keeping boat in water

Kickin Bass · 01-12-06, 06:12 PM

This year, I am thinking about keeping my boat in the water at a friends dock. Since I am used to pulling the boat out each time I never had to worry about what to do with the motor. I'm not sure if I should leave the motor in the water or tilt it out of the water after each use. ? (This is brackish water)

I'm also wondering how long I can keep the boat in the water before algae starts to grow on the fiberglass and motor ?

Thanks for your input.

zooker · 01-12-06, 07:35 PM

about 9 months you can tilt the moter up but this forces the water inside the lower to run down into the nose cone resulting in a cracked lower unit. best thing to do if you must leave it is use a hoist or boat lift and remove the entire boat from the water. the skeg in the water is ok but no more than that. imo just yank it out of the water..

zooker

lizardsrule · 01-13-06, 01:15 AM

Definately agree with Zooker. Unless you have a lift, take it out. I hate how quickly the scum, and muck will get onto your boat. If you leave it in, then I would leave the motor down.

Lizards

bassnman30 · 01-13-06, 11:50 AM

Have seen alot of boats that were left in the water. Yes the scum does build up after a short time. As was said before remove the boat from the water. You'll save alot of time and effort .

bass kicker · 01-14-06, 01:31 AM

remove the boat in canada it only take 1 -2 months for stuff to start growing on it im not sure how long it takes there but it is a pain removing it

1FASTLASER · 01-16-06, 08:08 AM

All very good points and VERY GOOD advise. The damage that can result from leaving a boat in the water for long extended periods should make you want to get her out. All sorts of things happen to boats that are left in the water. The few minutes it takes for you to remove the boat will save you alot of money down the road.

Kickin Bass · 01-16-06, 04:16 PM

Well, I was thinking of leaving it tied to the dock for a few days at a time. I do haul the boat around to various fishing spots up and down the Chesapeake. I'm hoping that leaving it docked for a week, (maybe two maximum), at a time won't have to much affect on the hull ?

But if it's the advice of the group not to do it ... then I will heed sound advice.

lizardsrule · 01-17-06, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1FASTLASER

The damage that can result from leaving a boat in the water for long extended periods should make you want to get her out. All sorts of things happen to boats that are left in the water.

Just thought about something that I saw at the Coal pit. We got a huge amount of rain in a short period. Many of the folks left their boats in the water all spring and summer, and would take them out in the Fall. One guy had his boat tied to a dock, which was stationary, not floating. The water level raised so far up, his boat was just about completely under water because he had it tied to the dock, and as the water rose, his boat didn't. He had to do all kinds of work to get it running again, and I know it cost a lot of money to boot. If you do tie your boat to a dock, beware if it isn't a floating dock, and the rain is coming in good.

Lizards

1FASTLASER · 01-18-06, 06:34 AM

That short a period will result in little to no damage as long as when you do remove it that you be sure and flush and clean. Remember you posted "brackish water" Brackish water does still have salt in it though being at lower levels it still attacks the sacrificial anodes on the motor as well as sets up corrosion. When leaving your boat for a short time in this water be SURE!!!! and disconnect your batteries. The electrolosis that occours over a short period is VERY detrimentall to a outboard wiring haeness. In fact ANYONE that leaves a boat connected to batteries that is stored for a extended period is VERY wise to disconnect the batteries on main motor and trolling motors no matter what type of water or where you are at. A battery left connected to the harness may not show the damage today but electolosis starts and keeps working to eat the wires up. I have seen boats 2 and 3 years old that where stored over the winter without disconnecting the battery and after the third year the harness on the main motor and the boats wiring was in BAD shape. All comes down to the old saying "A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

Kickin Bass · 01-19-06, 06:15 AM

Ok ... thanks for the advice ... I didn't know about the batteries, I appreciate the input.

01-12-06, 06:12 PM	#1
Kickin Bass BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 57	keeping boat in water This year, I am thinking about keeping my boat in the water at a friends dock. Since I am used to pulling the boat out each time I never had to worry about what to do with the motor. I'm not sure if I should leave the motor in the water or tilt it out of the water after each use. ? (This is brackish water) I'm also wondering how long I can keep the boat in the water before algae starts to grow on the fiberglass and motor ? Thanks for your input. __________________ Tom BASS Member NRA Life Member

01-12-06, 07:35 PM	#2
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	about 9 months you can tilt the moter up but this forces the water inside the lower to run down into the nose cone resulting in a cracked lower unit. best thing to do if you must leave it is use a hoist or boat lift and remove the entire boat from the water. the skeg in the water is ok but no more than that. imo just yank it out of the water.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

01-13-06, 01:15 AM	#3
lizardsrule BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL Posts: 7,374	Definately agree with Zooker. Unless you have a lift, take it out. I hate how quickly the scum, and muck will get onto your boat. If you leave it in, then I would leave the motor down. Lizards __________________ There are three types of Snakes I hate 1. Live Snakes 2. Dead Snakes 3. Sticks that look like Snakes. And Gators too!

01-13-06, 11:50 AM	#4
bassnman30 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lexington,NC-Worlds best BBQ. Posts: 1,945	Have seen alot of boats that were left in the water. Yes the scum does build up after a short time. As was said before remove the boat from the water. You'll save alot of time and effort . __________________ Lexington,NC.

01-14-06, 01:31 AM	#5
bass kicker BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beamsville,ONTARIO,CANADA Posts: 2,023	remove the boat in canada it only take 1 -2 months for stuff to start growing on it im not sure how long it takes there but it is a pain removing it __________________ Rob Downs St. Catharines BASSMASTERS

01-16-06, 08:08 AM	#6
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	All very good points and VERY GOOD advise. The damage that can result from leaving a boat in the water for long extended periods should make you want to get her out. All sorts of things happen to boats that are left in the water. The few minutes it takes for you to remove the boat will save you alot of money down the road. __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

01-16-06, 04:16 PM	#7
Kickin Bass BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 57	Well, I was thinking of leaving it tied to the dock for a few days at a time. I do haul the boat around to various fishing spots up and down the Chesapeake. I'm hoping that leaving it docked for a week, (maybe two maximum), at a time won't have to much affect on the hull ? But if it's the advice of the group not to do it ... then I will heed sound advice. __________________ Tom BASS Member NRA Life Member

01-18-06, 06:34 AM	#9
1FASTLASER BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: crossett,arkansas Posts: 2,777	That short a period will result in little to no damage as long as when you do remove it that you be sure and flush and clean. Remember you posted "brackish water" Brackish water does still have salt in it though being at lower levels it still attacks the sacrificial anodes on the motor as well as sets up corrosion. When leaving your boat for a short time in this water be SURE!!!! and disconnect your batteries. The electrolosis that occours over a short period is VERY detrimentall to a outboard wiring haeness. In fact ANYONE that leaves a boat connected to batteries that is stored for a extended period is VERY wise to disconnect the batteries on main motor and trolling motors no matter what type of water or where you are at. A battery left connected to the harness may not show the damage today but electolosis starts and keeps working to eat the wires up. I have seen boats 2 and 3 years old that where stored over the winter without disconnecting the battery and after the third year the harness on the main motor and the boats wiring was in BAD shape. All comes down to the old saying "A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" __________________ Laser's rule with Merc's doing the pushing..........KEEP THE WETSIDE DOWN AND THE DRY SIDE UP!!!!!!

01-19-06, 06:15 AM	#10
Kickin Bass BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 57	Ok ... thanks for the advice ... I didn't know about the batteries, I appreciate the input. __________________ Tom BASS Member NRA Life Member

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