Winter Storage Recommendations in Philadelphia Area

lawndoctor

lawndoctor

Active Member
Jun 5, 2008
655
Baltimore & Philadelphia
Boat Info
2014 Princess 56 Fly & 2002 Sea Ray 225 Weekender
Engines
MAN R6 800s & Bravo III 5.0L
Can anyone in the Philadelphia area recommend a marina and boat yard for me to store my 225 WE this winter? I will need to have it hauled and blocked up, and most of the maintence done too. I have stored the boat at Marine Max in Bear, DE in the past and have been very happy with them, but they have closed that location and the next-closest Sea Ray dealer is in Maryland, which is too far. I'm looking for a place that at least has factory-trained Mercruiser people on staff.

Dredge Harbor seems like a possibility, but their storage rate is $37/foot, which is almost double what I think is the going rate, about $22/foot.

TIA
 
Do you have a trailer? Some marinas will allow storage at their site at a reduced rate on a trailer.

Some other marinas to try...

1. Clarks Landing
2. William Hargrove Marina
3. Philadelphia Marine Center
4. Pyne Poynt Marine Services
5. Riverside Marina
6. Neshaminy Marina
7. Snug Harbour Marina

That should get you started.

Doug
 
Might have to go out to somers point marinemax. Talk to vaughn in service - good guy, and their mechanics are mercruiser certified. I think outside storage is around $29/ft there.
 
Thanks for the responses. I don't have a trailer, the boat will need to be hauled and blocked up. The Southern NJ beach areas are about a 6-8 hour ride by boat for me, or to get the boat there by land I would have to hire someone to transport it. Just to get the boat to winter storage, I think either way would take too much time and expense, so none of the Marine Max locations is an option. Frankly, even Bear, DE was a bit of a stretch, it was a 2 hour ride by boat, but I thought that was worth the price of admission to be at the dealer.

Looking for a good place on the Delaware River, hopefully one that doesn't significantly overcharge.
 
Hi! I am sure you considered it, but have you looked at Marine Max Gunpowder? I know it's farther south but it's really close off I95. It's I believe the 2nd exit in MD? 152 I believe, then it's around 5mins from there. It's all Merc certified and I can attest that their service manager Ryan and the service staff are all great. They have floating piers for your boat or dry rack storage. If Bear was a 2 hr run for you from PA I don't know where exactly you are coming from but I would think it would add maybe 1hr to your drive? Maybe less... We come down from PA and we are about 1 1/2 away from them. Nice Marina and well nice folks there too... Also puts you right on the bay and opens up a lot of great crusing locations for you to explore on your 225. Their winter storage is reasonable... Sorry but just having a really hard time doing the math that getting to Bear,DE is 2 hrs and getting to the shore is 6-8 hrs... From Phila to the shore usually does not take that long..

Come on over to the dark side and be YET another PA person on the bay... The native MD's put up with us!!! There are folks from PA and NJ down there with us.

Best of luck!!
 
Thanks. I've spoken with the people at MM Gun Powder and I agree it would be a great place to store the boat for the winter. It's the closest MM for me now. But still, to get the boat there, I have to go past Bear through the C&D Canal, and then down the bay about two-thirds of the way to Baltimore, which is another 1-2 hours past Bear.

The closest MM at the NJ beaches is in Somers Point. To get there from PHL by boat (not by car) you have to go all the way down the Delaware River and Delaware Bay to Cape May, through the Cape May Canal, and then make your way north, either inland or in the ocean. In a 22-footer, we would take the inland route this time of year. Much of the canal and the inland route going north is a no-wake zone. Somers Point is across Great Egg Harbor Bay from the northern tip of Ocean City near Longport, which is pretty far north. So it's 2 hours to the C&D Canal, another 2 hours to the CM Canal, then I figure about another 2 hours to get all the way up to Somers Point, maybe more, depending on how much I have to slow down.

