Leaving 16' fishing boat in water??

[MonkeyPorkchop]

We just bought a used lil' fiberglass 16' simple open fishing boat Tri-Hawk with a 25 hp Johnson just to play with, but instead of trailering it back and forth, we would like to leave it in the water. We have a slip and we will paint the bottom w/ antifouling... but now the question is: how can we keep the water out of the boat and the boat from sinking after a heavy thounderstorm?? do we buy a bilge pump (how many gph?) and install a hose to it and a floatswitch...with battery (what size? deepcycle?)... we are also thinking, in addition, to buy a mooring cover and a pole ... but will this do the trick?...what to do?

 

[Liberated]

Re: Leaving 16' fishing boat in water??

You can get a float switch and pump at Walmart, and a cheap battery also for less than 100 bucks. You may even get a solar charger for the battery, to keep it going.

 

[David Greer]

Re: Leaving 16' fishing boat in water??

don't count on the cover to keep it dry. anyway covers at a mooring are a pain.
Some bilge pumps come with a built in float but I suggest getting them separate. Since your motor isn't electric start you will need some way to charge it, especially when it get hot this summer. B/c solar panals that work are expensive (see other discussions) maybe you need two batteries; keep on on the charger at home and swap them when you go boating.
I hope you have battery-powered running lights.
If all you are running is the bilge, get trolling motor batteries.
They make D-cell pumps; I wired a float switch to one for my 13 Whaler. However there are 2 factors to consider before doing this: one is that a whaler won't sink if it fills with water so the bilge pump is not a necessity. Second it I keep the boat in the water at my house so I can check it regularly.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Leaving 16' fishing boat in water??

A properly fitted snap on cover will do wonders at keeping water out of the boat and reduce the wet/dry cycles. Whether you have a cover or not means you still need a bilge pump - an automatic type (float switch). That means you also need a deep cycle battery to power it and anything else you add that requires power. Lack of a cover means the boat sits uncovered 24x7. Almost constant direct sunlight on a boat interior will destroy the furniture in a short period of time.

 

[parks]

Re: Leaving 16' fishing boat in water??

Kind of late to state anything, but be sure your fiberglass boat doesn't have cracks or nicks in the hull. Sitting in water will weaken the fiberglass unless you have the hull specially treated with the appropriate paint -- usually black. Sitting water and sitting in water will ruin an unpreparted fiberglass hull or floor.

 

[HAV2FISH]

Re: Leaving 16' fishing boat in water??

Also another option, if you have electric at the dock slip mount an on board charger and keep it plugged in. Get one that charges and then maintains the battery. This way your bilge pump always has a power source. Then you could also use that battery for a trolling motor.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Leaving 16' fishing boat in water??

Get a GOOD snap down cover, preferably Sunbrella material. It will keep most or all of the water out, keep the boat clean, and protect the boat from sun damage. Set up your automatic bilge and your good to go.