Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

Hello,

I'm new to boating and am the owner of a 14' Sylvan Sea Snapper deep-hull aluminum boat, coupled with a Yamaha 9.9HP four-stroke outboard.

My question for the board: What's the best solution for keeping my boat afloat between visits to the cottage? I am worried that a few good rainfalls could cause the boat to fill up with water and potentially sink. After a heavy rainfall last week, I found the boat to have about 4" of water at the transom end (but no water beyond the mid-point of the boat).

A cover seems obvious, but the ones I've seen appear to tie down to a trailer, which doesn't help me with the boat moored at the dock. A pump is another option, but the battery won't last long.

Any advice for a rookie is appreciated.

Thanks.

Re: Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

don't rely on a cover for a boat docked/moored unattended*. Your only option is a bilge pump and battery. Your limitation is that your boat is too small for lots of batteries, and I don;t know if a 9.9 charges them (is it a pull-start?)

Most people just drag a 14' boat/9.9 up on the dock when they leave. Second option which will cost more than the boat is worth is a hand-crank lift. Or you could make home-made davits. it doesn't take much.


*a cover will help but it's too risky to rely on solely in these circumstances

Re: Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

Get it out of the water and pull the plug.

Re: Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

Okay ... I'm going to make an admission (not one that will likely be smiled upon here on the boards) ... our 14' rowboat sits out at the dock in between visits to the cottage. We pull the outboard and put it in the garage. Boat doesn't have a plug or scuppers. First morning we get up there ... grab the bailing pump, head down to the dock and clear it out. My great grandfather bought the boat and it's been used like that ever since - probably darn near 60 years.

She's never sunk (maybe kinda' swamped once or twice), and never leaked. Can't promise you the same results and judge the amount of time you let it sit in between visits (we can be up there every weekend or it can sit for 3 weeks at a time), but there's one family's experience for reference.

Re: Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

Geez....that's a tough question. I would find a way to lift it out of the water, one way or another. I suggest taking the outboard off and just dragging it up somewhere. If you leave it unattended for a long period of time, it'll be at the bottom. Even a bilge pump won't save you if you wait too long.

Re: Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

This works like a charm on my 16 foot Lund moored at my cottage

http://www.skywaycanvas.com/skyway_images/marine/mooring cover - alumacraft - thumb.jpg

Re: Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

Get a decent cover for the boat(including ribs to ensure rain runs off the cover).

Install a bilge pump and get a solar charger for the battery.

Re: Seeking Advice: Protecting 14' Aluminum Boat from Rain Accumulation

pull it up onto the dock and flip it over.