Cruising via trailer

D

dandawes

New member
I am thinking of crusing the country via a trailered C-Dory 22. How difficult is it to get a secure storage location at or near the ramp for your tow vehicle and trailer when you are cruising the local area for weeks or months?
 
A number of brats have done that. You might check El and Bill's website "Halcyon Days", and "The Adventures of Wild Blue and Crew" for starters.

There are obviously challenges and no one answer to your question but the C-Dory makes a good "camper".
 
We have found the Brats here to be a great source of local information. Wild Blue's trailer has gone into storage all around the country while we cruise... sometimes at the marina, other times in a commercial storage lot, and on Brats' property. Let the folks here know where you will be cruising and they will likely offer up some options. We lock up the truck, give it a pat on the fender, and say, "See ya when we get back." Then go enjoy some cruising.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
This question reminds me of Wild Blue's anecdote. There was a campground that wouldnt let them camp in the boat. So they bought a cheap two person tent , put a spare tire in it and well, stayed on the boat parked next to the tent..
 
Yes... and on one of the Cumberland River Gatherings a few years back when a storm came thru on launch day....we all drove to an RV park about 20 miles up the interstate and all stayed on our boats. Think we had about 6-7 boats...and the owner of the RV park said....well...it is raining might hard now....your boats may come in handy...come on over.

It was a great start to a great trip...

Happy travels...

Byrdman
 
We have yet to be refused our "Boater camper" at any camp ground. But there are campgrounds which will allow only class A units less than 10 years old, so you do need to pick your sites. If there is any reluctance show the management that the boat has all of the features that many RV's have. Of course you do have to catch the dishwater and put it down the drain.

As for security--definately look for a secure place. There is only one place locally where I would leave a rig (beside my house). It is a shipyard which has a guard at night and is controlled during the day.

Some city ramps are patroled. Many are not. Active Captain may have some suggestions about marinas which have secure parking. This site and the members is often the best resource.

We have a relitative, who goes to Bahia Honda in the Keys each winter. Camping places are almost to get, so they leave their van and trailer parked in the lot, and camp on the boat in the water....So that is another option.

In Prince Rupert, we contacted a storage lot to have the truck and trailer in a secure place. The owner picked us up and dropped us off.

We have parked for the night a rest stops and flying J's--so there are other options--as well as in some states where you can still find a pull off and spend the night.
 
Camped on the boat last night in an RV park in Flagstaff AZ after a cruise on Powell, a lady descended from a megarig, 'knocked' on the side of the boat, and with a worried frown asked, "What do you know that we don't?"

I answered, "Ma'am my name is Noah. 'Nuff said?"

True story, believe it or not.
 
Do it! It's a great way to travel. We've made the trip between So Cal and the San Juans 2 years in a row -- one night we were turned away from a full RV park in the rain... until the owner saw the boat and told us to stay. Turns out the C-Dory was just too cute to turn away. Guess it made us seem cuddly.

Local knowledge is a plus -- so if you plan in advance I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice from fellow brats on launch sites and storage sites. We've never been disappointed.

Matt
 
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