Leaving boat on anchor long term

Well as a new owner I'm running into delimas and financial trouble I didnt plan for. (Bit off more than I could chew?) My delima is insurance the previous owner had liability which is what I budgeted in for ...they were paying only 350 per year ....geico / boat us says they were grand fathered into that policy and I would need full coverage at 2k per year...also I planned to keep my boat stored on the hard at the glades yard which is quite cheap at $160 per month well they are now full....indian town is my next cheapest option...at $350 per month....so my anticipated expenses went up by approx $400 more per month than I had anticipated right out of the gate not even including repairs
At some stage I wondered if it was a seriously crazy idea to just get the full coverage insurance and a twice the size rated anchor....my current anchor is a 55lb mantus m2....I wondered if to skip some expenses I just get the 105lb mantus with mantus bridles and use a way oversized anchor kinda as a mooring .....put wifi on the boat ....solar and run cameras and board it up and tape windows as if to prepare for a hurricane ...... my expenses would just be the way over inflated insurance and bottom cleaning ......stupid idea? I only plan to use the boat 2 months of the year for now so I hate this plan and preferred to leave it on the hard but now I sorta wonder if I bit off more than I can chew financially

Do you like to sleep at night? Seriously!!

I don't really think that's a good option. Think I would just pay the price for the 1st year and see if you can get into Glades next year. Might also see if there are other boatyards that are more favorably priced. Leaving a new to me boat in the water for 10 months seems like a really bad idea.

Ted

You better talk to your insurance company. They aren’t going to like your plans leaving the boat unattended at anchor for long periods.
Where do you think you can leave a boat for free for 10 months without it being stripped or tagged as derelict?
Haul it and launch for 2 months? My vote is sell it immediately.

High Wire said:

Haul it and launch for 2 months? My vote is sell it immediately.

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I wasn't going to be quite so bold, though I was thinking this. Now that High Wire has mentioned it, I can only say that I strongly agree with him! Sorry.

So it's safe to leave on a mooring for 10 months with people checking on it but if I have an anchor big enough to withstand a hurricane and should be considered on a mooring and with wifi and cameras so I can monitor it from home and call if anyone boards it and someone cleaning the hull and checking on it i should sell it....tons leave their boat at a dock which isnt exactly a safe place during a hurricane ...many take theirs out to a hurricane hole to leave on anchor (massive anchor) for hurricanes....I appreciate the advice but not sure I see selling it when I can literally put an alarm system (if I have solar and 7 huge gel batteries).....I agree this isnt ideal or even good but a boat on a huge anchor with wifi cameras and a simpli safe home alarm system on the boat which includes water alarms all centrally monitored is so unsafe it should be sold immediately and also full coverage insurance
Cost breakdown. Anchor $1200. (3 months of indian town or any other storage yard)..... monthly expenses $200 insurance + 100 hull cleaning + 75 wifi + 25 simpli safe home security. $400 total monthly expenses someone to check on it cameras and security system
Still I agree I dont like that idea none at all but is that so far down the list of preferable options to sell immediately?

I guess there are other options if that is such a terrible option where selling it is better than that
Leaving on a huge anchor with wifi security and hull cleaning or take it farther up north georgia? where maybe I can find better insurance with different rules/liability and storage. Would make for 5 days longer trip to get back where I want it for our summer trips but selling isnt an option I'll consider

The anchor chain will be totally encrusted with barnacles . You will need a serious bottom cleaning. Add that into mooring cost. On the hard is the only way to go.

A mooring usually implies an area with other moorings and maybe some oversight. Keeping a boat in a marina also implies some human oversight.

Assuming you plan to anchor out, where would you do it? Half of anchoring out long term would require an extremely protected area where wind and waves don't pose an issue regardless of the direction.

Ted

Did you check for liability only insurance?

No need to panic till that falls through.

