How long is a boat good for

[JimS123]

Re: How long is a boat good for

In 1971 I bought a brand new Silverline Comoro package for $2850 - boat show special. I kept her garaged and covered for 13 years, then sold her for $2600. She looked brand new at the time and I'm confident I would still have her and she would still be pristine if we hadn't outgrown the size.

In 2008 by accident I saw her again with a for sale sign on somebody's front lawn. This is a 37 year old boat now. It was still the second owner and he had continued with the maintenance and indoor storage. I was amazed - she still looked like new. Selling price was $1900. Not bad depreciation, huh?

In 2009 I saw her again on a lawn. Ohhhh, outside storage now. No cover. Looked a little shabby. Deck (floor) faded, gelcoat a little chalky, trailer some rust. The guy was a first time boater and he decided he didnt want one after all. He was asking $1500 - don't know what he got.

Now, 2011. Once again - on the lawn. 3 years uncovered now. The owner says $1000. The seats are ruined. 3 years ago the vinyl was supple and glossy. Now its all faded and cracking. The floor is rotten. Maple seeeds on the floor and sprouting. The trailer is solid rust.

Soooo, to answer the original question, I would guess the "potential" life would be 5 years to infinity. The "average" life span (considering all the abuse the "typical" owner shells out) is about 10-20 years, based on the junked boats I see at the marina near my house.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Leaving a boat out in the weather isn't the only cause of damage.

I've seen quite a boats in what otherwise looked in perfect condition with structural problems ranging from cracked and broken stringers to fractured bulkheads and cracked keels. Soap and wax don?t do anything for the structural integrity of the hull of a poorly built or abused hull.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: How long is a boat good for

My Chap has about 70 hours of prop time since new in 2002. May 21 to September 21 it sits in the water full cover. Then in a Marinas storage building.

Other than cleaning spider poop on it. Perfect. Make a offer in 2028. I will be 90 in a rocker.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: How long is a boat good for

It depends upon the quality of the boat and how it is cared for. A boat is a collection of systems and equipment with positive buoyancy (glass half full) or a hole into which one pours money (glass half empty). Fiberglass, FRP, fiberglass reinforced plastic, will deteriorate from UV. However, a covered, trailer-ed, waxed, fiberglass boat could easily last several lifetimes or at least one . Engines, outboards usually last in the range of 2,000 hours and can "easily" be replaced or removed from repair/overhaul.

Boats made with carpet, glue, topsides nailed or joined with putty, wooden floors covered with vinyl or slathered with cheap carpet (your typical Bayliner "type" boat) last about three or four years before falling apart. All glass, single piece boats like a Boston Whaler or Grady White or high end boats like a Contender, last decades and decades and still look new.

 

[cribber]

Re: How long is a boat good for

I'm going with replace everything I break on my boat for my longevity plan. My hull says Lifetime Warranty and we'll see where that gets us. Everything else the warranty has expired so it's on me from here.

 

[Mike Lammert]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!

 

[mommicked]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Some are better than others. I hear there are some large dugout canoes on the bottom of some of our eastern lakes that are in pretty good condition considering how old they are. They are in tannic water that helps preserve them. We would not restore most old boats w so much pride and effort if they were all worn out junk.

 

[JB]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Some boats will last several generations with only minimum care. Others a year or so.

Few boats get routine preventive maintenance when scheduled, yet last a few lifetimes anyway.

I never wore one out and have never seen one worn out from normal use.

When a boat has actually been neglected or abused all bets are off.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: How long is a boat good for

View attachment 119243
this one liveed in a garage the 1st 28 years-then was completely redone with new power in 2009/2010.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: How long is a boat good for

JB is totally correct. Must know my brother & his mechanical abilities.
Guy broke EVERYTHING he used. Including wifes & several kids.


He could probably break a block of steel in a month just moving it around.

 

[marauder11]

Ok so all said. As a new boat owner give me the run down on things i should be doing to keep my boat in good order.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Ok so all said. As a new boat owner give me the run down on things i should be doing to keep my boat in good order.

Ayuh,... Hard to say,...

Ya haven't said what it is, or how it's powered...

 

[marauder11]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Ayuh,... Hard to say,...

Ya haven't said what it is, or how it's powered...

It is a 1974 Larson Shark 1550 tri hull. 1986 Johnson 120 hp outboard.

Boat seems soild floor transom. small gel coat repairs needed covered in another post already.

 

[QC]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Ya know . . . I'm thinking you need to search a lot in the JohnnyRude section vvvvvv, A little in the Restoration section vvvvvvv and some in this section. Then formulate some more specific questions.

BTW, there's some very good "what should I carry on my boat" threads. Very good "how do I polish my gelcoat" threads. There are more JohnnyRude threads than any other topic here, so that's good. And then if you're feeling especially masochistic you should try "what oil should I use" threads. After that you could probably start your own forum

Welcome aboard

BTW, I keep reading your title here as "how good is a long boat for" or "how long is a good boat for" or . . . lol

 

[cyclops2]

Re: How long is a boat good for

Are there Disleksick Boaters ?????

 

[QC]

Re: How long is a boat good for

That's why we have port and starboard . . . duh . . .

 

[cyclops2]

Re: How long is a boat good for

If port is the red wine on a boat. What color is the starboard wine ?

 

[68C15]

Re: How long is a boat good for

I have a 71 Alumacraft Jamaica 15' with the original Mercury 500. I got it last summer from the original owner. he used it for 6 years and kept it in the garage all this time. it looks just like new all the way down to the upholstery/stitching.

along with the OP's question, how do you tell if the FRP is getting close to it's end?

 

[steelespike]

Re: How long is a boat good for

No doubt about it care and careful storage are critical In 1980 I bought a 51year old wooden boat that had excellent care and never had major work.I continued that care. Sold it in 2005. It was ready for some major work typical of a wooden boat that old.But the finish was still presentable and the drive train solid.

 

[Ned L]

Re: How long is a boat good for

While all the commetns here are valid, one should know that poylester resin does continue to cure and harden over time (becoming more brittle). Give an (i.e. 30 yr) old FRP boat and an equal new boat the same use/abuse and you will see cracking, spiderwebing, and even failure happen sooner in the 30 yr old boat.