Storing 248 Vista in Wet Slip

glassman2276 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 18, 2013 5:52 pm **Posts:** 1

We recently purchased a 2000 Vista 248 which was stored in a wet slip by the previous owner all 12 years. I also have it stored in a wet slip. This summer I replaced the entire outdrive and prop due to hitting a sand bar (insurance paid for it...over $10,000!) and during this project my mechanic told me that I really needed to get a lift for the boat and get it out of the water. He told me that this boat was not really meant to be stored in the water?? he said that even a month of storing it in the water would quickly start causing damage to the outdrive and the rubber boots that keep the water out of the various other parts. This is really disappointing since I just sold my lift that I had for another boat. I was excited about getting the new outdrive and prop because the engine only has 200 hours and I was thinking I almost had a new boat now. I have bottom paint. Does anyone know if this mechanic is right or not? really didn't want to have to spend another $5000 on a lift

acguy · **Posted:** Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:44 pm

What kind of water do you boat in? My previous 248 spent every season in the water slipped on lake michigan then on lake erie with bottom paint and no issues. I think your mechanic if full of it!

taz42169 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 18, 2013 8:38 pm

I keep my 248 in salt water every year...dude is full of crap!

jayjay4735 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:23 pm

While I'm sure it would be better for the boat to not be sitting in the saltwater, you certainly don't need to put it on a lift.

jfair · **Posted:** Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:31 pm

My 2006 Vista first launched May 2007 was kept year round in a salt water pen for two years by the original owner. I then kept it in a stacker for a couple of years and then it was back to year round salt water in a pen. The pen is more convenient and cheaper than the local stackers so the benefits more than compensate for increased maintenance.
Numerous "experts" have told me that sterndrives were designed for fresh water use but looking around our marina (on the ocean) there are so many sterndrives the owners can't all be wrong.

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Fri Jul 19, 2013 7:27 am

Time for a new mechanic. Think about what he said.

glassman2276 wrote:

He told me that this boat was not really meant to be stored in the water??

I would have asked him what boat is meant to be stored in the water?? I would have pointed out to the marina and asked him if alllllll of those boats were meant to be stored in the water. You have nothing to worry about, this guy sounds like a lift salesman, not a mechanic...

ric · **Posted:** Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:39 pm

All my boats live in fresh water all year round. No negative side effects. Every few months I clean the hull back white with Lysol toilet bowl cleaner.

rpengr · **Posted:** Fri Jul 19, 2013 1:46 pm

ric wrote:

...Every few months I clean the hull back white with Lysol toilet bowl cleaner.

I hadn't heard of that one before. That is safe on gelcoat?

LouC · **Posted:** Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:28 pm

What the mechanic might be getting at, is that if you are in salt water, and it is a high fouling area, you can get barnacles growing on the bellows and on the trim ram lines, that can actually cut the bellows or the trim lines. I had a trim line fail for this reason. The issue, which I have mentioned numerous times is that the anti fouling paints for aluminum don't work all that well in some areas. So you get growth no matter what. The I/O puts more stuff in the water than either an OB or straight IB so it is more prone to problems. I have made mine last a long time in salt but honestly when I get another boat, for slipping in salt I'd NEVER get another I/O.

If you want to keep your boat in the water it can be done but you have to really stay on top of it and monitor the amount of growth you are getting and the condition of the anodes. Here if you put the boat in the water in May, and left it in till Oct, you'd have a barnacle farm hanging off the outdrive by then. I have to pull it out and clean and repaint the drive about 1st week of August.

Reasons why I won't have another I/O:
the above, fouling problem
fuel vapor in the bilge issue
driveshaft bellows, if it fails big $$
if a cooling hose fails, it fills the bilge with seawater quicker than you can say Oh sh!t....

ric · **Posted:** Fri Jul 19, 2013 3:04 pm

Mary Kate on/off gel and Lysol toilet bowl cleaner are identical. Just pickup the one with the oxalic acid as there's different kinds. The Works at Walmart is also the same. Like $3 a bottle.

www.iFourWinns.com

Storing 248 Vista in Wet Slip

Who is online