Here's the pier, now what do I do?

[jinx]

I have been trailering my boat, but now have a place to put it. It is an Arima 17' and is not self-bailing. I am about 2.5 hours away so I'm not anxious to have a summer thunderstorm fill it up! I also don't want to have marine growth on it or to paint the hull.<br /><br />The link below is a picture of the site.<br /><br />I'll throw out some questions for you to chew on.<br /><br />1) has anyone ever used one of the floating boatlifts? This is an older pier and the pilings are probably nearing the end of their useful lives<br /><br />2) anyone ever use one of the fuel caddies to refuel with?<br /><br />3) there is a wooden boat ramp along side of this pier, though it is hidden by higher than usual water in this picture. Maybe I should just winch it out of the water when I'm gone.<br /><br />4) Is about a week as long as I should go without pulling it out of the water, before the crud and growth starts building up on the hull?<br /><br />Sorry about the rather basic questions here, but leaving my baby away from home is new to me.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Jinx<br /> http://66.136.189.194/iboats/jinx/IMG_4141.JPG

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Here's the pier, now what do I do?

Jinx – I know how painful leaving a loved one can be. <br /><br />

I also don't want to have marine growth on it or to paint the hull.

I think you’ve answered your own question.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Here's the pier, now what do I do?

Linx, if you don't want to invest the money to have a boat house and electric lift put in, could it be pulled out of the water and put on a simple platform using a simple winch? Or is it too heavy with motor?

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Here's the pier, now what do I do?

Just as an FYI, your link goes nowhere. Might wanna check it.

 

[salty87]

Re: Here's the pier, now what do I do?

pic worked for me but its hard to tell without knowing more about your boat....17' aluminum? <br /><br />18rabbit said it, if you don't want to paint and don't want the growth....don't leave it in the water.

 

[CharlesW]

Re: Here's the pier, now what do I do?

1. There are lots of them at our lake and everyone I know seems to be happy with them. Not cheap, though. I have an aluminum lift with a vinyl canopy that works good for me. The boat lifts up till it is only about a foot or so from the top of the canopy so it doesn't get water in it at all. I do use a canvas cover as well if I am gone for a week or so to keep the spiders and wasps out of the boat.<br />2. Haven't used the caddy for the simple reason of not knowing how to lift it in and out of a vehile when it is full of fuel. I do have several plastic fuel containers and one of those "shake to start" siphon hoses. The fuel filler on the Chris Craft is such that I can pour right from the can into the tank. The pontoon works better with the siphon device. Varies with your circumstances, I'm sure.<br />3. A friend of mine used to keep his boat on the trailer and covered whenever he wasn't going to be using it. Just launched and retrieved it each weekend. He stored it outdoors at a nearby residence when he was not there.<br />4. When I used to leave mine in the water with no lift, only covered, I cleaned the bottom weekly by actually getting under the boat. In addition to that, I pulled it out a couple of times during the year to really clean it. If you can swing it financially, the lift is the way to go!!!!<br /><br />Charles

 

[richg99]

Re: Here's the pier, now what do I do?

I used a floating boat lift for a year or two. It kept the bottom clean and the boat secure. The floating dock to which it was attached was covered, which helped. <br /><br />You still have to cover the boat every time; leave the drain plugs open ( of course)..etc. The covering can be a pain if you can't reach all sides of the boat. My area was infested with spiders, and the cover looked bad, but the boat stayed clean. <br /><br />There is a zillion of the floating boat lifts here in Texas. I think I bought it used for about $1,000.00 and sold it a few years later for about the same$$. They vary as to lift capacity, of course. My boat, at the time, was a 20 ft GulfCoast ( BW copy) with a 150 hp o/b. RichG

 

[sloopy]

Re: Here's the pier, now what do I do?

In one week you will get some growth on you hull, mostly around the waterline. It will be easy to clean with orange clean. If you leave it in for a couple months you will have some growth problems.