Does anyone keep a 2001 225 Weekender in the water?

[Jon Porter]

One of the things I missed when we bought our 2001 225 Weekender is that the deck drains go straight to the bilge instead of over board. My concern was over loading the electrical system if I store the boat in the water since every time it rains I feel that even with a cover on, water would still fill up the bilge and the bilge pump would have to constantly drain. Has anyone converted the drains to go over board? Or has that even been an issue. I would have to add a battery charger anyway just for the bilge pump. The plan is to keep it on a trailer for now.

 

[Golfman25]

I think with a cover you'll be fine.

 

[lawndoctor]

I kept my 2002 225WE in a slip for ten seasons, single battery, no battery charger, always covered. Never a problem with water accumulation.

 

[Jon Porter]

I kept my 2002 225WE in a slip for ten seasons, single battery, no battery charger, always covered. Never a problem with water accumulation.

That is great to know! Was it the cockpit cover that goes over the windshield or a full storage cover?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Thousands and thousands and thousands of boats with non overboard drains are kept in the water with no issues. I understand it may be something that is new to you, but look at the big picture and take solace in that it's "all been done before". With the cover on, there is extremely little water getting into the boat. For example, and I'm just spitballing here, it may take 10 big storms to get enough water into the bilge for the bilge pump to then run ONE time. And that's absolutely nothing to worry about - it will only run for a few minutes which doesn't draw much at all. No battery charger needed. If you want to take an extra level of pre-caution, install a second battery and battery switch - make it a deep cycle battery and wire the float switch to this battery.

It's a good thought to have and wonder about, but in reality... move on to something else! You're good the way you are.

 

[Jon Porter]

Yeah, just something to cross off the worry list. Boat has 2 fresh deep cycle batteries with a switch and the bilge pump is factory wired to the front battery. It’s far from ready to be stored in the brackish water so it stays on the trailer anyway for now.

 

[Espos4]

Yeah, just something to cross off the worry list. Boat has 2 fresh deep cycle batteries with a switch and the bilge pump is factory wired to the front battery. It’s far from ready to be stored in the brackish water so it stays on the trailer anyway for now.

Now you have given us something for you to worry about.

True “deep cycle” Batteries are not the best choice for starting the engine.

You should have a “cranking” battery or even a combination deep cycle/cranking battery.

 

[Jon Porter]

They are both combo batteries.

 

[El Capitan]

Best to setup a shore power rig. You’ll not need to worry about batteries.

 

[Buckeye Boater]

Ours is kept on a trailer during the week. However, during the time it spends in the water during the weekend (typically 3 days/nights) it has gone through some heavy downpours and few all night rains. Most times it has had the mooring cover in place. A few times no cover. Never once have I had the bilge pump come on due to accumulated rain. Have to agree with Lazy Daze, it would take a number of storms for it to be an issue.

 

[lawndoctor]

That is great to know! Was it the cockpit cover that goes over the windshield or a full storage cover?

It has a custom mooring cover that snaps to the windshield, it does not go over the windshield. I hated having to crawl over the windshield every time I put the cover on.

 

[Jon Porter]

Yeah I saw that getting annoying as well. Mine goes over the windshield still but it got ripped going down the road so I put a full trailer cover on it to protect the entire deck and swim platform while on the trailer.