Hull Color and Fading

[Rogue14]

I don't disagree with what's been said--yes leaving a boat floating for months is rough on it and will cause issues. I'd rather not do it BUT, we have a cabin on a lake about an hour from my house with a private dock and lifts are not an option. My 2007 SV211 has sat in the water from May/June until Sept. every year. The hull is slimy and nasty when I take it out every year but it always cleans up fine. My hull is white but I've noticed no fading. I've never had a problem with dampness. Before I leave the boat, I have a super soaker that I use to get the water from the bilge that the bilge pump doesn't get and then I use a towel to soak up even a bit more so bilge is as dry as possible when I leave it. I then leave the little hatch above the plug open and every time I return the bilge is bone dry. My environment is dry but I'm pretty sure Fresno is also. Dampness/mold has never been even a remote issue for me. My biggest concern has been big storms that could pop up and not just drench it possibly overpowering the cover but the wind potentially destroying the cover or causing waves big enough to cause serious issues--boats have sunk at my lake from this. My boat has survived all this so far.

For me, the risk I take is worth the huge hassle factor of trailering it back and forth all the time. If I had to do that, I don't think I'd even own a boat.

[Infinity]

If you can get power to the slip....you can also leave a box fan running under the cover to circulate air. You can also pull the boat every month, or every other month to clean the hull, etc. Like he said, its not that you cant...its just harder on the boat and you may depreciate it a little faster, but it also may be worth it to you if it nets you more time on water and more enjoyment. Just so you know, most manufactures do not warranty the gel coat if you leave in water. Some water can "blister" the gelcoat, but think that is a more rare thing. Do what you gotta do to get time on the water

[CCool]

Ok glad to hear the additional feedback and ideas. I'm thinking that with the lake only being 15-20 minutes away, trailering isn't the end of the world. The other thing is that I've got a bigger lake 40 minutes away that I'll probably use regularly too...so I might just need to get used to regular trailering, especially if I want to switch between lakes.

Ultimately, I think that with what a G costs, I want to get the baddest color combo I can and I dang sure want to take awesome care of it. If that means I can't leave it in the water and I have to trailer it in and out then I can live with that...

Maybe I'll figure out a covered lift option and then I get the best of both worlds!!

Thanks again for all the feedback!


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[btouchstone01]

Just want to weigh in... we have a dark coloered boat that has been in the water for 10 years. The most expensive boat is the one that is never used. Anything you can do to create more convenience and thus more time on the water is worth the effort and deterioration. I live in Florida and sun fade can be a huge issue. It can also be completely avoided by buffing and waxing twice a year. You should also treat all of the vinyl with a uv protectant like the product from 303 and use a fabric gard spray for bimini top and boat cover. Also run a fan under the boat cover to prevent mold.
The only hard part to swallow... if the boat is going to stay in the water you MUST BOTTOM PAINT THE HULL. There is no other way to protect you investment and preserve the boat. (We have boats that sit in salt water for 30 years with bottom paint. That is not the case without.)
Remember, the goal is to USE the boat! Ironically, these maintenance issues addressed above are far less costly than the mechanical issues that arise from a boat that is under-used. The folks that I know with the least number of mechanical issues run a ski school where they put 1000 hours per year on Nautiques.
Good luck and have fun.

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[CCool]

Just want to weigh in... we have a dark coloered boat that has been in the water for 10 years. The most expensive boat is the one that is never used. Anything you can do to create more convenience and thus more time on the water is worth the effort and deterioration. I live in Florida and sun fade can be a huge issue. It can also be completely avoided by buffing and waxing twice a year. You should also treat all of the vinyl with a uv protectant like the product from 303 and use a fabric gard spray for bimini top and boat cover. Also run a fan under the boat cover to prevent mold.
The only hard part to swallow... if the boat is going to stay in the water you MUST BOTTOM PAINT THE HULL. There is no other way to protect you investment and preserve the boat. (We have boats that sit in salt water for 30 years with bottom paint. That is not the case without.)
Remember, the goal is to USE the boat! Ironically, these maintenance issues addressed above are far less costly than the mechanical issues that arise from a boat that is under-used. The folks that I know with the least number of mechanical issues run a ski school where they put 1000 hours per year on Nautiques.
Good luck and have fun.

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Thanks for weighing in. What exactly is bottom painting? (Sorry if that's a stupid question but I'm not familiar with their term/process)




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[ScooterMcgavin]

It's an ugly looking waterproofing paint that goes on the bottom of hulls to protect while sitting in water constantly.
Go ogle it and you'll see pics, it does work just not very aesthetically pleasing.

[Wake.BC]

I guess your water might be way worse than mine but I’d much rather spend some time cleaning here and there over getting bottom paint.
Not only does it look ugly it will kill your resale


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[CCool]

Ok killing resale makes it a non option. Besides, I can't bring myself to do anything that would make this beautiful machine look bad!


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[btouchstone01]

It is an antifouling paint that seals the boat and creates a sacrificial layer. Search for "marine antifouling paint" on the internet

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