Wet slip in michigan

[oba97]

im looking at renting a wet slip at an inland lake in Michigan this year. I have done a lot of reading but would like a few more opinions on my concerns.

1. I don’t plan on bottom painting knowing I will have to clean everything off at the end of the season. Am I crazy?
2. I just have a snap on cockpit cover. Should that be enough.
3. Am I asking for trouble if we spend a day on the water and the interior of boat is wet when I put the cover on (no vents) and don’t return for a week? I would rather not ruin my interior with mold and mildew. I can pull the carpet if needed.

my boat is a 2017 starcraft deck boat. I would love to keep it in the water because of the freedom of taking my kids out on a moments notice but I don’t want to ruin a 30k boat by putting it in a wet slip. I might just be parinoid???


thanks for any insight

 

[ahicks]

I would be hesitant to cover a wet boat. Have you considered installing some vents in the cover?

I don't know anyone bottom painting on inland lakes. Certainly not the one I'm on here in the Detroit 'burbs.

Last, helped run a marina for a few seasons. My best advice would be to visit the boat frequently (2-3 times a month minimum), make sure you have a functional AUTOMATIC bilge pump, and keep after the boat's insurance payments just in case...

 

[Maclin]

Is it a covered slip?

 

[oba97]

Not a covers slip. I have looked at adding vents and seems easy enough. I do have a auto bilge, I was thinking I could use a solar charger to keep the battery topped off.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I don't know about the new Solar chargers sold today but the ones I have seen might run a 60 Watt bulb, to top off a battery the panel would be as big as the boat I have learned, if it's sunny. If the cover is tight tight, like mine that is in a freshwater slip you are good to go. I don't have vents on my mooring cover but do try to get down there t least once a week to air her out. The cover has a good sized opening over the transom splash well though.

I really don't get my boat interior wet but do try and visit like I said once a week to make sure the bilge is working and the battery is good to go, especially after a heavy rain. I took ill and didn't get to the boat for a month last year. There was some mold but wiped right off with Spray 9. I thought boats have all water resistant materials in them that we pay the big bucks for.

Have a good season, have fun and stay safe.

 

[Scott Danforth]

yes, covering a wet boat will lead to mold

do you have access to shore power? if so, get a large fan and put under the cover and add vents.

 

[oba97]

Unfortunately there isn’t shoes power. I ended up renting a shared slip on a local lake. It’s very basic, just a dock to tie to. The boat next to me is on a lift so I don’t have to worry about them crashing into me. The way it is arranged I will be tying to the port side. Any tips would be appreciated. Most of the info online around docking is for larger boats, boats backing in or people docking where tiers are an issue.

 

[ahicks]

Is the dock in a sheltered area, or exposed, as in located on the main part of the lake? If exposed, potential for squall lines, t-storms and boat wakes created by morons, will need to be addressed. Down wind side of the lake can get pretty rough, is one of the better reasons for having a lift.....

 

[oba97]

It's kind of tucked in near an area where boats have to slow down to go under an overpass so Im not too concerned with boat traffic. Could be more of an issue when storms come though. I would love to buy a lift but I don't think its in the cards right now.I'll post a couple of pics from google maps if I can. Its just a small marina nothing like the marinas on lake Huron near by.

 

[oba97]

Here are a couple of pics to get a better idea of what I am working with.