Leaving my boat in the water

[JohnnySCV]

Hello all and thanks for reading.

A quick question about leaving my boat docked for a few days. I normally trailer the boat so I have never had it in the water for more than eight hours at a time. I a heading up the the California Delta and will be leaving the boat docked when I'm not fishing. I'll be up there for 4 days, and I am curious to know if there is anything I should be doing prior to or while the boat is in the water for that amount of time.

The boat takes on zero to minimal water. I did install a automatic bilge pump just in case and the boat will be hooked up to eloectric. It's an outboard engine, should I tilt up the motor?

Any thoughts would be appreciated....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

get insurance on the boat and lock up your gear at night... take a spare key with you on the trip...... catch a few for us iced in northerners

 

[wildspeed]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

Have some bumpers and different length dock lines available.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

learn proper mooring technique using a spring line. you will be dock in a tidal area.

 

[Philster]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

Tilt up the motor. Cover the boat. Learn how to tie up to a dock, so that the boat cannot hit the dock and so it can move with tidal swings.... and (sometimes overlooked) so that one line isn't pulling the bow into the dock. People get the side bumpers set up right, but then come back and find the underside of the bow has been banging/scraping.

The hull will be fine. The motor tilts up. Check the bilge pump... batteries to run the pump and cover it.

Rain sinks boats. Most sinkings are in dock. Improperly moored boats sink all too frequently.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

Keep the bilge pump on auto when you are not with the boat.

 

[arks]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

I am curious to know if there is anything I should be doing prior to or while the boat is in the water...

- if the hull doen't have antifouling, give it a good waxing.
- make sure the bilge pump works automatically.
- cover the boat when not using it- especially if rain is in the forecast.

IMO the most important thing to do is AFTER you take her out out of the water. You need to thoroughly flush the motor ASAP to remove saltwater from the internals. Wash the entire boat with soap and water, and let it dry in the sun before closing her up.

It's an outboard engine, should I tilt up the motor?

If you can get the entire LU above the water, then yes. Otherwise I don't see the need.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

All great advice above especially the proper docking and clean up / engine flushing when you pull her out. A couple of days in the water, will be fine. More than that you might start getting a waterline mark/ growth. Good luck.

Edit: Use salt away for flushing.

 

[renagade69]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

Dont forget to bring water hose with you if ya get the boat muddy it will be handy.

 

[JohnnySCV]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

WOW! Thanks guys! At first I thought posting this might be a waste of time, thinking I had it all handled, but that was obviously not the case. Thank you, as you've given me some great advice.

One question, what is the best way to tie up to keep the boat from getting banged up taking into into account that I will be dealing with some sort of tide?

 

[eastont]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

I always thought the motor should not be tilted up when docked unattended, because it is much more liable to be hit by another boater.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

I always thought the motor should not be tilted up when docked unattended, because it is much more liable to be hit by another boater.

No, you want to get the lower unit and prop out of the water if it's possible. If somebody's gonna hit yer boat, they're gonna hit it regardless.

 

[timmyjoebob]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

WOW! Thanks guys! At first I thought posting this might be a waste of time, thinking I had it all handled, but that was obviously not the case. Thank you, as you've given me some great advice.

One question, what is the best way to tie up to keep the boat from getting banged up taking into into account that I will be dealing with some sort of tide?

Properly placed boat fenders (available here in the iBoats store) and proper length dock lines that will take into account the tidal change. Don't be afraid to ask someone local in the know (marina employee, boat owner, etc.) when you get there.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

To properly moor the boat: ask the other people at the dock (or if you are at a rpivate dock, in the area). All mooring systems are different due to variables in pier design, wind, wake, waves and tide but one thing is constant: getting even the smallest edge of the boat caught under the pier can be fatal to your boat--and often getting a small part caught on top of the pier can be as bad.

But no one from out here in cyberspace can tell you what to do where you're going.

Leave your motor up so it won't hit bottom at low tide. But leave it down so your lower unit won't freeze if that's an issue.

Don't fret about the salt water. It's not battery acid. Your boat can handle it. Flush your motor and hose everything off if you can but don't get all wiggy over it. 4 days won't matter.

 

[basstracker219]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

taks valuables out, have insurance and lock it and keep the key with you.

 

[rbh]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

as was said about leaving it when there a chance of rain, cover it well and make sure your batteries are up to the task of running your billage pump for the time you are going to be away from your boat.

 

[JohnnySCV]

Re: Leaving my boat in the water

As usual you guys have answered my questions! Thank you very much and happy boating to all!