www.iFourWinns.com

Question for those in the know...I will be keeping my boat in the water through the entire summer for the first time. I have never done this, but I was lucky and found a slip to keep my boat in for the summer. It is a protected slip on a large fresh water lake.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions on what type of boat wax to use on the hull before putting her in the water, or any other advice for me to consider?? As mentioned, I have only trailered by boat, so my hull looks as new as the day I bought it 2 years ago...but I expect it will not at the end of this summer. I plan to pull her out of the water every few weeks through the summer though, to wash and scrub the hull.

Any advice would be appreciated...

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2006, 220 Horizon
Kent, WA.
"Semper Fidelis"

Nice Law!!! Where did you find moorage? We will have our 240 just south of Seward Park about 2 miles north of the Renton airport.

I am planning on pulling my boat once a month to keep the hull cleaned up... bigges thing is to keep the zincs in good shape and just stay on top of it!

Heck - we should have a hull cleaning party!

As far as I know, you actually are NOT supposed to wax the very bottom of your hull... Just the freeboard sides and transom if you want. Something about wax actually making it easier for little mold organisms to grab onto.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

The advice I'd offer would be to get a spare set of lines, ones you can leave permanently attached to your slip pilings. This will make it a lot easier for you and guests when you leave and return. You can adjust the lines such that you always tie them (or use the loop end) at the same place every time. This way you only have to toss the lines back on to the pilings when you leave, and grab 'em with a boat hook on your return. Not coil and uncoil them every time. This is a lot easier when you've got non-boater guests onboard too.

Fresh water is usually a lot less hassle than salt as far as bottom cleaning is concerned. In salt we just make sure you're taking the boat out often enough to have the power of the boat slough off some of the crud. This even with having bottom paint. Check with your fellow slip-mates as to what they're doing.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I went to a local boat show this morning and asked around about mooring boats. I was told by the GM of the local Four Winns dealer at the show that I should disconnect the battery...or install a battery shut off switch.

Something about active electrical current and water speeding corrosion or what not....that sound familiar to anyone out there?? He also said to wax the hull with a good quality product and to pull the boat out every few weeks to clean her off during the summer.

Cougar...If I run into you on the lake, I'll be hit'n you up with questions too

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2006, 220 Horizon
Kent, WA.
"Semper Fidelis"

Law -- you do NOT need to disconnect your battery or install a switch if you don't need to. Sounds like one of those wacky rumors.

In some 1 in 100,000 case - there might be some documented corrosion from leaving a battery on. ha ha.

I have lived on Lake Washington a few years back - and I had my 20' Chaparral on the lake all summer long - never pulled it out once. I had an SX drive, standard anodes... and at the end of the summer, the only thing corroded on the boat was the crap on the hull - which I had the hull pressure washed and cleaned by Seattle watersports.

Just my .02.

Put the boat in the lake... enjoy it... pull it every few weeks or month or so and give it a good scrub down. You will be fine.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Hahaha....Ok Cougar....I'll do that. I guess I'm just over thinking again. I'm looking forward to another boating season and can't wait till this crudy weather we've been having goes away...

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2006, 220 Horizon
Kent, WA.
"Semper Fidelis"

Waxing the area below the waterline will just be a waste of your time. Wax won't last at all when constantly submerged. If it's an option to get a lift, that's the best thing you could do for your boat.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Corrosion due to improper wiring isn't always just about YOUR boat. You're also at the mercy of other boats nearby, if they're on shore power. This issue has been rehashed many times over. What's important is to make sure your boat is properly wired and that your anodes (all of them) are present and working properly. Otherwise you run the risk of corroding some much more expensive items.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

You will regret leaving you boat in the water. All it takes is one blister.

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Txjole2 -- I have to respectfully disagree. There will be no regret from moorage over trailering in the Seattle area. However, you are correct that blisters (over time) can cause significant damage if gone un-noticed.

However... take care of your boat and enjoy it - that's why you bought it. I sure didn't buy my boat that in 5-10 years it's in brand new condition.

Benefits of mooring your boat (in the Seattle area at least).

