Leaving it in the water

[thesignguy]

Hello fellow iboaters,

A few months ago I was in a thread and I seem to remember that it's not a good idea to leave my boat in the water over a long period of time. I have a 88 Medalist 1600 and replaced the floors and carpet last year (May 2011).

We moved to a lake front house with a personal type A dock (up to 2 boats) and plan on keeping the boat in the water from April until September. I know my bilge pump works and the boat does take take a little bit of water (1-2 gal.) after being in the water for a day. I have an idea on where the water is coming from and that will be addressed before this spring.

The boat is fiberglass and when replacing the floor last year everything looked good and dry. I was wondering why I should not leave the boat in the water that I believe I read in post (I think it was ez that posted).

Thanks!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Leaving it in the water

Marine growth. Every body of water is different. The best research you can do is talk to others on your lake to see what they've experienced. I think Deep Creek is fairly cool, yes? That may let you get away with longer in-water time. Warmer water would have it quite nasty in short order.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Leaving it in the water

Osmosis Blisters is the number one reason. This is in the Gel Coat only and doesn't go any further usually. Looks ugly as heck but won't make your boat sink. Number two is marine growth and it also looks ugly but can be cleaned off fairly easily. If you have a muscle problem at your Lake you definitely don't want them darn critters attaching to your boat for any length of time.

 

[thesignguy]

Re: Leaving it in the water

ez, yes we are at deep creek. The water temp in June, July & August gets around 70ish degrees, so I think it's a cooler lake, the lake freezes over 18" thick in the winter. I have seen boats up here that have a brown crud below the water line when left in for the season. I guess some sort of chemical will clean it off, worst case is I'll pull the boat out every month or so to clean the crud off. Is there something I can apply to the hull before it goes i the water?

ss, as far as I know there are no muscles in this lake so I don't think that will be a problem. What the heck are osmosis blisters????

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: Leaving it in the water

http://www.nauticalweb.com/info/maint/osmosi_e.htm

 

[thesignguy]

Re: Leaving it in the water

Holly cow!! I never knew or even heard of osmosis blisters, until now.

Are some boat manufactures or models better known for having osmosis blisters? I read 70% of the article and understand what they are and how to id them (if indeed our boat has them). From what I read it could vary from boat to boat of the same manufacture depending on lots of variables such as humidity, poor molds, to much catalyst etc.

JD, thank you for the info, and I'll newbies (like myself) have so much to learn....

Hey ez, do you come to deep creek often?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Leaving it in the water

Hey ez, do you come to deep creek often?

I've never been. I'd love to check it out though someday. I just discovered Lake Raystown last year and loved it and will be going back there as much as I can this year. I generally boat on a couple different sections of the Susquehanna river and a little bit on the upper Chesapeake.

 

[thesignguy]

Re: Leaving it in the water

I've been to Raystown 1 time about 8 years ago. As I remember it's a beautiful place for boating and vacationing, the lake is really deep as I remember. That was the first time I tried to water ski, what a mistake I thought my arms were going to fall off the next day lol.

I used to fish the Potomac river in MD years ago when you could not eat the fish from the river. Great fishing and boating but I would never eat anything from that dirty body of water.

If you ever get the chance come on up to deep creek if the trip is not to far for ya. Great fishing and boating, it gets a little crazy on the weekends in the summer but thats the best time to just chill on the dock.

My Dad lives and works in O.C. MD , he had a older boat (21' cutty cabin) and can not remember the make at this time. I remember he sank heart and soul into that boat until it made him broke and he let it go for next to nothing. He offered it to me but I had nowhere to put it and really I could not afford it.