Hayes Haven
 

I stopped by Hayes Haven today and couldn't help but notice all the construction. The office is gone. Anyone know whats taking place there. I wonder if the changes are going to allow easier access to the launch ramp.

Mike,

I haven't been there since late in the season last year and I haven't talked with Jamie either, but I think the plan was to get the new construction in place and then rip down the old building. Either way, I hope you're right that the changes will allow for easier access to the ramp... it was pretty tight in there with the larger boats. Regardless, I really like both Jamie and HH and will certainly be back as long as he'll still have us and the rates are still reasonable.

Speaking of which, I WILL buy a season pass this year. I think I spent about 2 or 3 times more last year paying per launch compared to what I would have paid for a season pass. Then again Mike, I seem to recall you bought a season pass and used the ramp once or twice! We had to be two of his better customers last year, haha!

Havent spoke to Jamie or Smitty in a few months but when I was last down there the new bathroom facilities were near completion. Unlike the previous setup, the bathrooms and showers are now a stand alone building.

In terms of the house/store...Not sure. I know they were knocking everything down and re-building. My guess is that they will re-use the foundation? I dont know. No idea how that will effect the launch ramp either.

In any event, they are doing an awesome job down there. Once everything is finished, it will be a great facility.

I will be calling there soon to try to reserve a dry dock for Johnboy and myself.

Jamie is completely knocking down the old office/house and rebulding it with a new office/house. Last he told me was the first floor of the building will be the office, and the top floor with be his year round house since he is selling his house in Haddam. Not sure if he will be using the same foundation, but knowing him he will build something much larger based on he will be living their full time now. I will be going down their soon to renew my slip and if I see him ill ask him what his definite plans are.

:bsflag::bong::party-smiley-004:

Hey Scott, your right. we were 2 of Jamie's best customers. I used the ramp 4 times last year. I plan to do another season pass this year. I really like that place. Great people and an all around nice atmosphere there. Launching in fresh water is another plus. I'm just hoping for a little more room accessing the ramp. Hopefully a bigger office/house doesn't effect the ramp. Even moving a few of the cars, etc. around the maintenance building would help quite a bit.

Very good point Mike. I agree, just moving the customer and employee cars/trucks (and occasional equipment) that's often parked in front or just to the left of the maintenance building would be a huge help. I think the reality is space is at a premium there and for 95% of the customers those vehicles are a non-issue. Most of the trailers pulling in and out of there are dunking 21' or less boats (and a lot of ski's). Let's face it, there aren't a lot of 35+' boats going in and out of that ramp on a regular basis. We often use the ramp when the marina is the busiest, which compounds the problem.

Just a simple no parking sign just to the left of the maintenance building and having the business equipment in front of it pulled up a little tighter towards the maintenance building would likely solve most of the problems... even if it were just on the weekends.

But yes, I like the marina a lot and I'm glad Jamie allows us access.

:hijack: :blahblah: :silenced: :banned: :point: :signs043:

how much cheaper is it than between the bridges??????? I dont understand why you guys would keep your "OFFSHORE" boats 20 miles up a river.........

its 8 miles up river and there are several benefits aside from it being a great facility:

1. quiet launch ramp (no waiting in lines)
2. no river current makes it easy to launch
3. guarenteed fresh water, no need for flush
4. ideal location if headed up north for the day (middletown, gildersleeve island, cobalt, etc)
5. great owner and great people

need i say more? also i dont think cost is a factor.

what is the cost though?

not sure what the rates are this year. you would have to call.

+ No DEP/cops sitting right there waiting for your drunk azz! :drink:


The fresh water is why I launch there. I can see my town boat ramp (saltwater) from my house, but I choose to launch in Chester so I know everything is completely flushed after every useage... engines, drives, trailer, etc. Yes it cost me a lot in fuel to do it, but it's worth it to me knowing everything isn't corroding away...

Plus, you got alot alot of extra cash layin around! :boat:

I get the cost difference I hate paying $4k for a rack but I am not sure I would agree with some of the other points that have tossed around.

