystack in Plymouth at the end of May

Finding the Drystack really works for us as it’s not only my level of tolerance for faffage but that of my household. Lot easier to persuade them to pop out when it’s pretty much walk on walk off - really good operation at YHQ

Done 75 hours + so far this year and fortunate that the other half is loving it

Fully intend to use it over the winter months next week or so might be challenging though!

I was hoping to do a lot more away weekends staying over in marina/pontoons/moorings in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset but that can wait till next year

Ferryman · 28 October 2020, 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakew009

Interesting to read all the responses so far.

I get the impression those who keep their boats in a marina or next to a slipway where it’s easy to launch use them a lot more than those who keep them on a trailer away from the sea.

It always feels such a palava by the time I have done the whole trailer and launching process even though no particular bit of it is that bad.

Someone needs to build a marina or some sort of dry stack in North Devon.

Great boating but very tidal for a dry stack and marinas that dry out are a pain IMO!

smallribber · 28 October 2020, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickW

Also a new boat owner -got the boat just after lockdown and it was delivered to the Drystack in Plymouth at the end of May

Finding the Drystack really works for us as it’s not only my level of tolerance for faffage but that of my household. Lot easier to persuade them to pop out when it’s pretty much walk on walk off - really good operation at YHQ

Done 75 hours + so far this year and fortunate that the other half is loving it

Fully intend to use it over the winter months next week or so might be challenging though!

I was hoping to do a lot more away weekends staying over in marina/pontoons/moorings in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset but that can wait till next year

Might I be bold and ask how much it costs for the dry stack

lakelandterrier · 28 October 2020, 18:08

I now keep mine on a drive on-dock at marina - makes great difference. Can be away within 20 min of parking (unless fuelling up first).
No real worries about tides, trailer parking, and recovery / return to yard washdown & wrap-up time which used to add c. 2 hours to a trip

Last year 21 trips, 678NM. This year with lockdown, and other circumstances so far just 5 trips and 106NM - a very poor year

Day cruises and a bit of fishing / ringo-ing with the family.

Sutty · 28 October 2020, 19:41

Not enough! Spread the good weather between boats and motorbikes

GuyC · 28 October 2020, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallribber

Might I be bold and ask how much it costs for the dry stack

I wouldn't bother answering this question.

Last Tango · 28 October 2020, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyC

I wouldn't bother answering this question.

How about this one.........

How do you go about the routine maintenance jobs on your boat, eg battery charging, checking oil, splicing, fitting toys, editing waypoints, tracks, DSC directory updates etc.

Never seen the setup on a dry-stack so I've no idea how you'd access the boat unless it was in the water ?