Leaving the boat in the water-gelcoat?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I know we touched on this a few months ago in a different post, but I want to revisit this.

How long do you think you can leave a boat, open bow ski boat type, in the water without risking damage to the gelcoat or anything else? Some people say for months at a time, some say that after 2 weeks, the gelcoat starts to turn to mush.

Any idea where I can find a definitive answer? Anyone have any experience in this?

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

I've left my boat in the water for over 2 monthes and the gel coat is fine. I think it might be an issue in salt water but fresh water I don't think it's a problem.

TOM SCHIMIZZI · Newbie Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 31

My boat stays in the water from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and I have yet to see any gelcoat damage on any of the 4 boats we have had in the past 10 years. We usually pull it out once a summer and clean it up. Use lots of slimey grimey at the end of the season and buff and wax it before it goes into storage for the winter.

ellalenell · Posted: Mar 25, 2003 12:40 pm Post subject:

We had my buddies boat in all year long one year a few years back. Made a point of skiing at least once a month. New Years was cold. Never had any gel-coat problems.

Grace B. · Posted: Mar 25, 2003 3:39 pm Post subject:

We have left our boat in the water for 3-4 months every year for like the past 10-11 years. It doesn't have any gelcoat damage, I think its fine to leave your boat in fresh water for long periods of time. I'm not sure about salt water though.

Doug · Posted: Mar 25, 2003 5:05 pm Post subject:

Leaving your boat in the water is a gamble. If you were to ask any boat manufacturer, they would not promise that your boat will not get blisters. My condo did not allow lifts. I purchased a '92 Sunsetter and left in my slip all summer (except for periotic cleaning). My hull now looks like the measles from under the water line. I am guessing the newer boats have better composites for glass and gel coat. But it is a gamble!

Doug G

bluefish86 · Posted: Mar 25, 2003 7:20 pm Post subject:

My neighbors leave their boat in all season (may to october) and never have any problems, but they do use some kind of gooey stuff to coat their boat below the waterline. They say it protects the gel coat and makes it easier to clean.

sandm692478 · Newbie Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 18

so whats the slimy/gooey stuff everyones been talking about so i can throw some on my boat b 4 it hits the water this season.

Shawn Madison · Posted: Mar 25, 2003 8:54 pm Post subject:

Osmosis-!!!!!! 3 weeks in 1 week off to keep from getting is what I have always heard from the MFGs.

glsurf · Outlaw Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 117 City: Tampa, FL

Yeah, it depends on the manufacturer. All the other boats in the marina are fiberglass, but probably have that special paint on it. I won't leave my boat in the water any more than a day unless I'm out at the lakehouse and then just for a weekend.

av8tens · Newbie Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 10 City: CA

Try waxing the bottom of the boat, but leave the wax on (you won't see most of it below the waterline anyway). I had my boat moored for about a month last year, and the lake slime just wiped right off with the wax and the gel coat looked like new.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 26, 2003 12:28 pm Post subject:

leave my boat in about 3 wks at a time, no gelcoat problems here, we use Starbrite Hull cleaner on it and then it looks brand new.

Partyb · Posted: Mar 28, 2003 6:56 pm Post subject:

If you have a quality boat, you should not have gelcoat problems from leaving it in the water. I left my MC in the salt water for two summer seasons (early May to mid october). The bottom was painted. However, I do not think that inboard ski boats are really made for salt water, but that is a different story. I now have my boat in fresh water and recently took it out to powerwash bottom after 6 months. I use the boat alot, but there were no gelcoat problems. You will get crap that builds up along water line which can usually be powerwashed or scrubed off easily. For water stains use this stuff called ON/OFF, it is miraculous stuff and your hull will look brand new after using it. I will someday get a lift, but for now it is in the water all year. No problem. Lets remember, it's a BOAT.