1. Cost of fuel and down the river against the current especially for Scot
2. Cops really they hang out under the bridge and in front of Essex.
3. parking over there is always crazy and cars always in the way.
4. The water is brackish up a lot further then that, a couple of you guys have aluminum heads... Are really not flushing your motors? Really?
5. Time. 8 miles and half is no wake zone so it is 30-40 minutes extra each way.
6. Dark as sh!t at night when there is no moonlight.
7. No pool or bar or restaurant.
8. Not sure but do they have a place you can wash, wax or clean the bottom of your boat.
9. Can you change your oil there?
I think I heard the price is around $800 or so which is reasonable and see that plus the fact I do hear they are great people that own it. The rack at BTB is not by any means the best thing around either. It is super expensive, you have to tip the guys all the time. If you get back to late your boat sits in the water all night. Someone else's boat can leak crap on yours. Limited dock space when it is busy, the current is nasty at times. Holy crap this sucks I am talking myself right out of owning a boat. Thats ok with the way Adam and Kev go through boats I will just have one of them sell it for me.

Do you guys grill out with the local yocals and hang out in their floating campers?

hahaha!

+1 but the back porch is still worth it! That and the service is good, when I want my boat on the trailer to take it someplace, they do a good job. It's not perfect but it's pretty good...

I'm trailering my boat anyway I look at it. I dont want to have to worry about it and I like having it at my house so I can work on it at my leisure. I also don't want to have to worry as much about theft issues that I see at most marinas. So anyway I look at it I'm ramp launching my boat, it's just a matter or where.

Frank, as you point out it does cost $ to run up and down the river... it probably cost me $75-$100 in fuel to do so and adds about 25 min. each way (plus 15 min over the road driving time) to launch in Chester, but to me it's worth it. I've distilled the water from the HH ramp and I could not find any trace of salt. Although the river water is still a little dirty so I do flush my engines with a hose when I get home since it's super easy for me to do so with the way my boat is set up. I can promise you there is nothing but 100% fresh water inside my engines after each use...

I don't care how well you flush/rinse with a hose after pulling directly out of salt water, something in your rig isn't 100% rinsed and I'd rather avoid the salt if I can. It's nasty corrosive stuff. The 8.5 mile ride up/down the river doesn't bother me much and more often than not I honestly like the fact that it does add a little to the trip because we almost always are having a good time doing it... whether it be running with other boat(s) or extending the 'party'.

If I had a larger boat like yours and the extra cash (which I don't have either), I'd consider leaving it at BtB... but until someone starts paying my bills and I can convince myself I don't need to worry about flushing my engines/boat religiously, that's just not going to happen.

Like you said, there's pros and cons to both. Personally I'd rather have the inconvenience of doing it the way I do I not have to worry about things as much.

Simple....

BTB:

PROS:
-NO worries about trailering( trailer maintainance, accidents,getting pulled over with boat on back,ect..)
- Just a phone call and the boat is at the dock waiting for you
-Stored inside all the time
-A problem with the boat, just call the marina to look at it. dont have to trailer the boat to anyone for repairs
-On site restaurant and bar
-Nice atmosphere

CONS:
-4K a season
-Salt water all the time(flushing while boat sits in salt water isnt as effective as flushing out of water)
-Current sucks
-Theft?( although I havent heard of any)

PICK YOUR POISON......The time it takes to get the boat ready, fuel, trailer to launch,ect...is a huge undertaking and would be a big factor in my descision to leave mine at BTB !!!!!


.................................................. ............If I had the money!

Ok we all know what btb gets but what are you guys paying at gayes haven??

$150 a year to launch there for CPBA members. If you leave the boat overnight on the weekend another $20.

Its Hays Haven Adam...and your kind isnt wanted there!:gfight:

That's what sea c:thankyouthankyou:ocks are for

Why do you have a problem with Hayes Haven? You have a telephone, call.

p.s. Kingston Jamaica is beautiful...

Yes it is Justin! Dont forget pics for us. Have fun and use protection. I think Adam is kidding.

Montego bay and Ocho rios today...little swimming with the dolphins earlier. Eating dinner now headed back to Kingston.

My only problems with HH are getting my trailer hung up on the ramp & banging a prop at the entrance to the creek. Both at low tide. They will move the cars & after 5:00 you can wash up at the gas dock

I've never had an issue with either, although at low tide the drive gaurd on my trailer does dig into the mud a little.

+1

One of the cross braces on my trailer is slightly narrower than the grooves in the ramp. I could not believe how bad I was screwed. I thought I was going to be there for the next 6 hours. Saturday afternoon at that.

Turned out to be pretty routine. Unhooked the truck, (the trailer was solidly locked to the ramp no danger of it going anywhere) and one of Jamie's buddies picked up the tongue with the forklift and pulled it out. Must happen pretty frequently because no one had to think about it.

There is a rock about even with the shoreline on the South side of the channel.