The Chesapeake is nice, but our marina is literally 5 minutes from our house, since we live in the city. It's easy and convenient to use the boat pretty much any time, even after work during the week.
 
Why are you specifically targeting an MM outfit? Most marinas these days have mercruiser certified mechanics. If you're just looking for basic maintenance, they don't even need to be certified. I see from your signature your boat is a 2002 and therefore out of warranty. Any place with reputable mechanics on the Delaware should suffice. Pick the closest place with decent pricing.

Doug
 
lawndoctor said:
Thanks. I've spoken with the people at MM Gun Powder and I agree it would be a great place to store the boat for the winter. It's the closest MM for me now. But still, to get the boat there, I have to go past Bear through the C&D Canal, and then down the bay about two-thirds of the way to Baltimore, which is another 1-2 hours past Bear.

The closest MM at the NJ beaches is in Somers Point. To get there from PHL by boat (not by car) you have to go all the way down the Delaware River and Delaware Bay to Cape May, through the Cape May Canal, and then make your way north, either inland or in the ocean. In a 22-footer, we would take the inland route this time of year. Much of the canal and the inland route going north is a no-wake zone. Somers Point is across Great Egg Harbor Bay from the northern tip of Ocean City near Longport, which is pretty far north. So it's 2 hours to the C&D Canal, another 2 hours to the CM Canal, then I figure about another 2 hours to get all the way up to Somers Point, maybe more, depending on how much I have to slow down.

The Chesapeake is nice, but our marina is literally 5 minutes from our house, since we live in the city. It's easy and convenient to use the boat pretty much any time, even after work during the week.
Click to expand...

:smt021 DOH my mistake!!! I misread your post yes by boat it is a long ride in a 225 just for maint and storage!!! Take Care!!!
 
douglee25 said:
Do you have a trailer? Some marinas will allow storage at their site at a reduced rate on a trailer.

Some other marinas to try...

1. Clarks Landing
2. William Hargrove Marina
3. Philadelphia Marine Center
4. Pyne Poynt Marine Services
5. Riverside Marina
6. Neshaminy Marina
7. Snug Harbour Marina

That should get you started.

Doug
Click to expand...

See #1 suggestion above! :grin:

Doug
 
How about Bohemia Bay Yach Harbour http://www.bbyh.com/BBYH Marine Services1.htm ? Not too far past Summit North on the Chesapeake.

Also, even though MM in Bear closed, you could still arrange for winter storage there and have either MM mobile service from Gunpowder or one of their local guys (Engine Dynamics) take care of your boat. I am at Summit North in Bear and would be happy to put you in touch with the right people there.
 
Clark's Landing looked perfect until I saw the price: $72/foot for winter storage. Even though that includes one engine winterizing (normally about $150) and bottom painting (normally about $400 for my boat), it's still way above the going rate of about $22/foot.

Still don't get why 2 marinas next-door to each other in Delran, NJ (Dredge Harbor and Clark's Landing) are so much more expensive than all the other places I've checked, including MM.
 
lawndoctor said:
Clark's Landing looked perfect until I saw the price: $72/foot for winter storage. Even though that includes one engine winterizing (normally about $150) and bottom painting (normally about $400 for my boat), it's still way above the going rate of about $22/foot.

Still don't get why 2 marinas next-door to each other in Delran, NJ (Dredge Harbor and Clark's Landing) are so much more expensive than all the other places I've checked, including MM.
Click to expand...

Did you call them direct or just look at their rates on line? Sometimes they are willing to work with you if you're looking for an a la carte type situation.

Doug
 
douglee25 said:
Did you call them direct or just look at their rates on line? Sometimes they are willing to work with you if you're looking for an a la carte type situation.

Doug
Click to expand...

You're right. Actually, it turns out they have several locations. Those prices are for their Point Pleasant, NJ location. Their Delran, NJ location charges $22/foot, and their Chester, MD location is a Sea Ray dealership, so I have found the perfect place.

Thanks to everyone for helping me out.
 
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