loaner trailer?

[skibum]

Hello folks...

I have to get some gelcoat repairs done, and I haven't been able to locate a glass guy to do work at my marina. They all want the boat out of the water and brought to them. I have a few positive recommendations for a guy in Bowleys Quarters (I'm in Maryland). My marina is a "high & dry" marina in Miller's Island, less than 20 minutes from the marina with the glass shop. My boat gets hauled out every night for free. I can't see dropping the boat in the water, driving it to another marina, and then paying them to haul it right back out.

Is there anyone close by that has a trailer set up for a 2005 260DA that would either rent, or loan their trailer to me for a few hours on 2 seperate days? We have a large GMC suburban all set up for towing, just no trailer. I have no need to own a trailer, so buying one for a few hours worth of use is out of the question.

My marina has a ramp, so switching the boats would be no problem. If necessary, I'll pay the ramp fees so that you could come down and launch for the day. We could switch the trailer to our vehicle, put our boat on it, and take it to the glass shop while you are out. Assuming that I could have the glass shop ready to take the boat off of the trailer that day, I could have the trailer back within a couple of hours ready for you at the end of your boating day.

Once the work was completed, I could pay ramp fees at that marina for a day, you could launch, and then we could use your trailer again to get our boat from the shop to the ramp. The trailer wouldn't even have to leave the marina.

So, at minimum, I am offering up 2 days worth of ramp fees. If necessary, we can talk beer... :grin:

Thank you,
Michael

 

[Buckeye Boater]

Did you buy your boat from a dealer? If you did, I would check with them to see if they have a trailer available for you to use.

 

[comsnark]

And how do you propose to get the boat off the trailer at the glass shop? Do you have jacks?

This sounds like an ideal job for a pro hauler. They use hydraulic trailers, and can drop the boat onto blocking material at the glass shop.

Sometimes, they will discount if you make a round trip in a few days

(Last time I paid round trip $250 for a 28 footer)

(and the hauler didn't charge when the mechanics decided to relaunch for a seatrial prior to bringing the boat back to my local ramp. In essence, the boat was pulled and launched twice, with one blocking for a few days in between).

Oh.. .and the haulers in my area are very accomodating. My current hauler I cold-called at 1pm on a Saturday, and had him at the boat in 20 minutes.

 

[skibum]

No, I didn't. I bought my boat used.

But now that I think about it, there would be no need to meet at my marina at all.

If someone wants to launch their 260DA at the marina in BQ where the glass shop is, I could pay their ramp fee for the day. We could launch their boat and load mine right away. From there, all I need is a ride across the parking lot to the glass shop. At the end of the day, their trailer would be empty and ready for them.

I'm a tad suprised that the glass shop doesn't have an arrangement with the marina for hauling out boats for repair work.

Maybe I'm approaching this all wrong... Does anyone know a good glass person or shop in the Baltimore / Annapolis area that has their own lift?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[skibum]

And how do you propose to get the boat off the trailer at the glass shop? Do you have jacks?

This sounds like an ideal job for a pro hauler. They use hydraulic trailers, and can drop the boat onto blocking material at the glass shop.

Sometimes, they will discount if you make a round trip in a few days

(Last time I paid round trip $250 for a 28 footer)

(and the hauler didn't charge when the mechanics decided to relaunch for a seatrial prior to bringing the boat back to my local ramp. In essence, the boat was pulled and launched twice, with one blocking for a few days in between).

Oh.. .and the haulers in my area are very accomodating. My current hauler I cold-called at 1pm on a Saturday, and had him at the boat in 20 minutes.

Thanks for the reply.

I assumed that the glass shop would handle getting it off the trailer. When I spoke with them, I informed them that the repair was on the keel. They are going to need to get under it. I need to go by there to see what the facility looks like. Maybe I'll have a better idea. I wonder how they would move / stand it after the marina hauled it out?

Maybe the haul out/in at that marina isn't all that expensive and I am making a mountain out of a mole hill?

Stupid new boater :smt021

M~

 

[comsnark]

No, not stupid new boater. You just have to understand the local industry.

You are working with a GLASS SHOP. You are paying them to do Glass. You are not paying them to handle boats. They simply may not have the knowledge or equipment to move boats. If they did. . .they might be charging more.

I was talking to boat canvas guys earlier this year. You wouldn't believe the number of people who told me to "bring the boat over so we can do an estimate".

Talk to the Glass people: Maybe they can come to your marina? See what kind of setup they have? Don't be afraid if they can't handle moving boats around -> remember that you are paying them to do glass work.

I went through this with my mobile mechanic. Nice guy, but simply did NOT have a trailer that could move my boat. When an out of water repair was necessary, I had to personally arrange a boat haul out.

You may have to deal with moving and blocking the boat on your own.

 

[Dave M.]

Think about what business they are in. They repair the glass, they don't tow boats. I bet their insurance company has a lot to say about it. They should be fully insured for the boat while it is on their premises. Towing down the road is totally different. They would need a qualified, trained driver, and a trailer for any size boat. And of course insurance to cover it.

Then, if they did that, what happens if the boat, when they get it to the shop, is missing the bottom half of the skeg. Or some other damage that may or may not have pre-existed. The business owner probably does not want to go there, he wants to do what he is prepared to do. I suspect that when you get to boat to his shop, he will be prepared to block it and do what is necessary at that point. I had some hull repair done two years ago, and that was the case where I took mine. I towed it to their shop, they then did what needed to be done.

 

[gredmer]

You say glass guy. I assume you mean fiberglass.
Call Gunpowder Cove at 410-679-5454
They are a Sea Ray dealer and have a guy there just about everyday doing gelcoat touch ups. Maybe they'll haul the boat out for a smaller fee for using their guy.