Boat lift not available at dock - how long can (should?) I leave in water

[lakeeriemonster]

I was wondering if any Nautique owners are dealing with the same issue I am.
Our lake property does not come deeded with dock space so we are forced to join one of the boat clubs or rent a dock space at the local marina. Only one of the boat clubs allows boat lifts. Obviously, this would be my preferred option but it may be several years until one of these spaces becomes available.

In the meantime, how bad/dangerous is it to leave the boat in water for prolonged time periods?
I am considering trailering the boat every weekend (floating on Thurs/Fri and pulling on Sunday) but am worried that this will get old quick. No doubt we will be tempted to leave the boat in for longer timer periods.

I know this isn't an optimal idea, but I want to get a real world sense of just how bad an idea this is. Thanks!

[charlesml3]

Well there's really nothing dangerous about it. The downside of keeping a boat in the water (even fresh water) is the constant dampness. No matter what you do, the boat will never really get a chance to dry. Water will sit in the bilge. The cover will keep the sun off the interior, but it also traps that moisture inside. On hot days, the water will evaporate, but since it can't really get out it condenses back down on your vinyl.

Eventually all this moisture will cause problems. Mildew on the vinyl, mostly. In the bilge, that moisture will condense back down on the engine, electrical parts, etc. Sooner or later, moisture will get somewhere it shouldn't and you'll have a problem.

Then there's the cleaning you'll have to do. The bottom of the boat will get scummy and you're certainly going to want to clean that off.

Since you do have a trailer, you can minimize a lot of this by not leaving it in the water for the entire season. Take it home twice a month. When you get the boat home, let it dry. Open all the compartments and get that moisture out. Clean the bottom with a power washer.

I've owned one boat or another for nearly 35 years now and there are two types of maintenance you do on a boat:

- Preventive

- Disaster Recovery

Pick one.

[Quinner]

Strictly regarding the Gelcoat being soaked constantly, Gelcoat is porous so has the potential to blister if continuously exposed to water, that being said I have seen boats that float for years and have no issues and others that blister relatively quickly. Technically you should bottom paint a boat that will be constantly exposed to the water (ughhh, don't do that). May also want to double check, don't think blistering would be covered under the warranty.
Just as concerning as blistering I would take every precaution possible to prevent dock rash, bumps & scrapes, mooring whips are a great solution for that.

[Evening Shade]

I agree with what Charles and Quinner said. I trailer my boat to and from a dry boat storage unit every time we go out because I refuse to leave my boat in the water at a marina. Yes it is a lot of extra work, but I don't mind because I'm very anal about how I maintain by boat..and my truck for that matter. Not everyone is as meticulous as I am, but I would suggest that you trailer your boat to avoid all the issues that Charles and Quinner mentioned.

Even in the metal building with concrete floor where I store my boat, I get a few small spots of black mildew growing on the vinyl over the winter. Its not a big deal because it wipes away easily.

I also remove the hull drain plug and leave all of the storage hatches, seat bottoms, and engine cover open while the boat is in the storage unit. This helps to let the bilge and storage areas dry so less mildew and corrosion form. I have also used Damp Rid in the past to absorb moisture in the boat when I had my Malibu because it was carpeted everywhere.

[KTM525]

I have my boat in the water from May to mid Oct. But here we use a special underwater painting to protect the boat.

[btouchstone01]

We have kept a boat in water for extended periods of time and I agree with the comment regarding constant dampness. When your boat is covered, I suggest that you pull the seat covers off and run a set a "squirl cage" fan on the floor of your boat.... mildew hates moving air. I also purchased a marine grade dehumidifier that keeps the space below the cover at 30 percent relative humidity. The unit drains overboard so there are no issues with emptying a reservoir. The time spent setting up the fan and dehumidifier when you leave the boat is well worth the effort. We are in North Florida and do not have any mildew problems. (Not many people in this area can say the same)

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[cedarcreek216]

If it makes you feel any better, I trailer our boat every weekend and we have a dock with covered lift. I don't even like ours hanging in the elements for extended periods of time, much less in the water. The weekly maintenance is kind of therapeutic if you ask me. Sure, some Sunday evenings I don't feel like doing it, but once I get into and it's done, the satisfaction and security of maintaining such a pricey asset is worth it.


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[Rogue14]

My boat stays in the water from Late May/early June until mid Sept. The outside absolutely is slimy and ugly at the end of the season but is not that hard to clean off. I've never had any of the other issues. Of course I empty the bilge as much as possible before leaving including sucking up what the pump won't get with a super soaker water gun and then a towel that I wring out. My climate is pretty dry but I've never had a bit of issue with mildew or mold. When I'm at the lake for the weekend with the cover off, there is always a fair amount of condensation of the interior in the morning. There is never any when I first arrive and pull the cover off. I used to worry about gelcoat blisters but have never had an issue. My biggest worry used to be a sinking boat if water got in because of a leak or rain. I don't leave the bilge pump on because my pumps are the type that cycle constantly even with no water to pump and I was more concerned with a dead battery from that than from excess water intrusion. The truth is, there is usually less water in the bilge when I return than when I left due to evaporation. I do leave some hatches including the hatch to the drain plug open under the cover.

[Kenv]

I have a floating dock on a clear lake...no lift. Longest I've left it in the water is 2 weeks straight. That's about the max without it getting really slimy even in the clear water. Can imagine how green it would be in dirtier water. Also, I don't cover it so if it rains, the hot Texas sun dries it in a few hours after the rain. Clean up wasn't too bad.....I floated on a water diaper and elbowed most of the scum line off with an Absorber chamois.

[lakeeriemonster]

Thanks for all of the feedback. Nothing like real world experience. Sounds like I might as well plan to tack on a couple hours at the end of every weekend for trailering/cleaning.


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[DW SD]

I keep my boat in a barn i built with billboard tarp that looks like a Quansett hut. I live close to the ocean so it is pretty humid. I have a solar panel and charge controller to keep the batteries topped off.
I also rigged a 12V computer cooling fan with a timed relay so it runs for 4 days after I plug it back in. don't get mildew.

That solar setup was about $100 for everything. The panel is about 2'x3'.

You could rig a floating solar panel or one that sits on the dock and keep the air flowing under the cover. I might use damp rid in addition.

The solar panel will also keep the batteries charged and allow fur use of your bilge pumps.
Don't let the cover touch the upholstery if possible. On the rear Sundeck I sewed a waterproof blanked to isolate the cover from the vinyl. I also have grommets in the cover and use a bungee to lift the cover so any condensation runs down vs pooling.


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[Darter]

We've always trailered each weekend over the decades until we got a lift. It was just part of the routine for us. We'd get up to the cottage the night before the weekend and throw the boat in that night so it would be ready for the next morning.

On Sundays, it's no wake after 2:30, so no big deal to take it out then.

Think of it a a great way to keep your boat clean and reduce sun fade. Our 25 yo Chaparral had very little fade when we sold it.

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[enzo thecat]

I used to keep my first Nautique (200 SANTE) in he water all the time march-oct. Only problem was having to pay to get the hull detailed every other year. Also, always had to cover it even for a mild rain. Other than that, no issues.

[72Miles]

This is from a buddy's Wakesetter. Left it in the water over a weekend. The muskrats enjoyed themselves. Those are the cables to the power wedge actuators.

[nohlan_4]

I leave mine in all year. I just take it out every month and wax the hull seems to work fine and haven't had any issues. Its super convenient for me even though I live 300 feet from the lake!