1) Jump in and go -- no trailer mess with Coulon park there in Renton - besides - where do you park it now with the overflow parking having been replaced by a Lowes?
2) You will use your boat at LEAST twice as much. (Isn't that why you bought your boat in the first place -- to use it?)
3) Have I mentioned Seafair? Being able to enjoy the on-water yearly events without the hassle of the loading/unloading?
4) Have I mentioned opening day of boating season at the Montlake Cut without having the hassle of the loading/unloading?
5) If you haven't tried it, have I mentioned 4th of July on Lake Union without having the hassle of the loading/unloading late at night?
6) Again, you will probably use your boat at LEAST twice as much as you would if you had it on a trailer.
7) You won't have to worry about your drain plug
Seafair again. Blue angels about 150 feet over your head does not suck. Neither do unlimited hydro races either... Sure beats watching it on TV.
9) Watersports... You'll actually be able to do a little skiing, tubing or, wakeboarding during the week with your friends/kids/whoever! None of that trying to get off work early, rush home, pack up the boat, get it launched, park, race back to the boat, and only to then find a calm area to get some time enjoying the sweet water.
10) When the wife and kids are tired or grumpy from a long/hot day on the lake... you just park the boat and go home. No "honey, watch the boat while I run my butt off to get the car, then try to get it loaded up -- and all the while to keep the kids and your wife from having a total melt down.


Corrosion is going to happen. Blisters *could* too. Stay on top of keeping your hull clean... when you do pull your boat - give it a full inspection. You will be just fine.

Gosh, where's the rest of my list for mooring a boat in Seattle over trailering it...

By the way - the nice part is... you get the best of both worlds... If you want to head east to Chelan -- just load your boat and go -- you already know it's in perfect running order and that the drain plug is in!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Depending on the condition of the water, pulling it even every few weeks will be long enough to need an acid wash. On our cruiser, it was not bottom painted and we had the marina pull the boat three times a summer to do an acis wash. It is amazing how fast that stuff grows.

One tip, if you are going to clean the boat yourself when you pull it every few weeks. Make sure you hit it with a pressure washer RIGHT AWAY after you pull it out. That "stuff" sturn into cement in about 15 minutes.

Great idea on an extra set of lines, also an extra set of fenders that stay on the dock are a great idea.

Good luck.

Once again....I think you are dead on Cougar!!! I completely agree with your points...I bought my toy to play with it as much as possible....and you are right...Seafare, The Hydro races...the 4th of July and so and so on are all great examples of just the few things we enjoy here in the Seattle area...

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2006, 220 Horizon
Kent, WA.
"Semper Fidelis"

Hull blistering is a lot less of a problem with today's gelcoat compounds and construction methods. Repair methods are likewise better. I wouldn't put anywhere near the same degree of worry on it for a boat made recently as one from, say 15 years ago. Yes, it can happen, anything can.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I think txjole2 was suggesting something like a lift rather than trailering.

I moored a boat in fresh water all summer long for about seven seasons. I learned that keeping the boat up out of the water when not in use will make your boat last years longer. This goes way beyond cleaning pond scum off of the gelcoat. There's corrosion prevention, more frequent maintenance requirements, electrical/battery issues, and general wear and tear on the belows, seals, and tie down points. To my way of thinking a moored boat is essentially in use, just not underway. That boat of mine aged significantly more than neighboring boats that were on lifts. When I bought the 200 last season, I got a lift for it at the same time.

As far as advice goes, if your boat is not covered, get a good mooring cover. You'll not only want to protect your boat from rain (I've seen boats sink when long rains drain the bilge battery and then fill the boat), but a good cover will also help protect from tree crud, pests, and sun (fading of gelcoat decals upholstry, etc.). Always check the boat (or have someone check it) after storms, or high winds - covers can get blown off, mooring lines can break or come loose, other loose boats or floating objects can bang up against your secured boat, the list of potential hazards is long. The convenience of mooring is wonderful, but it's not set and forget.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

I have moored our boat in salt water for 6 months at a time for a number of seasons. Here we have to deal with bottom paint, painting the drive, bird messes, etc. The main thing is to have a good cover and an auto bilge switch, with a strong battery in case your cover leaks during rain or you get a small leak in the bellows. We had a run of about 10 days of straight rain back in Oct 2005, I saw 4 boats sink in the harbor behind my house. The main reason was failed batteries running bilge pumps for hours on end. Then I had a pair of group 27 deep cycle batteries in our old FW. The batt that was running the bilge switch (on old Horizons, the anchor locker used to just drain into the bilge, and that resulted in a lot of water in the bilge) was still able to start the engine, even after all that pumping. I have since had the cover re-made to cover that area as well. Very little water in the bilge this year.
In any case, after the season, make sure you have the drive pulled to check the bellows, ujoints and gimble bearing. If there was water in the bellows you sure don't want it sitting there all winter.
You will also want to make sure the anodes are the right ones for the water you are in, check with your dealer or a good maine repair shop.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II