Do you keep your boat on boat lift thru winter?

[jdlough]

I'm getting a boat lift installed at my pier at the mouth of the Nanticoke River, MD, where it dumps into the Chesapeake Bay. Very exposed. Nasty storms.

I'm considering a 2003 Starcraft Aurora deckboat, but it doesn't have a trailer. I'd probably never use the trailer, except to bring the boat to dry land for the winter batten-down.

Is it ok to just leave it on the boat lift all winter, winch-strapped down real good and covered?

I'm thinking it's probably ok, then I wouldn't have to keep an unused trailer in my yard, but I wanted to check with Iboats forum wisdom.

Here's a link to my other post with pics of my pier..
"Boat sank. OB 4 Sale. U (find and) Haul!!!"
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=275872


Jim

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do you keep your boat on boat lift thru winter?

winterise the boat, strap it down, it will be as good there as on the trailer.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Do you keep your boat on boat lift thru winter?

As long as you know it is kept above any possible flood stage, it should be fine.

 

[smclear]

Re: Do you keep your boat on boat lift thru winter?

I have seen this done quite frequently. But, only where there is no water movement. At our lake, on channels that see no water flow, people leave their docks and lifts in over the winter and some do leave their boats on the lift. However on properties that are lakefront, they are required to pull their docks and lifts due to potential damage to water/ice movement.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Do you keep your boat on boat lift thru winter?

So the water doesn't freeze in your region? How about the neighbors anyone doing the same thing. Could be a good indicator.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Do you keep your boat on boat lift thru winter?

Most of the boaters on Grand Lake in OK have lifts if they ave a dock slip. The water never freezes, so they are on the lifts year round. We have a 17 ft bass boat on a lift all year road to keep the hull from getting nasty, but the trailer is always available if we need to do any cleaning or mechanical repair.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Do you keep your boat on boat lift thru winter?

Personally I don't see any difference of leaving it on the lift or having it on a trailer, unless when on the trailer it is in a garage. As long as it is high enough out of the water.