hull fouling from fresh water storage.....

[CliffA]

this is the first year we are wet slipping our boat in a fresh water lake.....the boat has been in the water for around 2 months.....we pulled the boat this past WE to clean the bottom and examine it for signs of blistering since the bottom is not painted.....i was VERY surprised just how fouled the bottom had gotten with algea and the brown stain from the water....broke my heart to see this....when we trailered the boat i kept it spotless inside and out....the boat bottom has never been this fouled since i have had the boat.....

i do not want to paint the bottom since this is considered to be a 'sport boat'.....is there anything i can do to slow down or lessen the amount of fouling short of bottom painting?

as a side note we are considering moving to dry stacking next year even though it will be more expensive....this should keep the hull from getting fouled so quickly and also eliminate the fear of the boat sinking at the dock while unattended (call me a little paranoid)....

thanks...
cliff

 

[Steve S]

My 210 Monaco would have some of that but nothing a good power wash at the end of the season couldn't remove.


As for sinking, the harbormaster here says 4 out of 5 sinkings are self induced from people who leave the shore water on when they go home..

NOTE TO SELF: Always turn off the water before going home!

 

[Lazy Daze]

There's not really much you can do short of painting. Actually, there is one thing that can help... use the boat more! But seriously, painting is 'bout it. I wouldn't worry about blistering - it's extremely rare with a Sea Ray. When it gets to be too much, haul and clean. Anything the power washer doesn't get off (remaining brown stain, for example) will magically go away with something like Slimy Grimy. And no need for a full-on hazmat suit like you would need with On/Off (muriatic acid).

 

[CV-23]

Bottom paint is not a bad thing. Good fresh water grows plenty of green! I would not leave my boat in the water 4 months without it. Green scum washes away with each ride. I also paint my outdrive with special aluminum AF paint also. No beard on my Bravo1, Mike.

 

[Lakebum431]

Any option to put it on a lift at your marina? I wouldn't ever keep a boat that size in the water since it is so easy to put on a lift. When you step up several feet and it isn't reasonable to lift then painting is about all you can do.

 

[CliffA]

thanks for the replies....its good to know that blistering is not common on Sea Ray hulls.....i am fighting a bout of sciatica right now so unfortunately i cannot tackle the job myself.....i have the boat at a detailer's shop this week to get it cleaned up.....he is doing a full cleaning and waxing inside and out.....he said he uses oxalic acid to clean the brown stains from the hull and a pressure washer for the algea.....hopefully it will be clean and shiney when i pick her up....

we were able to get a VERY good monthly rate to keep the boat docked at a private home on the lake....to dry stack it will just about double the cost from what i am paying now but it will probably be worth it in the long run.....i have paid to use the dock through December so we will look at dry stacking marinas early next year.....

i will probably need one more haul out to clean the bottom before this season ends....however this time i can clean the hull since i have a pressure washer and have plenty of oxalic acid....i buy it 5 lbs at a time.....

cliff

 

[Lazy Daze]

Oxalic acid is the active ingredient in Slimy Grimy. :thumbsup:

 

[sdarc]

Cliff not a big issue on Lake Norman. Everything will wipe right off. A good wax job will help. When we anchored I'd just get on my floaty and wipe away. Get a suction cup to keep you next to the boat. Simple Green if needed. NO ACID is required. My boats lived on the lake year round. Yes they were painted as they were cruisers. But the brown will wipe off easily.

 

[CliffA]

Cliff not a big issue on Lake Norman. Everything will wipe right off. A good wax job will help. When we anchored I'd just get on my floaty and wipe away. Get a suction cup to keep you next to the boat. Simple Green if needed. NO ACID is required. My boats lived on the lake year round. Yes they were painted as they were cruisers. But the brown will wipe off easily.

good to hear....i saw those suction cup handles at Harbor Freight last time i was there so i think i will pick one up.....we normally cruise for a while when we go out and then drop anchor and float behind the boat listening to music.....that would be a perfect time to clean the water line......

cliff

 

[JV II]

Wood bleach (dry Oxalic Acid) from ACE hardware's paint isle will take the stain out. Mix with 4 gallons of water.

 

[sdarc]

If you look at my signature pic that boat had not been out of the water in over 10 years except for normal maintenance. It spent it'd 1st year on Wiley in 2000 and the rest on Norman.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Have you considered painting the bottom with a white bottom paint so it doesn't show much? I've seen some boats painted with white and you really have to look hard to see it.

 

[CliffA]

Have you considered painting the bottom with a white bottom paint so it doesn't show much? I've seen some boats painted with white and you really have to look hard to see it.

that would be a good option if i were to keep the boat in the water....but as i weigh the good and bad about wet slipping vs. dry stacking for a sport boat i think i am leaning towards dry stacking the boat in the future.....

cliff