Tips on locating Trailer Storage Locations 4Drive/Boat Trips

[wabislander]

We brought home our newly acquired Cutwater 28. We have started to plan future excursions where we will be trailering to a destination and then cruising an area. We have called several marinas in various areas (Chattanooga / Charleston to start). In explaining to the marinas that we will be renting slip space but need to arrange for storage for our trailer (35 feet for our C28). All have stated they have no facilities for trailer storage and didn't know anyone local that would either. I may be naïve and am definitely new to owning an boat we can take multi week adventures on, but I was not expecting to talk to marinas and find that the thought of someone trailering a boat to their facilities was surprising.

I would appreciate any advise and guidance from those with experience how you go about finding locations for trailer storage on your trailering trips. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

Try any commercial storage company in the area you are departing from. They will usually rent you space to store your trailer. It’s secure so you don’t have to worry about anything happening.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

In the Charleston, SC area, we have used Isle of Palms marina. They have a ramp and parking area.


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[j&lgray]

We have done a fair amount of what you trying to do. Drive to a launch point, boat for days, weeks or months and put the boat back on its trailer and drive (or fly) home. There is no one solution to trailer storage. These are the strategies that we used:

A. Left the trailer at a public boat ramp that was well used and had an on-site fee collection person. Told them what we were planning. No problems.
B. Used an RV storage yard.
C. Used a U-storage business
D. There are marinas that store trailers. Some charge, others are free.
E. There are marinas that did not offer retail storage. But when we explained our situation to the marina manager (we are out-of-state, exploring your area for weeks, etc.) several would just find a place for us.

Some times it took several hours of phone calls. We posted the question here on Tugnuts and got great info. We did the Great Loop and going the American Great Loop Cruisers Association (AGLCA) and posted the question on their forum and received great info from their Harbor Hosts.

Hope this helpful.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

In addition to the great suggestions you’ve gotten I’d suggest to do a web search for the area you’re considering storage. Google something like “Ft Myers RV/boat storage”. You’ll get all sorts of suggestions to sort thru, as John stated it is a process and there is no right answer.

Jim

 

[BB marine]

We have been doing the exact type of cruising since purchasing our Cutwater. LOGISTICS !! I plan an area that we want to cruise from and to. I then do a search of area Marinas and boat ramps. I find a marina in the area and then do a google earth look at the surrounding area. I look at the marina from above and see if there is ample parking for a trailer. I then make my call and explain my plan. Launch and store my Vehicle and trailer. I also search for an Enterprise rental car facility. We usually cruise from point A to point B so retrieval of the tow rig is needed. I like to have the boat lifted after cruising for a while for a bottom wash and if in saltwater areas I don't put my trailer in the water. It is cheaper in the long run to have the boat lifted, power washed, and set on the trailer than take the chances of springs, brakes, bearings and wiring failures because of saltwater contamination. It is also keeps the bottom cleaner. It is hard to wash the bottom when the boat is on the trailer.
Here are some of our stops and locations of what you are looking for:

Ditto Landing Huntsville Alabama
For Road Marina Knoxville Tn.
Kentucky Lake and Dam Marina
Aqua Marina Luka Ms
Pugh marina Racine Wis.
Green Turtle Bay GrandRivers Ky
Detour Village MI.
Sweet Water Marina Ft Myers Fl.
Saunders Yacht Gulf Shores Al. (expensive but they provide a good service. There are all kinds of inland storage facilities in his area and Enterprise right there Too.)
BlackFin marina and resort Marathon Key

We are on a slow ride to completing the Loop with expectations of completing some day but not in a hurry. If I planned on doing it in a year it would not be in a C26. After 5 years of cruising and not finishing half of the adventure yet Logistics plays an important roll in our cruising. Good Luck and enjoy the boat and the adventure.

 

[wabislander]

Great guidance. Thanks

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[Villama]

We got our C28 in May of 2020 and so far have used her out of the Pensacola area and Jeckyll Island, GA area. In Fl we launched and "based" off Period Key, Edgewater is a Cutwater dealer and their marina is great (hopefully rebuilt soon). I used a public launch on Jeckyll, and as others have noted just parked at the launch like others. Maybe thing about a way to lock your trailer to the boat. Most launches have a hose to wash down the trailer from the salt water, not a big deal. looking forward to more ICW trips up and down SC and in FL, then Bahamas, Mid Atlantic and maybe the great lakes.