General care of boats

[hunley1864]

First off let me say I am a boat salesman at basspro shop,and I here alot of people talk about the condition of there boat good or bad. Being a personal owner of 4 boats in my lifetime, I have always taken very good care of my boats. I am sure most people on this site feel the same.Sometimes I look at different boat liquidators inventory on line. It makes me sad to see boats of many good brands say from 1970 to 2000 and the horrible condition they are in.So many of these once nice boats could have been in a lot better shape if the previous owners would have just stored them properly.I realize not everybody has a garage or barn to keep them out of the weather.But this is something every new boat owner needs to think about seriously. I here people all the time talking about there possible trade -in , oh my boat is weathered a little and thats normal, the floor is rotted ,the carpet is faded. And I mean some are real bad!! Its just ashame to me on the condition of some boats. I am the proud owner of a 1983 Ebbtide Dyna-Trak 162 the gelco on my boat shines as nice as the new Nitros on display. My come back to people is, you would never let your house go to **** or your car,these things are all expensive including BOATS! If you want a good trade in value or want your boat to give you many years of fun. Take care of them period.

 

[oops!]

Re: General care of boats

hi.....welcome to iboats.....

its nice to have more people in the boat industry on the forum. i look forward to more of your insightful posts.

in order to support you post.....i want to quote a former moderator and friend of iboats.......Tashasdaddy Robert (bob) Griffis.

the said......"there aint no such thing as a bad boat......only bad owners"

 

[5150abf]

Re: General care of boats

As expensive as boats are it is suprising how badly people treat them leaving them out in the rain and snow with no cover, not witerizing, never checking basic fluids, yet they expect them to start and run every year.

I personally pamper mine because I know new one isn't in the cards and I can't imagine not being able to go fishing.

On the other side of that I build boats so I suppose I am sort of glad people beat them because if everyone took care of thier boat we wouldn't sell as many as we do.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: General care of boats

That's an very wide group from 1970 - 2000............ chances are many multiple owner's on the older boats. Fairly tough to blame a current owner for the overall condition. You would have to be pretty desperate to try and trade in a 40 year old boat towards another boat.

Consider the value of car's of the same era........... same exact situation..... some are spotless and some are junk. That's part of the sales business.

Keep in mind even the best and safest caring owner can have a 1983 brand x boat just fall apart due to lower construction practices

 

[DonHof]

Re: General care of boats

I go over to the lake in the mornings with a cup of coffee. Just sit and watch the boats being put in. Most people take some care of their boats. Other people, the boat looks like it's never been clean sense they got it. It's sad some are high doller bass boats.

 

[hunley1864]

Re: General care of boats

Supreme Mariner Iam not trying to blame new owners of condition of used boats, just making a point if the boat was bought new from a customer and was taken care of I wouldnt see so many crappy boats from70s on. If people would realize its a special thing to own a boat and enjoy it. After all a boat is not a item we all have to own, to me its a hobby and enjoyment of the water.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: General care of boats

I feel the same way. My wife always points boats that are sitting out in the open exposed to the elements. We are both horrified by it every time. You can turn a brand new boat into a pile of junk in 5 years by just letting it sit out in the elements. It is crazy to me that someone would buy a boat and let it sit in the rain/sun all year.

 

[BonairII]

Re: General care of boats

A lot of people treat their boats like their cars/trucks....badly. Many people can barely be bothered to change their oil, let alone do any other routine maintenance. Many will at least wash their boats/cars to make 'em look good, but neglect the motor.

It amazes me how people can plunk down $10k-50k etc for a boat/car and have no clue(or desire to learn) how to do basic maintenance. They just expect to turn the key and go.

JMO

 

[saxrulez]

Re: General care of boats

Boats are expendible items. Park it with the bow up, plug out and some sort of cover on it and call it good enough.

Seriously, my goal is to enjoy a boat, not worry about it like its a child or something. Show me a 1980 boat in pristine condition and I'll show you an owner that has spent more to maintain and house it than he paid for it.

My goal is to enjoy my boat as well for as little money as possible which means taking care of it! That guy with the 1980 boat in pristine condition has a lot more money than the guy that has to buy a new boat every 10 years b/c his is falling apart from sitting in the sun!

There isn't anything wrong with just covering the boat with the plug out if that is the best you can do! I keep mine in a carport, hopefully in a garage at the next house.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: General care of boats

The guy with the 10 year old boat in mint condition doesn't need a new boat!

 

[gtochris]

Re: General care of boats

I'd much rather buy a 5-10 yo boat in mint condition then a 2 year old boat that has been abused/ beat.

