In Water or on the Hard

[mcdermitt]

If one had the option of leaving a boat in the water on the hard for a extended period (3-4 years) unattended what would you do. What will happen to bottom if out of water for a long period
Thanks mcdermitt

[StuM]

What hull material?

[valhalla360]

The best recommendation would be to sell the boat if you won't use it for that long. It will cost you either way for storage and the boat will degrade from lack of use and lack of maintenance.

If you insist on keeping it, I would go with on the hard but it's still critical to check on it periodically to make sure water isn't getting in and rotting the boat away or overloading the stands if the bilge fills up.

In the water, at best you will grow a small reef. Left sitting by itself for years, good chance she sinks when a hose/thru hull/rain fills the bilge and the pump fails.

[CHM]

On the hard is safer and less costly. If the boat is in a freeze thaw situation, winterize and shrink wrap. Either way, all canvas should be stored in a dry indoor area if possible and the engine should be prepped for long term storage. Consider unstepping mast and relaxing standing rigging for that time period. Running rigging should be stored with canvas. Last, consider indoor storage of battery bank with exception of one for running bilge pump. Decommissioning and recommissioning are expensive but necessary. Plan on a new bottom job before re launch.


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[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by mcdermitt

for an extended period (3-4 years) unattended

I'm sorry, your question is on the hard or in the water, but I'd opt for 'none of the above' and sell the boat.

You can't really leave a boat unattended for 3 - 4 years; regular checks are necessary no matter where you leave her. If that's not possible for whatever reasons, selling should definitely be considered (IMHO).

[JPA Cate]

If you built the boat yourself, I can really understand how you'd want to keep her, especially after so much effort.

A lot can happen in 3-4 years. If you can safely store it on a trailer on someone's property, it could possibly be done cheaply, but you will find lots of stuff to fix when you re-commission her. It just might be easier in the long run on you to sell her, let someone new enjoy the use of her, and buy a new boat when you return to being close to the water. In even a year, the accumulated growth on the bottom will be astounding: I can't even imagine 4 yrs.! A homemade plywood kit boat, I would not leave her in the water, if somebody else built her. You have to keep the water on the outside, or you lose all.

Ann