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Keeping a boat in a slip

T

texas_armadilllo

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"I am a new boat owner and am

"I am a new boat owner and am starting to look at slips. I've visited 4 different marinas and see some boats like mine in the water and some are on a lift. I'd prefer to go without a lift if I can. Some guys have said a lift isn't necessary if I wax it and I take the boat out and clean it every few months. The older guys said driving it fast will even help keep the buildup off. Other guys voiced concerns over the algae that may build up around the intake, saying its hard to get that cleaned out once its in....not to mention what leaving the boat in the water does to the boat exterior. This is a Tahoe Q6 with a 4.3 Merc inboard. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated."
 
"Welcome Charlie:

Sounds li

"Welcome Charlie:

Sounds like you have a real nice boat. Keeping the hull clean and waxed is always good for the finish. Using a slip is a personnel preference.
You'll want to consider the level of security, overall management and services of the facility and how often you will be using your boat. Some facilities offer dry secure storage of your boat. When you call ahead they will put it in the water and have it ready when you arrive and take it out when you are finished.

Everyone has an opinion as to how to keep the hull clean of dirt and algae. Nothing works better than elbow grease now and then. Whatever you choose, have the services they perform for the fee listed in your contract. Will they fuel it and charge the batteries for you, check on the boat for water entering the bilge and vandalism? Who is responsible for damage from hit and run accidents while moored? What insurance will you need in the event of a catastrohpe, i.e., tornado, fire at the slip, damage by the operator of the slip. Ask alot of questions and ask other boaters how they like the place. Good luck."
 
"Thanks Guy. I'm pretty go

"Thanks Guy. I'm pretty good about keepin it clean. Thats why I'm a lil worried about keepin it in the water full time.This marina we like the most is kinda out of the way, very little traffic. No dry storage or much else, but seems like a good spot. Most of the people there have been there for yrs and seem quite happy. Thanks again"
 
"Charlie:

When I take a lon

"Charlie:

When I take a long road trip in "BUG SWARM" season, I spray the front of my truck that gathers bug splats with PAM kitchen spray. The bugs come off with no effort when I wash it upon return. I would assume that using it on the hull may do the same especially if you boat in water that has a good outboard motor oil slick; never tried it."
 
"Lifts: two types I know of; e

"Lifts: two types I know of; electric hoist, where the dock or pilings have to bear the weight of the boat. I use an air lift - two aluminum air tanks beneath a steel frame similar to a trailer. A vacuum cleaner lifts my 20 foot Bayliner in a couple of minutes - no weight on the pier. I built mine but I think there is a company that makes them - maybe Arkansas Boatlift, or something like that. Have used mine since 1991. In the Tenn River, boats left in the water are attacked by some sort of bacteria that makes holes in the Gelcoat. After three months in the water my hull had numerous pinholes from these things. Never heard of it before. Maybe wax will repel them but I doubt it. Good luck. JW in Dixie"
 
call me crazy or poor or both

call me crazy or poor or both but I seen a guy make a lift out of PVC big sewer pipes and some kind of pump looked like a pool pump hed sink it drive the boat on and pump out the water seemed to work pretty good I guess it depends on size of the boat only thing Id have a hard time with is figuring out the valves for sinking and pumping it out or mabye an air pump you could pump air in and push the water out
 
"Hi Neil. Remember me? My boat

"Hi Neil. Remember me? My boat lift operates with just an old vacuum cleaner - rigged to blow. Instead of pumping the water out, the air forces it out of the tanks. I think you could use plastic ag spray tanks. I used 2" pvc piping and valves. After the boat is lifted I just shut off the valve to the vacuum cleaner and it sits there months at a time. No leaks. There is another valve to let the air out to sink the whole thing. Real simple. My Bayliner weighs over 3000 pounds and only takes 0.3 psi to lift it out of the water. Works great. Take care. JW in Dixie"
 
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