Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Well I am leaving Herrington lake and moving the boat to Laurel Lake Grove marina on Corbin KY. Anyone who boats in central KY knows that Laurel Lake is a much MUCH better lake.

At Grove, they dont have any wet slips available right now but they have dry storage available. The way it works, you call one hour in advance, they retrieve the boat from a multi level storage building with a big ass fork lift, place the boat on a little trolley kind of resembling an incline railroad, and it is brought down the hill on tracks and placed in the water and tied to the dock. You just get in and go have fun.

When finished for the day, the boat is tied to the dock and they dock hands take over and get it back into the storage building till next time. Advantages are obvious like total security, boat does not get covered in growth and no need to fool with a mooring cover. They can also place it on a dry rack for cleaning and maintenance.





The auto dry storage goes for $1650 a year. I was paying $1250 previously at a much less desirable like.
Does this sound reasonable?

Looks cool

Sounds very cool; a stress free way to enjoy the lake without the worries of trailering, a wet slip, and/or putting on that damn cover.

If you use the in/out service 50 times a year that means you'd paying $33 a trip for the service ... which I'd gladly pay to be able to just walk on my toon and then walk off after a fun day on the water. Not to mention the out of the weather storage, and the security.

My only concern is what happens if your boat is damaged by them while it's being moved ? Back in my Florida days, my bosses boat was kept in one of these "boat condos". He showed up one day and noticed a large dent and tear of the fiberglass on a corner of the transom. He asked the marina about it and they said .. gee, we didn't do it. He ended up paying several hundred bucks to repair it. Which he paid out of his pocket.

I'd make sure that my boats condition was documented very well with LOTS of photos. I'd also make sure I had - in writing - a very detailed terms and conditions agreement covering every possible contingency.

wrd1972 wrote: The auto dry storage goes for $1650 a year. I was paying $1250 previously at a much less desirable like.
Does this sound reasonable?

Yeah, very reasonable... I pay $125 a month ( 1500 a year ) to store my boat in an indoor facility, but I have to trailer my boat to and from the lake... would be great just to park the truck, step on the boat and pull away.... but like buccaneer said, I'd make damn sure about the facility's responsibility in case your boat gets damaged....

Sounds as if that's a very nice lake. I'm sure you're up to a change of scenery. And the prices you're quoting are very reasonable for the services rendered.

We've seen some pontoon boats damaged when "forked". Is your boat going to have a rack or cradle underneath it that is lifted by the forklift? One company actually makes a rack for pontoons that looks like a boat trailer without wheels, and it's made to go into the water.

Regarding damage. The contract states that THEY are responsable from when it leaves the water till it returns to the water. I heavily grilled them on this topic. Cant speak to the forklift yet but I intend to watch them closely the first "put up" and decide for my self. The one concern I already have is will the trolley properly fit the strakes on the tunes. I will know in a few eeks.

Accidents (carelessnes) happens. Damage at facilities like these are well known. My boat was scratched by a "run-away tractor". Politely make it known that you'll be checking for damage before and after every move - and let them see that - everytime. It won't stop an accident, but it will stop them from sending whatever kid they have available at the time from being sent to move your boat, during busy times, etc. They'll know, "That guy is particular about his chit. Go find.... "whoever"". Then enjoy your freedom from getting around the hassels that you are paying for. You'll love the convenience. Enjoy your new lake!

Todd

Sounds extremely reasonable. Taylorsville Lake here in Kentucky has uncovered wet slips starting at $1750/season. And the lake is small, full of stumps, and not really what I'd want to spend my time in.

We leave our pontoon on our lift year round, but we dry store our mastercraft in a facility very similar to the picture in the OP. I highly recommend putting on the cover prior to letting them take the boat. a buddy of mine had his dry stored on a rack and when they brought it out to him one time, it had a big pile of mud in the middle of the carpet. the marina denied any knowledge, but clearly the boat above it left them a gift. theres also alot of dust ect. around those big racks which will build up over time in your boat. i always cover ours before we let the marina take it. sure, it adds a few extra minutes to the process, but it gives me peace of mind that the interior will look like it did when i left it.

I looked at a map of Laurel Lake, and it appears to be an absolutely beautiful mountain lake. And you're right off I-75 north of the KY/TN state line above Knoxville.

Hopefully you've got a full pool of water this Summer. I wonder if Lake Cumberland's water level is still being held down because of problems with the dam? Center Hill appears to still be very low after a few years of problems with their dam. The Corp needs to get'em fixed. But now, the Mississippi River water ditch and soybeans/wheat out the ying yang is more of a priority.

Well I launched my pontoon today and watched them pull it from the water, put it on the incline rail trolley, winch it up the hill, lift it up with the biggest forklift I have ever seen and gently put it 20 feet up in a gigantic storage building.

This means no more growth on the toons, very high security and totally out of the weather and when I call before leaving town, it will be sitting in the water less than 200 feet from the parking lot. Bring on the nice weather.

Some pics:

That's pretty sweet... one thing about it, you won't have to worry about anyone messing with your boat way up there....

with my luck....

about 1/2 the way home, my wife or child would say... "oh, I left xxxxx on the boat, can we go back and get it?"

PlaynDoc wrote:with my luck....

about 1/2 the way home, my wife or child would say... "oh, I left xxxxx on the boat, can we go back and get it?"

Oh...you mean the cell phone, or wallet. Did I leave that damn courtesy light on etc...
Ask me how I know. LOL

With it this high up, I could likely leave a pot of gold sitting on the floor under the cover and it would be there when I went out next.

That is pretty sweet !