Marina Storage

[Hellacool]

Seeking advice for maintaining my boat (Yamaha AR240) while in the marinas care. For the first time I am storing my boat at the local marina. They launch and recover for me. I just call, tell them when I need it and they put it on the dock for me. When I return, I put my badge on it saying pull and they put it away. It is stored on the trailer under cover. This weekend I put my mooring cover on when I was finished but that is a real chore sitting on the water. Because of that, I plan to not use the cover during my busy season, the next 3-4 months. That means uncovered boat. What are recommendations to help protect my boat? It will be under cover so sun and rain will be minimal but it is exposed. Just looking for ideas, products, what others are doing etc. I am "anal" as my wife puts it and I like a well maintained boat but the convenience of the marina has out weighed that. For the first time ever my wife and I were able to go on the lake by ourselves and enjoy the evening. It was nice.

 

[Shuck Water]

I've seen some folks install snap covers which would make it easier. Why is the mooring cover difficult? Do you not have access to all sides of the boat? I've always kept my boat in a slip and while the mooring cover is never fun, my wife and I have down to a science right now.

 

[Hellacool]

I've seen some folks install snap covers which would make it easier. Why is the mooring cover difficult? Do you not have access to all sides of the boat? I've always kept my boat in a slip and while the mooring cover is never fun, my wife and I have down to a science right now.

It is not a slip, it is on the dock so only access to one side. It is stored on land undercover though. I thought about the snap on covers.

 

[Shuck Water]

Gotcha. Snap on cover is probably your best bet. Between the birds and bugs, they can make a new boat look bad pretty quick. It amazes me how many folks leave their boats uncovered at marinas.

 

[Julian]

I'd practice the mooring cover install a few more times. Roll it up from the stern when taking it off, then unroll back from the bow when covering. Leave the ratchet on the non dock side alone (don't loosen it) and only use the ratchet on one side.

 

[Hellacool]

I'd practice the mooring cover install a few more times. Roll it up from the stern when taking it off, then unroll back from the bow when covering. Leave the ratchet on the non dock side alone (don't loosen it) and only use the ratchet on one side.

I was thinking I may just need to get better. The real issue was the cleats. The dock side cleats are in use so to put the cover on I have to de-rig the dock side of the boat to fit the cover then re-rig. My fenders and dock lines are on the cleats.

 

[Matt Phillips]

I'd recommend using the mooring cover and practicing a couple of times too. You'd be surprised what the birds, sun, and basic dirt can get into the boat...even with a cover on it. I'd hate to see it get so dirty so fast.

Although I keep mine in a wet slip at the lake and have access to three sides, it does take a little practice. One thing I've found is that I do have to walk on the cover near the stern to get it down over the rub rail. For that part, I always just took off my shoes and treaded lightly on the cover. It didn't seem to hurt it that much

 

[Hellacool]

Thanks for all the input. Bottom line, cover it. So now i need to figure out how to be more efficient. I think if i hang the fenders not on the cleats it would speed things up.

 

[Matt Phillips]

When covering my boat in my slip, I get away with only one fender on each side (during the covering process). I only do this because I'm in an area with absolutely no water movement.

One thing I found helpful was to tie it loosely to the tower while I'm covering the boat...since the tower isn't affected too much by the cover, this keeps the fender out of the way. Once the boat is covered, that fender then moves down permanently to the mid-ship cleat.

 

[zelone]

Bow and cockpit covers ftw! Easy to install while on the water,protects all upholstery. Bow cover is also helpful on chilly days and with light rain.

 

[Chuckbig]

I like the snap covers for the quick and dirty, but mooring if I want it to stay clean.

 

[LeeFlan7]

i keep my boat in a slip with another boat to the left of me....the moving cover was a pain the first couple of times I used it..however...by myself its done in less than 5 minutes...that includes moving the dock lines and fenders to tighten the cover...i prefer the mooring cover as i don't need to drill snaps into he boat...that extra 2 minutes for covering is more than worth it

 

[Hellacool]

i keep my boat in a slip with another boat to the left of me....the moving cover was a pain the first couple of times I used it..however...by myself its done in less than 5 minutes...that includes moving the dock lines and fenders to tighten the cover...i prefer the mooring cover as i don't need to drill snaps into he boat...that extra 2 minutes for covering is more than worth it

This will be my route. The mooring cover is just too good at its job to not use it. I will just need to get better at putting it on.

 

[captras]

I keep my boat in my lift at my house and it is closed on two sides (port and bow). Was a pain the first few times, but was able to figure a system. Now I cover it after every weekend outing. I highly recommend you keep it covered! Protects it from birds, bugs, dust, dirt, debris and anything else that could get in to it without a cover even if it is in covered storage.

 

[Nick Hughes]

My slip only has decking on 1 side as well, I put my mooring cover on in under 5 minutes now. Like Julian said, start at the bow and roll back, snap the cover around the tower from inside the boat. The only difficult part is around the back, I do attach the snaps around the transom hooks. I just do the far side, then step on the cover, do the close to the dock side, then climb out, ratchet down from dock side. Also difficult to climb out after a day of sun and Miller Lites. I'm currently getting my bunks reversed so I can back in and make the transom snaps and exit easier.

 

[Hellacool]

Took me 15 mins today to get the boat ready to run and about 20 mins to put away and that is from the moment we tied off. Fairly easy. Getting better. Based on the dust on my cover, it was a wise choice to use the cover.

 

[VONCE]

I agree with the fact that dirt, bugs, birds, etc will make a nice boat look bad really fast. When I was younger and broke, I got some new jump seats for my Baretta (okay it was my dad's boat but he pretty much donated it to me - I was the only one in the family who used it). Cost me $300 which pretty much took all winter to save. I put the jump seats in, put the boat under the carport/covered lot at my apartment, and didn't put a cover on it. When I took it out that weekend, there were dead bugs everywhere, spiderwebs all over the place, leaves, dust, beer cans, all kinds of stuff. But the most devastating: my new jump seats. A bird pooped on them. Some kind of weird purple berry poop. And that poop left a stain that never came out.