Lift vs. Slipped in saltwater canal

Sorrento 25

Sorrento 25

New Member
Oct 11, 2006
501
Manatee River
Boat Info
Sorrento 25
Engines
454 Alpha
I rented a place with a nice dock on a FL canal and am debating installing a lift vs. keeping the boat in the water. Putting outdrive concerns aside...how much additional bottom maintenance can I expect keeping the boat in the water? Obviously I plan to paint the bottom first.

Has anyone ever installed a lift? I'm curious what the cost is for the 4 pilings installed because I will never recover that on a rental property.

What can I expect to pay for a used 10K lift? I sniffed around some but am not finding much on pricing...

Thanks,

Mike
 
Check Craigslist. I have seen used lifts there every now and then (in the South Florida area).

Even not taking into account the outdrives, a lift kept boat will be cleaner and easier to maintain. I pressume cheaper as well (no need to bottom pain, longer time between zinc changes).

Also, check insurance. It may be cheaper with a lift vs. sitting in the water.

Esteban
 
FWIW-

I bought a boat that was lift kept for 14 years in Central Florida. The hull & running gear were in "factory new" condition, which is incredible for a boat this age.

The down side was that the boat was up in the air with no cooling benefit from the water (my own crazy assessment). This appears to have had a serious effect on all of the interior. All of the fabric was so dry rotted that it split when touched. Also, since there was no way to "stern in" or change the way the boat faced the sun all those years, it was heavily faded in favor of the track of the sun. This included all of the canvas, gelcoat and interior.

Of course, the habits of the former owner also come into question, but not "turning" the boat in the oven seems to be apparent when you have a timeline like that to look at. Now that I have aslip, I regularly change the direction at docking.

Another note of interest was that the fuel tank on the "shaded" side of the boat always developed much more algae than the other side.
 
Skeetobite said:
FWIW-
Also, since there was no way to "stern in" or change the way the boat faced the sun all those years, it was heavily faded in favor of the track of the sun. This included all of the canvas, gelcoat and interior.
Click to expand...

Same issue on my 1996 Sundeck... I am going to be wet sanding the rail-up portion of the gel coat this winter to address the oxydation of the gel coat... I will also need to remove the decals due to cracking. Good thing was that the owner always covered the boat, so only up to the snaps is really needed...


Mike, if you are renting, I have seen posted on this board a product that floats around the boat to prevent bottom issues (outside of sitting in salt-water I am guessing). This may be a more economical solution since you can take it with you or sell it when you move.

You may also want to talk with the owner to see if they are willing to invest in THEIR property. I would think this would be a great selling/renting addition on their part.
 
Tallahassee240Sundeck said:
Mike, if you are renting, I have seen posted on this board a product that floats around the boat to prevent bottom issues (outside of sitting in salt-water I am guessing). This may be a more economical solution since you can take it with you or sell it when you move.
Click to expand...
I remember that post too, and I searched here and Googled but cannot find the product. Does anyone remember the thread or product name?
 
To answer part of your question, count on an annual haul out to check bottom condition and pressure wash, sand and repaint the bottom every other year, in the last 1/2 of your bottom paint life count on having a diver clean the bottom monthly.

But you just cannot overlook the outdrive wet slipped in salt water thing........don't do it.
 
Currently its an old Alpha and if it makes it one year fine and I consider it expendable at this point. I know I have to repower this boat sooner or later, and I'll probably go with the Volvo 8.1OSi/XDP when the current setup gives it up hoping that drive will be OK.

I didn't consider the air lifts. That may be my best option. I was thinking of the membrane that floated around the boat isolating it from the surrounding water.
 
Sorrento 25 said:
Currently its an old Alpha and if it makes it one year fine and I consider it expendable at this point. I know I have to repower this boat sooner or later, and I'll probably go with the Volvo 8.1OSi/XDP when the current setup gives it up hoping that drive will be OK.

I didn't consider the air lifts. That may be my best option. I was thinking of the membrane that floated around the boat isolating it from the surrounding water.
Click to expand...

For the life of me I cannot remember the name of that thing...
 
It's called a Boat Bunker, and I have one..(actually it's my 2nd one). I saw it at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show 3 years ago and thought it was interesting but wasn't sure if it would work...but I live in South Florida on the water and even though it's a fresh water area, I didn't want to leave my then 25' Doral in the water; didn't want to spend a lot on a lift, and I knew if I left it on the trailer I wouldn't use it as much as if I kept in out back in the water. My Doral also didn't have any bottom paint, and painting the bottom would lower the value of a boat that size, so I took a chance and bought one. It is pretty cool...lower the back gate, back the boat out and that's it. I return, drive the boat in, and raise the gate (there's a battery powered motor on the dock that comes with it that raises it). When the boat is in, and the gate is up, no oxygenated water so no growth. I use an enzyme to keep the water clean and after almost a year, when I pulled it out to sell it and get my 320, there was nothing on the bottom but some dirt that came off easily.

So, when I got the 320, even though the bottom was painted and I have the V Drives, I still wanted the protection and to not have to paint the boat every year or two, so I bought a larger boat bunker and it continues to do the job for me..The only thing I would say is if you are thinking of getting a larger boat in the near future, buy a boat bunker larger than what you need with your current boat so you won't have to buy 2 of them!!!.

Anyway, if you want more info or photos, pm me and I'll get it to you.

Barry
 
PS, here's my boat in the boat bunker...
 
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As to the price of a new 10k lb lift; I have put 2 in at my home and it appears to be in the neighborhood of 10-11k. I sold a used for 5k that was 1 1/2 years old. The advantages of a lift are,of course, no build up on the bottom and no real need for bottom paint plus it can be very easily fresh water flushed. You should be very diligent about that. You can also get to all the parts of the of the boat for cleaning and maintenance. As to the situation with UV, I have a cover made to go just below the rub rail and don't appear to have that problem.
 
Thanks again! I'm still thinking the inflatable lift might be the best option for a rental property at 3800. Haven't priced the boat bunker but it has to be at least half that much?? Anyone have experience with inflatable lifts? The possibility of a puncture is scary...
 
Tallahassee240Sundeck said:
I just got the Boat US magazine and there was a floating dock something or another advertised there as well. Of course we are doing spring cleaning and it is now gone...

Did some searching and this was one... http://www.airdock.com/
Click to expand...

Looks interesting, however, you can't wash the bottom of the boat off... but it's better than having the entire boat just sit in saltwater.
I wonder how durable it is.

Good find!
 
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