One of the first decisions many new boat owners need to make is how they’d like to access their boat when they want to go out on the water. There are a bunch of options. Some owners will leave their boats in the water at a private dock (if they own waterfront property) or at a rented boat slip, especially if they’re expecting to use it frequently. However, a dry storage solution is still needed in the long term.
Two options worth comparing are manual boat trailering and marina valet services:
Boat Trailers: This means launching the boat yourself from a trailer on a public ramp and storing it either at home or at a rented storage facility.
Boat Valet Service: When you have your boat valeted from a local marina, right on the lake itself, it’s ready to go with no hassle. Marinas can valet from a slip, trailer, or dry rack, depending on your storage arrangements.
Many owners prefer to keep their boats at home and transport to the lake themselves — and there’s something to be said for the cost savings and total control of the DIY approach. However, plenty of others prefer marina storage and valet services due to the substantial improvement in the overall experience.
Whereas boat trailering can be a time-consuming hassle or even an impossibility for some people when boating alone, a valet service is an investment in absolute convenience. Take a closer look at some of the differences so you can make the best decision for yourself.
It’s not uncommon for boat owners to assume they need to buy a trailer when they buy their boat. It can be hard to find an inexpensive slip, and being able to bring the boat home can give owners the peace of mind that it’s always easily accessible, even in the off-season. But boat trailers have challenges, too. Here’s a quick list of pros and cons:
Boat Trailering Pros and Cons |
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Owners will often start off by trailering their boat. A few run-throughs of busy ramps (which sometimes have lines as early as 8AM), full parking lots, and maneuvering the boat back into the garage can make the hassles of trailering clearer in reality than they are in the imagination. If you’ve reached that point — or want to avoid it in the first place — a little research on boat valet services may be worth your time.
Boat Valet Service Pros and Cons |
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With valet services, your boat can be run-ready on demand with no extra effort. Simply schedule ahead and the marina will have your boat out and in the water for you when you get there. Since they’ll also take it back out of the water for you when you’re done, this hassle-free service makes the whole day more enjoyable.
Get the most out of Lake Winnipesaukee — and your boat — with a valet program that lets you focus on spending quality time on the water. Conveniently located on Weirs Beach, North Water Marine’s valet program eliminates the need to buy a trailer and deal with launching, retrieving, and transporting your boat to and fro. Just leave your boat on one of our marked valet docks at the end of the day and our professional valet team will take it from there. Get in touch for more information.