I normally use Remleys Pointe but I’m concerned with how busy it will get this summer.
We have 2 young kids (under 4) and I don’t know how early we can get there.
Am I being concerned over nothing? Any private ramps people would suggest? Is anyone a member of the Hobcaw Yatch club? Are they accepting members and would you recommend it?
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
There is a private ramp up 41 on the Wando, but it is usually full. If I can find my paperwork I might be able to get you a phone number, if you’re interested. $380/yr I believe.
2002 Key West 1900CC
Ramp at 41 is Atlantis Marine. $385 per year. 856-0225
Using a dry stack is becoming more and more appealing with the pressure on our boat landings. It costs money but well worth it if your “help” on the weekends is your wife and and a few kids. Would help with your relationship with the wife also. I’ve seen fights at the boat ramp where the wife ended up driving the truck and trailer to the house leaving the husband with the boat. He had to call a friend to help him
With the dry stack you have your boat in the water waiting on you and when you get back you clean it up and they put it away for you until the next time.
Charleston City Papers Best Guide of 2014
No question, dry stack DOES take the hassle out.
2x on Fritz here, best days of my boating life; if budget permits.
“The big one’s still swimming, let’s go.”
Thanks I didn’t think of a dry stack but that could be a good idea at least for this season. Anyone have a suggestion on one?
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
Hey, my wife is actually proud of how good she is with the boat (not so much the truck).
2002 Key West 1900CC
Since they don’t require annual contracts you can rent by the season.
Location you like to fish/boat in
Will determine your facility, plus convenient to home. I have not heard anything bad about any that I remember, surely there is a difference. Iwould check out the parking for sure and the most popular ones in the most populous areas will of course be the most crowded, such as Shem Creek.
“The big one’s still swimming, let’s go.”
x3 on checking out a dry stack. And agree with Mac Daddy, most of the time your location and type of fishing/boating will pick your facility for you. Unless you’re just nearly broke like me, then you go for cheap. We are on a really tight budget for boat storage, and I priced everyone. Tried the private Hwy. 41 ramp as mentioned above and he had a waiting list. Ended up at Rivers Edge. It’s a long way from everywhere, but is inexpensive on an annual contract for small boats, nice facilities, and is not nearly the zoo that is Shem Creek. I think being in Shem Creek would’ve been just as much PITA as trailering. All last year I never thought Remleys was bad at all, but the right dry stack is still so much more convenient. In order of costs I was given in December, highest to lowest: Ripley Light, Magwoods, Shem Creek Marina, Daniel Island, Seabreeze Marina, Dolphin Cove, Rivers Edge. Obviously though your quotes may differ. Take a Saturday to ride around and visit all of them and check out the facilities.
Thanks Andy!
That’s exactly the info I was looking for. Talking with my wife she’s excited about the idea of a dry dock just because our time frame on the water is dependent on the 2 kids under 4 and their naps and everything else.
I prefer launching and cleaning myself but I’m also ok paying for it for the convenience this season. Thanks again
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
For what its worth, I’ve been seriously considering giving up my spot at the 41 ramp and going with a dry stack this season too. When I weigh the time it takes to prep-trailer-launch-retrieve-trailer-clean the boat, sometimes multiple times in a weekend, against the cost of the dry stack… its a pretty decent argument. But even River’s Edge is what, $240/mo for a boat under 20 ft?
The other benefit is we’d be more likely to use the boat during the middle of the week because its so easy. When we had it in the marina in Beaufort we would do a quick dinner cruise whenever we felt like it and it was awesome.
2002 Key West 1900CC
From what I have seen if you are not at the ramp early during the warm months it is hard to get a parking spot. So you are correct in being concerned.
quote:
Originally posted by adam7For what its worth, I’ve been seriously considering giving up my spot at the 41 ramp and going with a dry stack this season too. When I weigh the time it takes to prep-trailer-launch-retrieve-trailer-clean the boat, sometimes multiple times in a weekend, against the cost of the dry stack… its a pretty decent argument. But even River’s Edge is what, $240/mo for a boat under 20 ft?
The other benefit is we’d be more likely to use the boat during the middle of the week because its so easy. When we had it in the marina in Beaufort we would do a quick dinner cruise whenever we felt like it and it was awesome.
2002 Key West 1900CC
At Rivers Edge we pay $200/mo for boat 19’ and under, no t-top, with an annual contract. That’s not on their website but if you go in the marina there are flyers for that.
Keep in mind what I priced was for annual contracts starting in January for me. Month to month or seasonal terms are going to differ and be higher. Here’s where I priced everything in December. I either called or visited in person to ask, except Dolphin Cove. Most will charge you at 20’ minimum. These quotes I got were for a 17’ Sea Hunt.
Ripley Light - $350/mo ($17.50/ft, 20 ft min.), year contract with 2 mo. free (called)
Magwoods - $339/mo, $16.95/ft, 20 ft min. (called)
Shem Creek Marina - $325/mo with a free month for a year contract (called)
Daniel Island Marina - $280-330/mo depending on contract, yr/season/month-to-month (in person)
Seabreeze Marina - $300/mo (in person)
Dolphin Cove Marina - $11/ft (visited, found nobody there with door unlocked and open, left without talking to anybody)
Rivers Edge Marina - $200/mo, annual contract, 19’ and under (in person)
Note for those “free months” at Ripley Light and Shem Creek, the total cost over the numbe
So far I’m getting similar numbers (which is good). No one besides Rivers Edge would do month to month or 6 months. Everyone else has been annual but I haven’t made it through the list yet.
Besides the dry stack idea what private landings are there? I know of the one by 41 and on Sullivans. Any others nearby
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
There is one off of Virginia Ave. Its pretty cheap, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it based on how it looked (admittedly, from the water).
2002 Key West 1900CC
Thanks Adam
I don’t think that’s the ramp I’ll be using either. I’m surprised there aren’t more ramps but I guess waterfront property is at a premium
The ramp at Shem Creek get’s busy in the summer just like Remley’s Point. Not sure where you’re coming from but both Sullivan’s and IOP Marina have paid launching. Both ramps put you right on the ICW which saves the run across the harbor when the weather’s bad. The Sullivan’s ramp is administered by the fire department and the IOP Marina takes care of the passes there.
17’ Hewes Stalker
I have been searching rack and launch and they are quickly filling up. I am told lots of boats sold at the boat shows, created wait lists for most. I stopped dealing with the ramps and went rack and launch 2 years ago. Its much better and don’t see myself going back to the ramp due to crowds.
Infrastructure wise Charleston has a MAJOR issue on its hands. Not enough marinas, ramps, docks, or storage to handle the demand. Its going to get out of hand this summer with lower gas prices. I see no plans in place for the city to address. I heard rumors of a new facility on Daniel Island being discussed. Someone also needs to buy Dolphin Cove and get it back up to standards. If I only had a couple million lying around.
Is the landing on Sullivan?s Island big enough launch a 25’ boat?