I just bought a 2016 Grady-White Freedom 225 Hardtop, with a Yamaha 300 HP engine. The boat is already bottom painted and it doesn't need to be repainted for a few more years. I am planning on docking the boat this summer until I buy the right-size vehicle to tow it. Has anyone dock a Freedom 225 in a 24 or 25 foot dock space with 10 foot opening. My concern is the size of the swim platform and motor hanging off the swim platform, it appears to add an extra four to six feet to an already 22'-2" size boat. I plan to raising my motor out of the water while it's dock so my overall boat length may be up to 26 to 27 feet long. I appreciate any insights from anybody who own's, or has seen a Freedom or Tournament 225, dock in 24 or 25 foot space. Thanks for reading my post
Freedom 225 Dock Size
- Thread starter Roll-Me-Away
- Start date
The question really isn't about whether the boat fits inside the confines of the slip. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a boat that sticks out past the finger piers or posts - that's actually quite commone. The question is about YOUR individual setup and the space behind you - whether there's still enough room for other boats to maneuver. The other question would be how your marina charges - do they charge based on actual boat length, or overall length. This varies from one place to another so it really is just about YOUR space/marina - not anyone else's. And, just as another side point, the specific boat model doesn't matter for this, either - it's simply about length and width (and the 10' width is generous enough).
DennisG01:
Thanks for the perspective. Before I commit to a new dock, I'll measure the distance between the end of my finger dock and the finger docks across the channel from me. They are transient docks for boats 30 to 35 feet in length. I'll make sure the distance is at least 60 to 70 feet from the end of my boat.
Thanks for the perspective. Before I commit to a new dock, I'll measure the distance between the end of my finger dock and the finger docks across the channel from me. They are transient docks for boats 30 to 35 feet in length. I'll make sure the distance is at least 60 to 70 feet from the end of my boat.
Not to burst your bubble, but assuming you will get a few more years out of your bottom paint is a bit optimistic
Of course that depends on type of water, use of boat etc.
I know of marinas where all slips are 20 feet long and 80% of the boats stick out. A bigger concern is how you plan on docking, bow in or stern in. In the later case, the heavier portion of the boat can be tied off more effectively. Getting in and out of the boat may be easier. Wakes from other vessels will have less of an effect since they will be 'cut' by the angled bow. The down side is that a lot of dock length is used to make room for the tilted up motors and any brackets or swim platforms. That shifts the section that you would board forward, perhaps too far forward. It is also often trickier to dock stern end first with a single engine boat..
My point is that there are a lot of things to take into account, not just slip length.
' depends' on the type of docks ).
As to the width of the dock, your beam at the water line is going to be smaller than the beam spec. If you have floating docks, that difference is constant. If you have fixed docks and tides, the effective width will increase as the water level drops.
Of course that depends on type of water, use of boat etc.I know of marinas where all slips are 20 feet long and 80% of the boats stick out. A bigger concern is how you plan on docking, bow in or stern in. In the later case, the heavier portion of the boat can be tied off more effectively. Getting in and out of the boat may be easier. Wakes from other vessels will have less of an effect since they will be 'cut' by the angled bow. The down side is that a lot of dock length is used to make room for the tilted up motors and any brackets or swim platforms. That shifts the section that you would board forward, perhaps too far forward. It is also often trickier to dock stern end first with a single engine boat..
My point is that there are a lot of things to take into account, not just slip length.
' depends' on the type of docks ).
As to the width of the dock, your beam at the water line is going to be smaller than the beam spec. If you have floating docks, that difference is constant. If you have fixed docks and tides, the effective width will increase as the water level drops.
Seasick:
Thanks for the info on the bottom paint and the advantages and disadvantages of bow versus stern docking. Once I get comfortable with the boat, I plan on stern docking. I use to own 21 foot boat which I rack store; therefore, I am familiar with stern docking and may take advantage of your suggestion. Thanks
Thanks for the info on the bottom paint and the advantages and disadvantages of bow versus stern docking. Once I get comfortable with the boat, I plan on stern docking. I use to own 21 foot boat which I rack store; therefore, I am familiar with stern docking and may take advantage of your suggestion. Thanks
