Recommendations for slip rental
 

Good morning. I am looking to rent my first slip on Winni and looking for some honest advice. I am about to purchase a 22’ foot boat. I’m very familiar with Alton Bay and this is an area that I’ve typically launched in the past so I’m looking for something Ideal location in the cove or one that’s reasonably priced. Any thoughts and or advice for recommended areas would be tremendously appreciated or very reputable companies. Best Bigfish

I think that it will be difficult to find any slip period. In any case, you should solve that prior to buying a boat. If you have to live with day launching by trailer that may be a consideration in choice of boat. Also a slip that requires going under the Bay bridge will limit boat choices.

Welcome to the Forum

"Reasonable" price is a relative term. Winnipesaukee slip rates are some of the highest in New England.
West Alton is advertising slips between $145 and $170 per foot per season. You can go with Valet for $125 per foot.

Parker Marine also offers slips but does not advertise rates.

Facts of Life
 

Some marinas/boat dealers will have a slip available if a boat is purchased from them. 🚤

I agree that finding the slip first is important and will probably be difficult. Most of the marinas are full and many have waiting lists.

As someone also said, you may be able to get a slip by buying a boat from one of the waterfront dealers that have available slips. Some of the boat dealers will wait until after the Boston Boat Show to release slips. They want to be sure that if a boat sale at the show is contingent upon having a slip that they have one available.

Since many Winnipesaukee boat dealers have displays at the Boston Boat Show it may help you to go to the show and talk to some of them in person. There are a lot worse ways to spend a day than walking around a boat show..............

marinas at NE Boat Show
 

Not all Winni marinas/dealers are at the boat show under their own name. The booth may be listed under a manufacturer, and they may be sharing with other dealers. It may be worthwhile to call a few and see if they will be at thge show and when. Since there is a shortage of slips, you may want to lock in a valet slot, as those are not in overabundance either, but it is easier to expand valet than to build more wet slips.

Valet
 

An alternative to an actual slip, if you can't find a slip available, is for valet. It works reasonably well, depending on your needs and circumstances. It will be cheaper than a slip, too. As a place to begin looking, try West Alton Marina.

Ask if you can see the slip rental agreement for a marina you are interested in. Agreements will vary but you might find some of the following ...

You must buy your boat from the marina
You can not tie up any boat not listed on the rental form
You must buy your gas at the marina
You must have all service work done by the marina
You must carry insurance
You may not swim off of the dock, or the docked boat
You may not fish at the marina
You may not wash your boat at the slip
You may not have a party at your slip
You may not have work done on your boat in the slip
You may not work on your own boat in the slip
The marina is not responsible to ANY damage to you boat

My recommendation is, find the right marina for you, then buy a boat from them.

Park on trailer
 

A last resort that may be more available would be to store your boat on the trailer in the boat yard of a marina. You still have to launch & recover the boat each use but you save the tow to & from the lake. This is usually quite a bit less costly.

Andrew's Marine in West Alton offers this and I believe they will launch with their tractor so you don't need a tow vehicle. They also do mechanical work if you need it (hopefully not!). Good people to deal with also.

Andrew's in West Alton are very fair. I have had my boat at Parkers but found it cleared the bridge by an inch or two only, and if the wind was blowing into Alton sometimes I could not get under. West Alton is pricey and my experience with them was not positive at all.