Bravo III Corrosion-storing in water question

[Nairb]

I have a Glastron GS279 cruiser that I took delivery of in February and am keeping it at a marina here in East Tennessee. When I moved into the marina I spoke with them about putting my a hydrohoist in and there was an issue because they are replacing the entire dock where our boat is kept and that was supposed to be done this spring. Now that has been put off until fall so I have basically three options.

1. Store the boat in the water until after labor day when I can install the lift in my new slip and get the gelcoat and outdrive out of the water

2. Pay to have my lift temporarily installed in the slip I am in and then pay to have it moved in the fall when the new dock comes in

3. Move marinas (not an option I want to explore since I am in a lease and know everyone there)

My question is with a Bravo III, and for that matter a boat that has not been bottom painted, what option should I do? I was told the Bravo III should not be left in the water all year by my boating friends but some say its no big deal.

Any advice would be helpful as I am obviously a boating noob. When I signed the lease they assured me the new dock would be in within 60 days, now that it is going to be closer to 6-7 months I am concerned about damaging my outdrive if I just leave it in the water until the new dock comes in and is installed.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Bravo III Corrosion-storing in water question

Not a big deal if you stay on top of it. Pull it out say once a month to inspect anodes and wash off build up and film. I would have a good coat of wax on the boat... seems to help me a bunch.

 

[Nairb]

Re: Bravo III Corrosion-storing in water question

Yea I have been told that by a few people, but there are several that have said with the corrosion issues and the amount of current at my marina that I need to get the outdrive out of the water ASAP and didnt know if 7-8 months is too long to go for a Bravo III to be in the water. I do not really have a super convenient way to pull it out and clean it the size that it is. I never really considered this because the Marina assured me the new dock would be in within two months when we moved in in February. Now it is in the fall, after labor day and I can already see white spots on the anode on the trim mechanism after only a couple months.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Bravo III Corrosion-storing in water question

Get the "Freshwater Only" anode kit and install it. DO NOT turn off your batteries, so that you are NOT turning off your Mercathode system. That will take care of your drive, for the most part. Unless your marina has live electrical wires in the water, it can't be any worse than the dock I was on for 8 years. (Metal dock built in 1975) My B3 did not corrode at all, after I installed the "Freshwater Only" anode (about twice as expensive as the "regular" anodes) and stopped turning off my Mercathode system, by turning my batter switch to "Off".
Get a product called "Super Slick" for the hull. It's a "de-natured" wax that you smear on, and don't rub in or rub off. Growth will attach to it, but getting the boat on plane helps remove it. Also, you can LIGHTLY brush it with a soft brush, without removing the wax. You have to presssure wash it to get it off when you haul out at the end of the season. But it makes fall hull cleaning WAY easier.