Which slip is better?

M

mrdeepseafisher

Member
exMember
Joined
Nov 21, 2004
RO Number
15772
Messages
58
I have a chance to purchase a slip and choices are one end of a T-dock or the other is on the inside of the T-dock which is just a regular slip with pilings on both sides of the slip.

Owner is making me a better offer on the T-dock than on the inside slip. I like the inside slip since I can tie the boat from both sides which is more secure in a storm (I think)but the offer on the end of the T-dock (can only tie to one side) is about the same price as the regular slip.

So dilemma is to buy a 70 ft inside slip or buy end of T-dock (it is actually two slips, 115 ft overall)and be able to rent one end of T-dock.

Opinions?
 
Hard to tell... Most important factor is exposure to wind/chop, how long the fetch and possible exposure to wakes. If you re in a fairly narrow body of water, then I'd take the Tee head otherwise being able to tie the boat on both sides is a big plus

Also depends on the width of the inside slip. With 15'10" beam you need at least 2' on each side so the boat doesn't rub on the pilings. Is it s less than 20', then the T would be better

Pilings heights... If the T head pilings don't extend at least 2' above the rub rail at high tide, especially near the bow ( much higher on the Hatt) then that a a deal killer

From a comfort perspective, the T will have better views and likely more breeze than inside, especially if eventually it becomes home to large boat...
 
Floating or fixed piers? If they're floating piers, I'd take the T-head since it's a better deal. Tying up for storms on a floating T-head isn't a big deal since you tie tight with fenders. That is if you're in a tidal area...
 
Can you add poles? In our Dockominium we are allowed to add poles as long as they don't impede the main canal and are within our slip area of usage. When I bought my slip, I added 2 outside poles because it makes it easier to get in. Once your inside the first set, you basically are in. Otherwise you are looking at 6 to 8 feet further before your inside. Plus the poles make it easier to tie boat off.

Adding a pole I think is like $600.

Also if Poles are not a option, do whips work?
What type of boat? Whips hold it off the dock.
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

Adding a pole I think is like $600.

Click to expand...


Around my area it's around $300 for the piling, another $300 for the installation, and a 1-2 year wait to get a crew to do it. :-)
 
Hard to tell... Most important factor is exposure to wind/chop, how long the fetch and possible exposure to wakes. If you re in a fairly narrow body of water, then I'd take the Tee head otherwise being able to tie the boat on both sides is a big plus

Also depends on the width of the inside slip. With 15'10" beam you need at least 2' on each side so the boat doesn't rub on the pilings. Is it s less than 20', then the T would be better

Pilings heights... If the T head pilings don't extend at least 2' above the rub rail at high tide, especially near the bow ( much higher on the Hatt) then that a a deal killer

From a comfort perspective, the T will have better views and likely more breeze than inside, especially if eventually it becomes home to large boat...
 
In addition to floating vs fixed, what length is the finger pier on the inside slip? Having a pier the length of the boat is wonderful thing. Makes washing and working on the boat so much easier. Given the choice, we have always preferred the T head for the reasons Pascal mentions plus having the pier. Right now, we have the best of both worlds, being the first slip on the other side of the T-Head. As mentioned, for bad weather or wakes, get plenty of fenders including some attached to the dock itself (especially if fixed not floating).
 
Entire dock is floating and rides the tides on the pilings. We can't add additional pilings outside of the T-head as it is against the by-laws of the association. On the inside slip the finger pier is about 40' long so it would allow us to reach 2/3rds of the boat from one side at least, however on the T-head we could easily reach the entire boat given we would have 115' of dock and could easily turn the boat if we needed to work on both sides.

The marina is in what is essentially an inlet. There are about 7-12 marinas (at least)in the inlet. It is probably 400 yards wide and a mile long. You can see the inlet by using google earth and typing in Carolina Beach NC.

One concern is that a dinner cruise business is at the end of the inlet as has to go right by what would be my slip on the T-head. I think the 100' plus cruise ship would pass probably 50 yards by my boat.
 
if it is at the north end of that area there wont be any difference in wave action inside or on the T. The T will always be easier but double sided ties inside are safer. There is 3/4 mile fetch from the south and 1/2 from the north but again neither slip will be different. IMO it all comes down to what you are more comfortable with slips may offer end access if that is important. I would take the T and add serious fendering on the tie poles.
But I wouldnt buy a slip anyway.
 
Which marina? The inlet itself is further north, leading into the ICW which then turns into snows cut towards the river. At the intersection with snows cut, there is a mark a and fuel dock on the east side. Then as you leave the ICW straight south, is a channel leading into Carolina beach with a pretty good anchorage. I remember one, maybe two marinas on the west shore. They may be more further down but I usually anchor before the end. Those docks at the entrance have good protection so the T head would be fine. If it s further down that area, it's even better

The tour boats and fishing boats go thru there but they go slow and don't throw any wake...
 
Pascal,

Use Google viewing in satellite mode to zoom in on Carolina Beach NC. Heading north just past bridge is the public boat landing. Just to the south of the public boat landing is two marinas. The marina I am interested in is just off street Green Turtle Lane. There are three main piers and the T-end of the southern most pier is the one am considering. A little bit more south is a cruise outfit that runs dinners cruises out of this area.Its only about 400' tops to other shore from end of T-dock.
 
I am not a fan of slips with no poles between adjacent boats.
 
The bridge is the snows cut bridge on the ICW, which links the cape fear river to the sound. Yes that is the marina I m talking about, right before the anchorage. It s protected and wakes aren't a problem there.

I d go for the tee head,
 
I would get the 70 ft slip. Unless you plan on getting a boat bigger than 70 ft. one day, I like being able to tie the boat on both sides off the finger piers. Whenever it blows hard, I am much ore comfortable having the boat tied well off on both sides. A 40 ft finger pier will get you to most of the boat, and the last 8 or so ft you cant get to anyways, you need to get on your dinghy. Also, in a slip you can easily get to both sides. If it were in a very protected area, the t-head maybe a better choice, but otherwise the boat will be moving in contact with fenders most of the time.
 
A plus for the T is beefing able to launch the tender, which you may not be able to do in a regular slip... Lots of creeks and beaches to explore with the tender around Carolina beach, where you won't take a 50 footer
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top