If I was to make that my temporary solution until I can figure something else out it would be in stuart manatee pocket which is a well known hurricane hole ...plus I have a source or two there that can check on the boat...chain painted with bottom paint as well ....its a well protected hurricane hole lots of other derelict boats there even if my anchor holds yeah I'd have to worry about other people's boats dragging ... wifi security with water alarms and cameras straight to my phone and I've talked to the bottom cleaner who said for a minimal charge hed check clean solar panels off to ensure batteries stay topped off to run all the security systems on the boat.... if a terrible idea I'll scrap the idea just a last ditch effort or thought

If I were going to leave my boat in the water for 10 months, I might consider this place it's freshwater, reasonably protected on the Caloosahatchee waterway, and only $6 per foot per month. Downside is no electricity at the slips.

https://portlabellemarina.com/

Ted

Far far more variablesnot in your control (mother nature and what’s in the water- line or a untethered boat aimed right at you...)leaving her in the water swinging around an anchor, you haven’t even mentioned worried about watching for chafe... than being over budget on the hard... or at the same rate. Stop overthinking and go for less variables, than a little more money would be my suggestion KISS...

Btw- never use another guys insurance as a guide price wise. 100% of rate is based on the new user in boating.

Use it only 2 months a year? Sell it and charter a boat now and then. Much cheaper and no hassle. Or just plain sell it and wait until the financial coast is clear.

From my perspective, the "sell-it" response was because it seems like an unreasonable amount of risk and expense to take on for only 2 months of use per year. Perhaps I misunderstood.



I will add that I would be extremely suspect if anyone selling you an anchor claimed it to be "hurricane proof". I've not been through a hurricane myself, but have read about many an anchoring pro losing their anchored boats to hurricanes. I suspect it's less about the anchors and more about how they were set. I'm not sure I can see how you could possibly set one or two anchors to have you max-prepared for tides, currents, bad weather and hurricanes -- from any possible direction -- for months on end. I fear you would be there re-setting the anchors all the time. All this makes your $350 a month option look very attractive, in my opinion.

Absolutely do not leave it on anchor unattended for 10 months. I would be surprised if the boat would even be there when you got back. Your liability would be huge. If the anchor drags and the boat goes aground or sinks, do you have insurance for fuel and oil spills. I have almost a million dollar policy for cleanup. And I think you would be held negligent by leaving the boat unattended for that time. You would loose in court and be responsible for the cleanup which costs are staggering. Do not even contemplate this plan.

I'm not defending the decision obviously as it's my last resort so dont take this post as such a defending of a decision already made.....chafe is handled with the mantus bridles it comes with the bridles and I've seen other larger boats survive on a WAYYY oversized 105lb mantus anchor....my current boat is much smaller obviously but I've survived 93mph winds on a much smaller mantus anchor....I trust those anchors with my life as they have indeed saved it multiple times....if you haven't seen the videos on the mantus style anchors they truly do live up to the agreed upon promotional videos.... the dig in extremely fast and reset immediately ....I thought it was all hype until my boat was 2 feet away from a coral head in 93mph winds until I seen for myself that anchor never budged and when the winds shifted the other direction...reset immediately
So as far as dragging anchor I do have faith in the anchor above all else....my boat is rated for a 45...I currently have a 55m2....and if I were to leave it anchored ....105lb mantus would be the mooring.....so I'd be much more worried of other boats dragging and hitting mine than vice versa....with that said that can also happen at the dock.....i obviously have to have insurance one way or another with fuel spill protection and all of that....just thinking outloud dont take it as I've already made up my mind

Can you even buy the insurance without an out of water survey? Insurance companies don't like 40 year old hoses and frozen sea cocks. Have you ever heard the one about the rat in the trap worried more about the cheese than getting out of the trap. I'll side with the others.. Sell it. Get out of the trap.

If you are only going to use it 2 months out of the year you should just sell it. Where do you possibly think you could safely leave it anchored for 10 months.

Tingum said:

If you are only going to use it 2 months out of the year you should just sell it. Where do you possibly think you could safely leave it anchored for 10 months.

