keeping a 185 in the water, advice

D

dieselsmoke

Member
Aug 21, 2016
95
nj
Boat Info
2004 Select 220
Engines
5.0mpi bravo
This is my first year keeping the boat in the water. Its been trailed around for the time I've had it. The boat is mechanically sound, bellows and bottom paint are perfect. Im looking for advice on how to keep the bilge pump running. Should I add a 2nd battery? or add a 2nd backup pump? add a solar charger?.

I will be able to check it every few days. Its going to be in NJ for the summer months. There is shore power relatively close so maybe I could just plug in a battery maintainer.

Looking for advice so I dont swamp the boat. Thanks all!!
 
If you have shore-power that's the optimum solution. Beyond that a solar maintainer should be sufficient to offset the self-discharge inherent in batteries.
 
If you are going to keep it in an uncoverd slip/dock I would invest in a good cover to keep the rain out. If everything else is ship shape and water tight you should not have to worry about the bilge pump running the battery dead.
 
Would like to suggest application of Rejex. It goes on like a wax. Will do a great job of preventing lake stain which will surly developed if sitting in water full time.
 
2nd the recommendation for a good cover. Keep the water out and there isn't a problem.

However, (sort of) funny story. A couple of years ago, we had a BIG storm with 80mph winds an LOTS of rain. The wind had blown the cover mostly loose. We got to the lake, noticed that the cover was off, and the boat was in the water. It is kept on a lift at our dock. Turns out that the lift was fine, just that both the ski lockers were totally filled with water. 240 Sundecks have 2 cargo hold sized floor lockers, without a bilge pump in them. The extra weight was over the capacity of the lift. Pulled the locker drain plug, and everything was fine after an hour.
Moral of the story, never underestimate the amount of water in a big thunderstorm.
 
Cover is a great idea. That said. The bilge pump is there to handle situations you didn't plan for or had no control over. This is all to say, don't just put a cover on and call it a day. You still need to have a functioning bilge pump with a maintained battery.
 
I would go with the battery tender but make sure the transformer/charger sits outside the bilge if its not marine rated and that its unplugged before you start the engine. If you plan to keep the boat in the water long term invest in a permanently installed battery charger with a through hull electrical inlet.
 
Thanks for all the ideas, Im going to get a good cover and put in a permanent battery tender. Any recomnedations on a brand for the cover? There's so many to choose from it hard to know whats quality stuff. Thanks again
 
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