Storing boat for summer?

[SCbarber]

Just wonder where everyone stores boat for summer? Normally, I launch it every time I use it but it is becoming a pain (part of owning a boat, I know) but looking for some easier ideas. My dad has a buddy with a "free" dock I can keep it at in the lake, however cleaning the algae off can be a chore. It is currently kept in covered storage now but I think in fact, I know if it was already in the water, I would and could use it alot more, just wondering what everyone else does. It would be nice to store on the dock to avoid all the crowd at the ramp, but then again its nice to have a clean boat bottom every time I get in it to.

[justrfb]

The only way I see you getting what you are asking for is a dock with a lift. Boat is out of the water but on the lake at the same time. Good luck...

Sincerely,
Rich

[PlaynDoc]

ideally, a covered, raised boat lift is the place to be....

but, some of us don't live on the water.... it's a 30 min one-way haul for me....

if your 'free' access seems like it will be permanent..... consider spending X thousands on a covered lift?

[sunedog]

I'm fortunate to live on the water. Boat goes in every year in March or April. Usually stays there until October. There is some accumulation of algae and scum, but it is not enough to justify pulling it out mid-season to clean it. I acid wash it when I pull it out in the Fall and it cleans up beautifully. The boat is faster in the Spring when it is cleaner, but probably only by about a MPH or two. I sometimes work cleaning off the scum when we're beached. But life is too short to fret about it.

[Strake]

I am also fortunate to have a place on the lake with a covered boat house and lift. The boat is lifted each time we are finished for the day. I still put the cover on if we aren't planning on using it the next day.

You may want to check out what is available at your lake for rental covered, lift boat slips. At our lake ( Smith Mountain Lake, VA ) there are covered, lift slips available...... somewhat pricey. A friend rented one last season and I believe he paid $2200 for the April - Nov season.

[Seon]

What a coincidence, my wife and I spoke about this very same subject and have decided to berth our Toon in a marina located in the Sacramento Delta this summer. It’ll be nice to just drive an hour then just jump on board. My plan is to outfit the Toon with rod holders so we can fish then grill our spoils right on the river. Life’s good.

[teecro]

I'm fortunate to live on the water. Boat goes in every year in March or April. Usually stays there until October. There is some accumulation of algae and scum, but it is not enough to justify pulling it out mid-season to clean it. I acid wash it when I pull it out in the Fall and it cleans up beautifully. The boat is faster in the Spring when it is cleaner, but probably only by about a MPH or two. I sometimes work cleaning off the scum when we're beached. But life is too short to fret about it.

While I could easily pull the boat out the water a power wash the toons I was also thinking about trying to scrub them off with the large green scotchbrite pads while the boat is still in the water. Figured I'd take her out to an area with little traffic and jump in with a float and/or life jacket and some rubber gloves and have at it with the scrub pads.

[sunedog]

While I could easily pull the boat out the water a power wash the toons I was also thinking about trying to scrub them off with the large green scotchbrite pads while the boat is still in the water. Figured I'd take her out to an area with little traffic and jump in with a float and/or life jacket and some rubber gloves and have at it with the scrub pads.

It can give you a good workout. I am most effective when the boat is in chest deep water. Doing it floating in a life jacket is more difficult than it sounds. You need some leverage.

[teecro]

While I could easily pull the boat out the water a power wash the toons I was also thinking about trying to scrub them off with the large green scotchbrite pads while the boat is still in the water. Figured I'd take her out to an area with little traffic and jump in with a float and/or life jacket and some rubber gloves and have at it with the scrub pads.

It can give you a good workout. I am most effective when the boat is in chest deep water. Doing it floating in a life jacket is more difficult than it sounds. You need some leverage.

Thanks I had not yet covered that angle.....

[lakerunner]

12x40 enclosed storage 1 mile from ramp

[Bamaman]

I'm also fortunate to have my toon sitting on a rack inside a double boathouse. I'm big on keeping boats dry and out of the sun/weather for longetivity. My last pontoon lasted 28 years before the upholstery started showing wear.

I wouldn't want my boat in a marina unless there's a roof over the boat.

I'm also big on passing out a Scotchbrite pad to everyone that gets on the boat. 4-5 people can get the toons clean in just a few minutes.
You could also take it out at the ramp and over to a "quarter car wash" every month or so to keep the crud knocked off the bottom.

[budman88]

A plastic container,like the one electrical tape comes in, will peel the funk off of tubes like a razor blade. Stand in water chest high and have at it,and if it slips out of your hand the suction from it will keep it on the tube 9 out of 10 times.

[BobG]

We just slip it on the lake with the cabin up - May 1st through September 30th.

[BobL]

For the first 6 years, I kept the boat in the water from March thru September. I kept the motor tilted out of the water so as not to allow growth in the water intake. In Louisiana, the algae growth can build up quick. I cleaned the toons around June and August (took about 24 ounces of beer for each cleaning session) in deep water wearing a lift jacket like a diaper. I used the boat much more and not worrying about towing and launching made my experience far more enjoyable.

This is what I found to be the best thing to clean the toons with (the algae scraped right off on big long rolls).

http://www.amazon.com/Nylon-Pan-Scraper ... B000JHKKNG

I recently had a covered lift built and it is great.

[LadyGT]

My backyard. The local marina charges $100 a month for a slip, but after noticing the docks and stored boats covered in bird feces, we'll launch it ourselves whenever we decide to go.