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Nowhere!

I’m sorry if you took offense to my reply. All I’m saying is the risk is way too high (if it was my boat) for two months of use. Also I think your expectations for marine police response to your alarm system are too high. The police might show up the next day to write a report. Managed mooring fields and marinas are one thing. Derilect boat anchor areas are another.
I remember passing a boat on shore near Jacksonville. Spray painted on the plywood window coverings were the words “ This boat is not abandoned”. Next to it were the words in a different color “Thanks for the dinghy!”

Find a lower cost hard storage facility. It may not be in Florida but neither are you.

High Wire said:

My vote is sell it immediately.

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A major part of boat ownership is "responsibility" which includes"insurance." Sell it, rent for each outing and let someone else worry about insurance and storage. You are not financially equipped at the present time to own a larger vessel. I know how hard nosed this sounds but facing the reality of your situation is paramount!

Once again I'm not defending an already premade decision just kinda wondering how the boat where it sat 2 weeks ago was fine at a dock 200 yards from manatee pocket....its considered safe if tied to a dock that if there are strong winds it could smash up against the side of and people in the middle of the night can walk right up onto it... a thru hull can malfunction and it can sink just as easily and other boats anchored out that sit there for years can drag anchor and smash into it..... I guess the others on the dock can call me if there was a problem or it sank or another boat slammed into it or it got vandalized but the damage would have already been done and it would be after the fact......many dock slips arent totally fenced in and those that are with a dinghy that wish to vandalize your boat can still make it to your boat if they choose just like they would need in order to get to a boat on a mooring or very large anchor substituting as a mooring ball..... somepeople do leave their boats on mooring balls year round others with deeper pockets have their boats dry storage shrink wrapped and with an armed guard patrolling 24/7............ a mooring ball is obviously the least secure of the two and I guess I dont see much the difference if you have extreme faith in your anchor , chain, chafe protection and set up .... even if that is just for say 6 months until the glades has an opening .... there are many truly derelict boats home to a ton of birds with broken masts and non functioning engines and no solar panels and I assume no power still floating around titusville fl that I see every year we go down ...... my ideal situation is the glades and liability insurance and I was told incorrectly by the glades (sure we have openings) and also by boat us (sure we can do liability only) prior to the purchase but now 1 month later these two oops we made a mistake have sent me scrambling to figure this out

And if the mooring ball/anchor rather would be the option obviously I would opt for full coverage insurance... yeah it would need to get hauled for 350 and a survey for 500 ...and then its covered by full coverage insurance....at 200 per month. bottom cleaning 100 per month boat checks more ? This is just until I make a better plan not year after year...at some stage i assume the glades will have an opening but if a mooring ball with a bottom cleaner and boat checks is ok ...I dont see a huge difference ...granted this is YouTube and by no means scientific proof but

https://youtu.be/52vu7bbvqC0

Is a link to sailing uma riding out hurricane Irma while at anchor using the exact same 105lb mantus and it never budged an inch through irma

I get how this is not preferable but I guess I'm wondering how it's so far inferior to a mooring ball ....many leave theirs on a mooring ball with just semi regular boat checks and bottom cleanings while I would have wifi a home security camera water intrusion alerts all going straight to my phone so I can call a mechanic asap if there was trouble....most on mooring balls dont have all of that and most get 1 maybe 2 boat checks per month and have no way to know if their bilge pump malfunctioned until very late in the game when its listing ...... once again not defending a premade decision I guess I see a lot dont feel the anchor is a reliable way to ensure the boat is for sure firmly and permanently planted to the floor and I guess the anchor part of the equation is the only part I am 100% confident in....the vandalizing and bird doo and other boats is what I worry about....but anytime a boat is left if water there are risks ...ideally everyone would live on their boat 24 7 ....but even those that check on their boat once a week...how long would it take for that boat to sink if that hose clamp snapped and are you sure someone would tell you in time ? All boats not being lived on that sit in water are a risk .... yes at anchor is a bigger risk ....but I guess I feel it's on equal grounds to a mooring ball if your anchor and gear are up to the task and while a mooring ball has its advantages of maybe more people and someone in a.dinghy that might notice listing early enough with wifi and water alarms and a home security system to tell me the same I guess I feel it's at least on equal grounds ...maybe??? As I said just scrambling for ideas now due to being told wrong.......storage on the hard was my intention but I thought if I needed full coverage insurance would my idea with wifi on boat be far inferior to a mooring ball

