Order boat without a trailer?

[ericinmich]

Am I crazy to think about doing this? Still debating a new Z3. Current 22Ve is in a boat house on a cradle, the trailer sits out back not likely to be used until I sell the boat.

If I order a boat, a trailer is about $7k. I can rent a trailer for $25/day, so maybe $100 to get the boat to my lake and on the hoist once I take delivery. I would run it a few hours locally and then move it up to the cottage about 3 hours away.

Concerns are what if I need to get work done, I would have to rent a trailer (if it had to go to Tige dealer), there might be an Indmar dealer closer to the lake that could do work on it without a trailer.

Resale would be the main concern, obviously a buyer would likely need a trailer. So, the value of the boat would be less at that point... maybe $5-7k less... so no real savings over getting one now.

Am I crazy thinking about no trailer in my situation?

[Thegerman618]

The extra money for a trailer would give you piece of mind I would think. I get that it stays on the water, but like you said if for some horrible reason you get water intrusion you are going to need an emergency way to get the boat out of the water and going to rent a trailer seems like a hassle. Like you mentioned as well any warranty, maint., upgrades, ect. you may want the ability to put it on a trailer to do that kind of work. Lastly, as an outside party looking in....I wouldn't not buy or consider to buy a boat that didn't have at least a factory or specified trailer for boat. That leaves me as the buyer to go out and either find or have a custom trailer made, which for some buyers (me included) is not worth the hassle, especially if there are other boats out there being sold with a trailer for a little more.

[ericinmich]

The extra money for a trailer would give you piece of mind I would think. I get that it stays on the water, but like you said if for some horrible reason you get water intrusion you are going to need an emergency way to get the boat out of the water and going to rent a trailer seems like a hassle. Like you mentioned as well any warranty, maint., upgrades, ect. you may want the ability to put it on a trailer to do that kind of work. Lastly, as an outside party looking in....I wouldn't not buy or consider to buy a boat that didn't have at least a factory or specified trailer for boat. That leaves me as the buyer to go out and either find or have a custom trailer made, which for some buyers (me included) is not worth the hassle, especially if there are other boats out there being sold with a trailer for a little more.

To be clear, the boat is stored (summer and winter) in a boat house on shore. A dolly on tracks rolls into the water powered by an electric winch. The setup was build in the 60's, still going strong (I had to modify the bunks to fit the inboard).

This doesn't change your feedback though... yes, trailer is something to get when ordering boat. Probably get most of the cost back at resale.

[Thegerman618]

Just my 2 cents

[Bryan]

In the end, it's your money and you should spend it how you like, but I have only ever bought used boats. If there is no trailer included... I keep looking

[Dandy]

I agree with much stated above. In addition to that, I would be hesitant of purchasing a boat that didn't have a specified trailer because if it had been towed for service...would the loaner/rental trailer support the hull in the correct location to avoid cracking of the gel coat and hull due to improper weight distribution/support. Search the boat forums, once a boat is a few years out of production these specific Trailers are hard to find, making it a huge hassle (as mentioned) for a potential buyer. Also realize that most likely the trailer will actually cost more in the future simple due to inflation not to mention if it is a "special order" since it is not longer in production.

[Booms]

We thought we didn't need a trailer as well. The boat only sits on the trailer in the winter, from April till October it is on a lift.

Then we got it in our head to take a family vacation to Norris Lake, TN. Which is a 14 hour drive from northern WI. We have been on the same lake for 20 years and my wife's family has been there since the 60's. So it is nice to check out other local lakes once or twice a year.

Use the $7000 cost of the trailer to help motivate the idea of trailering to other lakes for a day trip. I am happy we did.

[UNSTUCK]

If you can rent the right trailer for $25/day, do it. Unless of course you see your self towing it more than 280 times throughout your ownership. You're not the only guy that keep his boat on the water. Save that $7000. It'd be like free fuel/maintenance.

[ericinmich]

If you can rent the right trailer for $25/day, do it. Unless of course you see your self towing it more than 280 times throughout your ownership. You're not the only guy that keep his boat on the water. Save that $7000. It'd be like free fuel/maintenance.

So it looks like about 4 I'm crazy for thinking about it and 1 "sure, makes sense".

Resale is the main issue. Probably tough to sell boat without correct trailer, and will correct trailer exist in 5/10/20 years when I sell boat...

[SKSailboatshop]

you should be able to do better then 7k on that trailer.


that's a pretty significant markup...we would do a new standard Z3 trailer for 4,500-5 grand. Does your dealer work direct with boatmate?

[ericinmich]

Yea, the 7k was list, discount was less, didn't break it out. Probably $5,500-6000, so some room there to negotiate.

[UNSTUCK]

So it looks like about.... 1 "sure, makes sense".

Yes and no.

I wouldn't buy a boat without a trailer, but I keep mine at my house far away from any water. Only you can decide if it's right for you. Asking a bunch of guys that don't know you or your situation for help is kind of like asking a homeless guy for stock market tips.

Mostly I just like to throw a wrench in the works now and then.

[rensink]

I'd save the cash for the time being if it starts to become a hassle after the first couple years of owning the boat then I would go out and buy one just my two cents...plus down the road if you absolutely needed one places like Boatmate that are building the trailer for a specific boat will keep the specs for the trailer to build it again.

[SKSailboatshop]

Its pretty easy to get a trailer if it becomes a hassle...if your dealer is not working direct with boatmate they should, the cost savings is like 1,500 from the dealer end shipped vs buying the same trailer direct from Tige.

[Yankees39]

Just to throw another wrench in the works (as UNSTUK said) I'm not sure if you are financing the boat, but would suspect you are, the trailer would be rolled up in that payment wouldn't it. In 5/10/20 yrs from now if you have to buy one i dont think you would finance the trailer and have the cash to pay for it (i could be wrong on that and you could probably make payments on the trailer to im not sure) Just another thing to think about.

With saying that I probably wouldn't buy the trailer, seems like you don't really need it and like UNSTUK SAID IN HIS OTHER POST "If you can rent the right trailer for $25/day, do it. Unless of course you see your self towing it more than 280 times throughout your ownership."

I really need to stop copying what UNSTUK is saying and come up with my own ideas