Question, how many of you keep your boat IN the water??

Jmass03 · Outlaw Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 239 City: OrLaNdO

I was just wondering, because I've heard mixed opinions. I have a 2000 Mastercraft Xstar I just bought, and I've been keeping it in the water(freshwater) , because we haven't gotten around to getting a lift at the time but I take it out on the lake almost every two days. If Im leaving for more then a few days, like 4 or 5 I take it out and store it on a trailer in my garage. Is this harmful to the boat in any way? What do you recommend.

Partyb · Posted: Jun 08, 2003 7:14 am Post subject:

IMO, it is not harmful to your boat. Your bottom will probably get algae on it, etc. and water lines, but they are easily scrubed/washed off and cleaned up. I have always kept mine in the water. Better to have a lift to keep your boat looking good and for resale, and so it doesn't sink. But no harm will come to your boat. Some people get carried away with their boats, like they were made out of fragile china or something. It's a boat, it goes in the water.

Bluesman · Posted: Jun 08, 2003 8:52 am Post subject:

We've taken our boats on many houseboat trips. On those runs, our ski boat was in the water for a full week. After a week the bottom was only slightly more dirty than it would be on a one-day run.

The only concern I've ever found when leaving the boat in the water was if the packing nut on the direct drive would work its way out of adjustment. The symptom is obvious, the bilge fills up if you don't have an automatic pump. If you have an automatic pump, the bilge runs 10 times more often than normally.

anti-shoobies · Posted: Jun 08, 2003 9:34 am Post subject:

Once you take it out, clean the hull to get rid of all the junk Partyb described.

Jmass03 · Outlaw Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 239 City: OrLaNdO

If the bilge pump runs so often, is that a bad thing? I've seen it pump water out automatically, but for it to run so often, could that possibly be negative in any way??

docdrs · Posted: Jun 08, 2003 2:30 pm Post subject: bilge pump

Yes , the builge pump coming on all the time is a bad thing if you leave the boat in the water and the packing nut is leaking too much. YOUR BATTERY can run down then the pump will not work and your boat will sink!!!!! should be 1 drop every 20 - 30 secs

C-Stone · Posted: Jun 08, 2003 5:20 pm Post subject:

If you store it in the water too long you may incounter blisters, not particularly this boat but all...if this does accure note that the repair is very high, and even though everyones warranties say that gelcoat is covered, this is not for most warranties, and try selling the boat with blisters(very hard)..

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

I was wondering when someone would mention osmotic blistering. Yes, it's true. Long term immersion causes water to seep into the pores of the gelcoat and cause blistering. This requires replacement of the gelcoat to fix. Not pretty. Or cheap.

graphik · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 727 City: miller lake

Mine is in the water right now. I had to tie it to the dock in a huge storm and as I walked away all I could think about was I hope it's there when I come back.... no auto bilge, and the tarp has already started to fill with water, but there was no way I was gettin in the lake with the lighning going crazy. I must have gone back three times to check my knots.

Partyb · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 5:37 am Post subject:

The blistering thing really should not happen with a quality boat. On LI, NY everyone keeps their boats (not towboats, but other boats) in the water during the season, in salt water no less, and I have not seen this blistering problem. I would assume it is rare. If a storm arose, I used to check my boat constantly too. Eventually, you will gain the confidence and experience that your cover is keeping the water out, your pump is working, and your lines are fine. Then you will probably only check it once.

needmoreair · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 6:19 am Post subject:

Mine stays in the water from mid april to mid september - get's lots of Algae - but that get cleaned up in the fall. No problems with keeping it in all season.

Shawn Madison · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 7:48 am Post subject:

I have seen tons of osmotic blisters. No MFGr recommends leaving a boat in the water for long term(2+weeks) without a dryout period! Ofcourse I keep mine out of the water! I may be wrong, but that is what the Gelcoat guys tell me at the factories!

Partyb · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 11:34 am Post subject:

You know, my boat, and all boats in NY, have painted bottoms. That might be part of the reason there are no blisters. But I have never heard of them on the sides above the waterline either. Obviously, that part of boat does not sit in water, but certainly gets plenty wet.

Also, I think that is a pretty general statment that no boat mfg. recommends keeping a boat in the water for over two weeks. It sounds pretty incredulous that a boat mfg. would not recommend their boats be kept in the water. Is that only towboats you are referring too. I doubt Hatteras or Bertram, or Mako make that recommendation.

Again, maybe they do not recommend keeping boat in water, unless bottom painted.

Grace B. · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 2:14 pm Post subject:

We have a cabin on a lake so our boat stays in the water from like the end of May till the beginning of September. We did that with our American Skier for 15 years and it didn't do anything to it, the gelcoat and everything was fine on it. It still runs good too. Our new Nautique has been in the water for 3 weeks now and everything's fine with it too.

riverside · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 2:39 pm Post subject:

my boat is in the water from march till oktober 4 years in a row now.
the boat was leaking thru a hole in the hull...bilge pump worked every 2 hours or so.i recently repaired it.
i have also a supra saltare i kept that one in the water during the winter.it still needs some bottom paint.
if your battery,s are fine you don,t have to worry.sometimes i don,t put the cover up..just let sit in the rain..the boat is wet anyway.i just put a towel around the cockpit it saves time the next day.
i must say i use my boats on a daily basis wakeboard school..so they are not left alone for more than 12 hours or in some cases a few days.
there is nothing wrong with leaving a boat in the water,just a little more risk if it is a float it can sink,but even on the trailer you could be involved in a car accident
you can,t keep the boat like brandnew for ever....use it and enjoy.

russ · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2

if you live on a lake than you should not have a problem unless you have high winds or rough water

russ · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2

if you live on a lake than you should not have a problem unless you have high winds or rough water

bluefish86 · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 5:36 pm Post subject:

It'll be fine left in the water if you paint the bottom with some anti-fouling paint.

Shawn Madison · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 8:11 pm Post subject:

Partyb, Well, I am speaking basically for the towboats. I am only fluent with the MasterCraft, Malibu, & Skier's Choice companies that I frequent. These boats are just not made to be left in the water for extended periods without a dryout. Not saying that it will hurt them, just most do not recommend that! Give your boat MFG a call and see what they recommend!