I have also considered taking it 5 days north if I have to ....guess I was weighing my options out although I haven't researched georgia to see if pricing on storage or insurance is much different

Whgoffrn said:

Once again I'm not defending an already premade decision just kinda wondering how the boat where it sat 2 weeks ago was fine at a dock 200 yards from manatee pocket....its considered safe if tied to a dock that if there are strong winds it could smash up against the side of and people in the middle of the night can walk right up onto it... a thru hull can malfunction and it can sink just as easily and other boats anchored out that sit there for years can drag anchor and smash into it..... I guess the others on the dock can call me if there was a problem or it sank or another boat slammed into it or it got vandalized but the damage would have already been done and it would be after the fact......many dock slips arent totally fenced in and those that are with a dinghy that wish to vandalize your boat can still make it to your boat if they choose just like they would need in order to get to a boat on a mooring or very large anchor substituting as a mooring ball..... somepeople do leave their boats on mooring balls year round others with deeper pockets have their boats dry storage shrink wrapped and with an armed guard patrolling 24/7............ a mooring ball is obviously the least secure of the two and I guess I dont see much the difference if you have extreme faith in your anchor , chain, chafe protection and set up .... even if that is just for say 6 months until the glades has an opening .... there are many truly derelict boats home to a ton of birds with broken masts and non functioning engines and no solar panels and I assume no power still floating around titusville fl that I see every year we go down ...... my ideal situation is the glades and liability insurance and I was told incorrectly by the glades (sure we have openings) and also by boat us (sure we can do liability only) prior to the purchase but now 1 month later these two oops we made a mistake have sent me scrambling to figure this out

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I mean no offense, but your post, at least to me, seems to be rationalization. The safest place to keep a boat, on the water, would be in a slip. Mooring balls are also used in many parts of the country, although I don't know about the southeast.

Keeping a boat, on anchor, is just an all around BAD idea! This has been expressed in numerous posts above. I don't know of anyone who does not live on a boat, who would keep a boat at anchor for the long term.

I think you may not be able to afford this boat. If you can't afford the cost of slippage and insurance, then maybe you should turn around and sell the boat. There is no shame in this, and it is one of the reasons, I have decided to wait another year or two until I buy my big boat. (I estimate that here in Maryland the boat I want would cost about 10K a year - $3500/yr slip fees, $1500 insurance, and $5000 routine maintenance/upgrade costs). I just don't want to spend 10K a year on a big boat that I just don't yet have enough time to us. Yes, I know this is contrary to the DO IT NOW thread.

One other thing is that I know that I personally would worry to much about leaving a boat, in the water, and not seeing it for 10 months at a time.

I sincerely hope you can reach a resolution to your dilemma.

Jim

psneeld said:

Did you check for liability only insurance?

No need to panic till that falls through.

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If his boat is financed, I doubt a bank would accept liability only

foggysail said:

If his boat is financed, I doubt a bank would accept liability only

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Have you been following all his threads?

Sure it can't cost that much to insure a boat that is on the hard ?? It can't sink, get stolen, leak fuel into the ocean, etc. I would think you would only need minimal insurance for 10 months, then just get the full coverage for the 2 months you are actually using it. Was the insurance company aware the boat would be high and dry for 10 months when they gave you the quote ?

psneeld said:

Have you been following all his threads?

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Not entirely. Many paragraphs of various posters are much too long, making them not worthy to be read.