flapabreaker-
I've been in the water first in the California Delta and more recently in Shasta Lake for the last five years. As with anything else, there are pros and cons, but I highly recommend it.
The big advantage is that you don't have to launch the boat everytime you use it, so you will use it much more often. This works for those who usually frequent the same lake, bay, etc.
The covered slip has so many advantages it's hard to be sure one mentions them all.
First of all, the roof provides shelter from rain and sunlight and their deletrious effects on the boat. In fact, I wouldn't leave my boat uncovered for any length of time in an open berth any more than I'd leave it out in the weather in the yard uncovered. One year in an open berth will make your boat look really abused unless you add a canvas cover.
While the roof provides shelter to the above water part of the boat, the underwater parts must be protected with anti-fouling paint. How much protection you need depends on what kind of water you're in. Salt is worse than fresh, and warmer worse than colder. Sometimes in very cold freshwater an occasional scrub for those w/o bottom paint will be ok, but for extended periods bottom paint is usually preferred. Th exact type of bottom paint depends on the types of water and organisms in which you're moored.
To bottom paint a boat, one has to first sand the gel coat for adhension, then apply epoxy barrier coats to prevent water penetration and blister developmnent. Then one to several coats of bottom paint are applied. I had estimates of from $1200 to $1800 for this first time procedure 5 years ago for my CD-22. Subsequent recoating with the bottom paint runs $400-$600 every 1-2 years. I do it myself on my roller trailer now.
Unless you're in freezing temperatures where water in the lower unit could freeze and crack the gear casing, the motor shaft can be raised out of the water when storing to prevent growth on the lower unit.
A berthed boat also provides an on the water cabin or condominium to retreat to and spend some time during the day or overnight. A short trip out of the marina and you've changed your venue and can anchor for the day or overnight.
Shore power in the marina can make the boat much more liveable when power is needed for heating, air conditioning, cooking, battery charging, using the stereo, mixer, hair dryer, TV / video, computer, ...you name it!
Some marinas also provide pressure water, dock boxes, and even cable TV, telephone, and computer connections. Some folks may be repelled by such ammenities, but they are very useful to those who feel they need them.
Along this same line, the marina is much more liveable if it has nice clean bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, gas and propane facility, a store, restraunt, etc. A SMALL BOAT CAN BE SEEM MUCH LARGER IF YOU HAVE ALL THESE THINGS AROUND YOU THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ON YOUR BOAT IN FULL SIZED DIMENSIONS.
One thing I learned very quickly was to pick out the slip very carefully, although you may at first have to take the first slot available, and some marinas have years long waiting lists!
In Northern California, storms come in from the south and west, so you want to be on the north and east side of the marina so that the wind won't blow rain into your boat. I had to build large weather screens to keep out the rain and afternoon sun when berthing on the SW side in the Delta.
Another consideration is the security. A fine marina with great security is a real plus, one with poor security is a worry source and one not worth being there.
Covered berths are not cheap. My 10' x 26' berth at Bridge Bay on Shasta Lake is $200/ month. That's both expensive and cheap. Expensive if you don't use it, cheap if you do. $7 a day is a easy addition to your hobby if you really enjoy it.
About the only real drawbacks I can think of besides the bottom paint issue and cost are these two:
First it's harder to work on the boat in the slip compared to having it home where you have so much greater access to tools, supplies, hardware and marine stores, and simply have the boat where you can work on it at your leisure. Small jobs in the slip are easy, but major ones are not, and sometimes require a lot of planning, or even bringing the boat home.
The second disadvantage is that trips to other boating venues from the marina involve another hauling out and returning of the boat to the water. How much of an issue this is depends on you and how many such trips you make.
If you choose to moor in a berth, get good dock lines, snubbers, fenders and set up the berth to your custom needs as much as the marina will allow for your own enjoyment and convenience.
Overall, I'd go with the covered slip as long as it's to my advantage, but there will be those in circumstances and situations where it just doesn't work. Got to go now, hope this helps!
Joe.
