He isn’t in WNY and thats why I said Mercruiser. I have no problem with the Penta for smaller boats but you can find Mercruiser parts anyplace in the country but you can’t say the same thing for the Penta.
I think slipping a boat is the way to go if you have a larger boat (24’+) with a useable cabin (head, small galley w/fridge, etc). That way you can just go hang out on it at the dock regardless of if you want to take it out. For smaller boats without a lot of space or amenities, towing could make more sense if you have an adequately large driveway/yard.