By Kurt Lavecchia


At the St. Petersburg FL marina, owners of boats may select either dry or wet slips. Boats provide hours of pleasure for their owners. They offer opportunities for visiting islands and coastal areas that may otherwise be inaccessible, as well as fun snorkeling and fishing excursions.

A small boat can be stored much more easily than its large counterpart. It usually just needs a trailer for transport and a home storage facility. However, large vessels usually require a wet or a dry storage unit.

The wet storage unit has several benefits. It allows a boat to be used almost immediately, and is easy to get into and out of. A marina may offer its clients electrical hook-ups so they can keep their on-board batteries fully charged.

Usually, wet storage units are not enclosed. An enclosed storage unit provides protection against inclement weather and sunlight, and helps to lengthen the lifespan of exposed components.

A dry storage facility provides effective protection against weather, and keeps exposed upholstery and paint in top shape for years. Sometimes, stacked storage units are offered to owners of small vessels.

The dry storage units require the vessels to be lifted out of the water. This usually involves a crane and track system which helps the owners move their vessels into the appropriate storage slips.

The major disadvantage to the dry storage option is the need to launch a vessel each time it is used. The process requires special tracks which lead into the water. At busy marinas, launches need to be arranged several days in advance.

In the St. Petersburg FL marina, an owner may move his or her vessel into dry storage when repairs are needed. In these situations, it is wise to check with the officials at the facility to make sure work may be done on-site. Some types of insurance restrictions prevent these types of activity.




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