Re: This is just SAD
It's not unusual for people in Norfolk (and vicinity) to leave their boats uncovered year round.
Think of this by analogy: it's not careless to leave your pool furniture out by the pool; it would be careless to leave your living room sofa out by the pool. Some places, you leave your pool furniture out all year; some places you store or cover it in the off season. So whether one is careless by not covering the boat, depends on the boat and the climate.
There are a lot of people with boats here; some have no idea what they are doing and many have generations of experience. The climate is moderate; we are boating from April to October and fishing through December (some year round). We have high humidity, though; hurricanes and northeasters; incontinent seagulls and salt water.
One of the most popular boats is the fiberglass center console with a self-bailing deck; one reason it's so popular is that it doesn't need to be covered (likewise the aluminum jonboat). Some people cover theirs all the time; some just in the off season. Few people cover whole boats in the water.
I cover my console on my newer boat; the rest of the boat does fine, in the water all year (hence I was shovelling snow out). I no longer cover my 20 year old all fiberglass skiff, which I used to do in the winter, since my cover ripped last winter; it's too old to matter. Once I restore my old Whaler I'll cover it again unless it's in the water.
People with larger boats enclose the cabin area. Some people who don't cover their boats at the piers but would if they are on the trailer under the trees.
As to those with BaylinerBowrider types, many cover them all the time; some just in the off season. The ones who never do, you can tell, and their boats don't hold up--as expected. I would agree with you that they are careless, with that type of boat (unless the guy bought it in bad condition for a work boat--they can be too far gone at the hands of the previous owner).
Some people cover their fiberglass fishing boats year round, and they look very good. In many circumstances you can leave more stuff in a covered boat with it less likely to be swiped. Just a time/cost/benefit analysis--but not to a degree of carelessness.
I see plenty of sadly neglected boats and don't understand it. There's an abandoned (we think) 27' sailboat anchored out that's been neglected for about 3 years. It sank in a northeaster in shallow water but someone came along and pumped it out--don't know if it was the owner, volunteer or marine patrol. Now it's floating again, windows and hatches gone, fillnig back up with rain water.
look on our Craigslist and you will get an idea. there's a 2-for-1 on old 25' sailboats now. And for every freebie, $200 jon boat or $800 Bayliner, there are a hundred more out there in the weeds. There are lots of old cabin cruisers in the 24-32' range practically free for the taking. Most are junk; some didn't need to be. But the old all fiberglass "pool furniture" boats keep on truckin'.
