PRO'S and CON'S TO BOAT ON THE HARD FOR UPCOMING SEASON 2016

[billnpat]

2 Weeks ago I had Major Shoulder Surgery due to a home accident,

My rehab will be up to 6 months and at my age 78 maybe longer, I'm seriously thinking of
taking the upcoming season of boating off.....to fully re-cooperate for next 2017 season.

Since I'm a hands on guy who likes to do it all, having another person doing the boating things one as i love to do
is just not me....maybe some of you would understand, but I'm torn between what if any damage would be done to the boat being on the hard, shrink wrapped from last Sept 2015 to new season April 2017, 19 months:smt009 The boat right now has been winterized and is in the best ever shape ever as i always kept her.My injury is to my right shoulder which is a God Send since I'm left handed , but as we all know, two arms are better than one in boating.......I really need sound advice as to what i should do to prepare her for a long hot summer under Shrinkwrap on the hard....

The boat yard which i keep her are owned and run by wonderful and very conscientious guys who are family owned, and i trust with my heart, but i know this forum is impartial and have always received sound advice in the past

Please help me decide as to what steps to take PROS AND CONS....of course i could always set her in the water and keep her maintained with occasional start ups and bi -weekly hired hand cleaning

Thank you everyone :smt001

 

[northern]

Your gas will get old and loose octane. I have a Jet boat that sat for 3 years with old gas. It started but ran rough. New gas corrected that.
I had a 28 footer with twin stern drives I let sit for 1.5 years. It ran after that but there was water in the gas and it stalled after 5 mile run. The gas filters were changed and the water sucked out of the tank and all was well.
There are stabilizers for gas.

 

[billnpat]

Thank you very much.......i like that, watching the water go by.......:smt038

 

[billnpat]

YES i would add more gas stabilizer Thanks.......

 

[JeffM]

Our boat sat on the hard for four years after I was laid off. Scott's advice is good (wish I'd done that), but I would also have the boat yard put a door in the shrinkwrap so you (or someone more mobile if your recovery doesn't allow) can go into the boat and replace the dessicants. We had a scare when the motor was hard to start, but our mechanic was persistent and was able to get it started. I think if I had followed Scott's advice, there wouldn't have been an issue. We replaced the gas, polished the fiberglass, and were good to go. Because we kept up with the dessicants we didn't have any mold in the cabin despite our humid summers.

 

[Woody]

You can do a lot of things, use, and enjoy your boat with one hand...don't need two. This coming from a guy that was raised by a man that only had one arm since St Pats Day 1944. At 78 are you sure you want to miss a summer.:lol:

 

[dpmulvey]

Any grandchildren that need to learn messing around on a boat is a gift from God?

 

[boltman]

Bill , first and foremost I don't give a damn about the boat , it will be fine , boats stored on the hard do not lose shape for 1 year , I just had rotator cuff surgery and tried to go boating last summer , it didn't go so well and I'm only 51 , just one slip and it over , and I did slip on my bridge stairway , caught my fall with left arm. Tore my shoulder slipping on the boat , Hense the surgery. Put it on the hard and support it with more blocks or Jack and let your body heel.


Boltman

 

[Gofirstclass]

No offense to anyone here who has offered advice about whether or not a boat would lose/change its hull shape if on the hard for a year, but I would call SR Tech Support and ask their opinion.

 

[War Eagle]

Think I would find me a young, aspiring captain, take him or her under that broken wing and get back out on the water as soon as possible. Salt spray has wonderful healing properties and so does sharing 78 years of experience. Time is a commodity ... with no shelf life! Heal up fast my friend and make every minute count!

 

[JVM225]

I would put it in the water for the season and use it as much as your injury allows. Get in the habit of taking others out with you that can lend a hand.

 

[billnpat]

Thank you all for your sound advice,

Since i started therapy 3 days ago, my hopes are that by at least the first or second week in May i may be well enough to put her in the water, after reading your comments which I've taken very seriously i'm leaning to putting her in, and do what i can do and if need be take other,others with me to lend a hand.

Thank you all so very much.....

Sincerely Bill:smt001