I saw it all the time in the car industry, an "old car" that was worthy of clunker status was likely worth much more had a little care been invested in it. I also always laughed at how the replacement car was pampered for about a whole 2 weeks and then subsequently trashed....

My cars are all mint and look brand new, are washed by hand, waxed a few times a year by me, and things are fixed when they need repair, nothing is a real surprise. My boat, although used to us shines and has no damage and most people would think it's much newer then it is. I call it pride in ownership! It also goes much further in respecting your toys and they will be good to you.

At our marina, their is a BEAUTIFUL 22ft Regal in highlighter blue that is absolutely beat to hell, it's 05+ Id say and the sides are damaged beyond repair from crashing into the dock... It's only tied up with 2 pieces of string... Unfortunate for such a beautiful boat.

 

[hunley1864]

Re: General care of boats

Since I started this thread on general care, its good to here most of the posts on here take pride in carrying for there boats. My 1983 ebbtide dyna-trak thats 28 years old,shows how well some one can take care of a boat. I purchased this boat in 2006 from a retired middle -class man. He loved boating and just took pride in his boat and keep it in a garage.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: General care of boats

I wash mine down after a couple outings to get the scum off. Once every so often I bring a sponge wipe down the seats and floor. In the next several weeks, I will do a full detail inside and out including wax. I take my captain chairs out and cushions that are removable and keep em inside for the winter. I do the required maintenance per my manual. So far so good. Unfortunatley, I've gotten a little bit of dock rash so I take a black marker and hide some of it on my black decal. I just gelcoated up a scratch. The rub rail has some dents and chips in it but i can replace the insert. I keep my bow up, plug out and snap on cover on it all the time. In the winter its shrinwrapped nice and tight. Thats what I do to keep it up. But, I look at it like a car after so many years some wear is going to be evident. Thats why they call em used boats.

 

[jumpjets]

Re: General care of boats

THis thread has really made me wonder: Do I take proper care of my boat?

I'm a new boat owner with no prior experience, and I'm relying on my common-sense and previous automotive knowledge to get me through everything.

I park the boat in my driveway with the bow elevated, sterndrive full down, drain plug out, and a canvas cover over the open areas.
Before every outing I check all mechanical fluids, hook up earmuffs, and ops check the engine and trim.
After every outing I again run the engine with earmuffs to flush the salt water, then I rinse off the gelcoat with the hose. I towel off the inside and clean up any excess salt/dirt.
I have washed it three times this season, and it's gotten waxed once.

The engine gets the normal care that I give my cars. Oil/fluid changes, new spark plugs/wires, systems checks, etc... I recently replaced the outdrive due to a bad seal and loss of oil.

I wonder what other stuff I should be doing?

 

[johnny howe]

Re: General care of boats

I am an old car salesman, so...if I sold new boats, i would want everyone to treat there old boat like sh**, so i could sell them a newer one!!! I have an old 66 larson with the original 66 merc 950...it is fantastic shape. But maybe because i treat it like a 66 mustang! a collectable.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: General care of boats

I can't garage mine. It sits in the sun, wind, rain etc all summer and just gets covered in the winter. Sounds like some would call that neglected??

 

[robert graham]

Re: General care of boats

My 1999 OD Camouflage Green all aluminum jon boat still looks like new, gets better looking every year, no rot, no rust, can of Krylon OD Paint to touch up where my wife rams it into the docks, etc. Pretty is as pretty does!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: General care of boats

"...than the guy that has to buy a new boat every 10 years b/c his is falling apart from sitting in the sun!"

Or maybe the solution is not to buy boats that fall apart just from sitting in the sun? Get a real boat that's made for the outdoors.

granted, every boat needs a base line of maintenance. Engine fluids, fuel systems, etc. need work. Bottoms need work on moored boats. Trailered boats have to drain. And a boat that's beat up from banging pilings constantly is neglected--however, some boats don't show hard use like others do: for example, good rub rails can ride on a piling; a rub rail that gets dented is worthless, and speaks volumes about the quality of the "boat."

Is it neglect to leave a convertible car, top down, out in the weather year after year? yes. Is it neglect to leave a Landcruiser out in the weather year after year? no. So no one can categorically say that leaving a boat outside is neglect. My philosophy is to buy a boat that will last and won't require out-of-balance time and expense to do so.

 

[hunley1864]

Re: General care of boats

As I said in my first post, I realize not every one can keep there boat in a inclosed storage. But if you have to keep them out side in the elements of weather, there are proper ways of keeping your boat undamaged. Over time ALL boats show there age in some way or the other.