How long can boat sit?

[SkiTundra]

Yesterday we got up to a balmy 48f (about 9c). Today I think we'll eak out a heat wave of 55f. Last week and weekend were warmer but we were out of town. Will likely be out of town next weekend as well. Thus far I've managed to put about 30 minutes on our boat this year. Are there issues with it sitting (in the water in a marina) for weeks at a time without running? Should I try to run it for some period of time every week or 2?

Thanks,

[Excel94]

If it's in the water for a period of time you run the risk of blisters forming on the hull. The gel coat is porous and after a few days water can get in between the gelcoat and the fiberglass behind it. In my owners manual CC recommends bottom paint (not necessarily antifouling) if the boat will be kept in the water.

Having said that I've left mine in the water for a week or so at a time and not had any problems with blisters.

[skijones]

Depends on what year. The newer boats(after about 95) don't seem to blister as easy as the older ones.

When I leave my 99 in for extended periods, I use a product on the bottom called Super Slick(Overtons), it is an antifouling wax and seems to work pretty well. Best part is, when you pull the boat and it has all the nasty green slime on it, just steam clean the bottom and it looks like new.

[TRBenj]

Depends on what year. The newer boats(after about 95) don't seem to blister as easy as the older ones.

Ha. Gelcoat is gelcoat- I dont think polyester resin has changed much in a long time! My '71 Skier sat in the water all summer long for 25 years and it doesnt have a blister on it.

[TravisFling]

Won't the packing gland still drip even without the boat running? Might want to fire her up every once in awhile and clear the bilge.

[hondaprlud]

[When I leave my 99 in for extended periods]

How long are you talking? We're planning our first "waterski" vacation this year. the boat will be in for 1 week. I trailer my boat to the lake so this is new territory for me. I'd hate to have to spend hours cleaning the gelcoat.

[Chexi]

Unless the bilge automatically runs.

[TravisFling]

Nautique auto bilges run off a timer, not a float. That's poopy in my opinion as if you leave it sit, then it drains the battery, which can lead to the boat filling up. Why?

[Chexi]

Agreed, that is stupid.

[WakeSlayer]

Floats can get stuck, too. You only have a couple options there. In a perfect setting, the boat doesn't sit in the water, so neither should be an issue.
If you are going to leave your boat in the water that long, and it leaks that badly, you have some pretty inexpensive solutions that would prevent the battery from going dead. Adjust or repack the shaft and rudder, and put in a float on your bilge. A small solar panel would keep your battery topped off too.

[gotpwr]

[When I leave my 99 in for extended periods]

How long are you talking? We're planning our first "waterski" vacation this year. the boat will be in for 1 week. I trailer my boat to the lake so this is new territory for me. I'd hate to have to spend hours cleaning the gelcoat.

I do a two week vacation every year where my boat is in the water the entire time. Never had an issue cleaning the boat when I pulled it out. Soap and water with a rag works just fine.

[DanielC]

I take care of a 1998 Ski Nautique that is moored from May to end of October, for the last several years.
No gelcoat blisters yet.
The boat gets hauled out, a few times during the season it is moored, to clean the hull bottom. I use a mix of Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, and Hydrogen peroxide. A good coat of wax will help you clean off the slime that builds up on the bottom.

Keep an eye on the propeller shaft packing. 3 to 6 drips per minute is OK, more than that, tighten it. I have not experienced any problems with the rudder packing.

I believe PCM considers more than two weeks long term storage and suggests that you fog the engine if it sits that long. Ford recommends that if you do not drive my van, (1996 Aerostar) that you run it every two weeks.

You should make sure your battery is fresh, and has full capacity. Batteries will lose life if you discharge them, and then bring them up to full charge. Go and buy a jump box to start the boat with a dead battery.

If your battery goes dead, and the bilge fills with water, it will cause other problems. If the rudder end of the steering cable goes under water in the bilge, it will shorten the cable life.

Your boat will stay wetter inside. You may have problems with mold growing in the carpet. It is harder on the electronics under the motor hatch.
Personally, if I moored my boat, I would run it at least every week, and maybe more.

[SkiTundra]

Thanks. That's the info I was looking for. We're keeping her in the water from May-Oct. Lift isn't an option in our Marina and I like to go out for a quickie a few times a week so trailering is a pain. I think I'll try to stick to the minimum of weekly running and hopefully not go more than 2 weeks between uses.

Sort of side note: Went by yesterday to check on her (52f air temp, misty rain). Bilge was running, cover was extremely full of water. I started bailing and after about the 3rd bucket one side of the cover slipped down and water poured forth into the boat. Tried to get as much water in the cover to outside as I could but no doing. Fortunately I was able to get cover stowed and engine started before batteries drained. Ran around the lake for about 30 minutes in just a long-sleeve t-shirt putting some reality to 'shiver me timbers'. Even though a bit chilly and misty out I still enjoyed it. Afterwards I discovered the joy of putting on a cover with an additional 500lbs of wetness :-)

[DanielC]

Go get some PVC pipe and make something to put a high ridge in the cover, so the water will run off and not puddle on the cover. When the water puddles, it stretches the fabric in the cover, and more water puddles, and the fabric stretches more, holds more water, ... Well, you get the point.
On the 1998 Ski I take care of, I am able to get away with a simple piece of pipe from the pylon, to the back just aft of the rear seat. You may need something more elaborate, depending on your cover.

[Laptom]

We have the boat in the water from April-October and never had any problems.. So I wouldn't be to worried, it is a Correct Craft. They can handle it.

After some good rain I'll normally check the cover, but that is about it. After so many years of keeping the boat in the Marina I've build up some confident, but the first time is always scary to keep your boat overnight in the water.