Leaving a boat in the water
 

I'm looking at a Formula 400 with 525's and xr drives,

Trying to decide if it is worth while to get a hydro hoist or just leave it in the water and put on bottom paint.

If i leave it in the water i assume i will still need to get the bottom and drives cleaned every month. Then have the boat pulled once a year to get the bottom paint redone.


If i put it on a hoist do i need to flush the drives?
If i leave it in the water i assume after a few years the drives will be shot and need replacing, is that correct?

What else do i need to consider?

If you leave a boat in the water the unfortunate thing is you have to paint the bottom, If you leave raw fiberglass in the water just cleaning once a month will not keep the boat fiberglass from blistering

The lift will be cheaper in the long run and you will not lose any speed. I have a guy with that exact boat on a lift behind me and it would be a huge mistake to bottom paint it. My .02

I'm looking for the same boat...or a 370SS. I'd much prefer the lift but my dock would require a lift that sits broadside to a tide that runs 5 mph and has continuous boat wakes in the summer, some from as big as 40 footers on plane. If you plan on bottom painting, buy one that has already been painted.

Don't leave it in the water!!! It decreases the value and not only do the drives get ate up -so does the transom plates, etc.... The paint you use on the outdrives doesn't last and isn't as effective as the bottom paint.

I have a Sea Ray that stays in the water year round, but it is fresh water. The bottom paint will last 3-5 years.

On a 400SS I'd personally jump at the opportunity to get a lift. The 400SS only weighs in at 16,000 (17,000 Hardtop) so a 20,000 lift should work. If you flush after every run you'll have much more longevity.

Kind of ironic that we've modernized the boat into something that cannot be kept in the water.
Actually Power & Motoryacht had a great article this month about hull blisters and the sum of the problem appers to be bad processes within the materials manufacturers. The bad materials and water intrusion led to the problem. all gel will absorb water.
The industry seemed to correct these material pronblems in the early '90's. The worse period for blister was in the mid-80's.

I've left my past two boats in the water all summer without bottom paint and have no blister problems. Hull staining yes and some outdrive corrosion also.
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Use a vinylester gel coat primer about 0.5 mm thick underneath what ever your using be it gel coat or urethane and it will provide an anti osmosis barrier. I prefer Duratec Vinylester Primer.:p

h2o toie I have a real nice 20,000lb Hydrohoist for sale at a great price

Great

except it will probably cost more to ship then to buy one here on the west coast