Had the boat hauled

That's more a case of too few hours than being drydocked for the winter, which is why I suggested that Ruby hire someone to cruise the boat when they can't. A northern boat will be shut down and winterized whether it's in the slip or drydocked. So I'm afraid that her hull will hold more water than that reasoning. There's only 3 reasons not to drydock a boat for the winter up here:
1) To save money
2) You're not confident in the way your yard blocks boats
3) To save money.

2) can be remedied by supervising the blocking. 1) & 3) more often cost more money in the long run, some times a lot more. Worst of all though is when I hear they don't use it enough to keep it clean of barnacles up here. That's the time to sell it to someone who will use it.

Well, you initial posting suggested hauling out "for a season", I thought you meant a boating season aka the summer for you guys Up there.if you meant to haul out for the winter, then sure, that's pretty standard up there and as long as the boat is properly winterized and the machinery prepped, it s fine. Down here boat stay in water year round with a week long haul out for paint every other year.

given a choice between two boats , a northern boat with low hours (50 hours or less a year) or a southern boat with say... 100 to 150 hrs a year, I may be tempted by the higher hour boat as long as they both have been maintained to the same level. The only thing which will really suffer are the soft goods, assuming the gel coat has been buffed and waxed.

There will be no difference when it comes to the hull. If anything, the northern boat could have some hidden freeze damage in the decks or hull if water got in.

Blisters aren't a big deal on solid hulls, they re just cosmetic. I guess it could be a concern with a cored bottom but really not a worry on a thick solid glass hull like a hatt. Yards love to make a stink out of it and charge a ton of money on often questionable miracle cures.

Lay up for a boating season? That's what winters are for.
Change that equation to two boats, both with 100-200 hours a year which is what they should be run up here (and more there), and tell me which you'd choose. The Florida boat would have spent most of the year sitting -repeat sitting- in a very corrosive environment (heat, sun, warm salty water, high humidity,lots of marine growth, pests, hail, electrolisys/ there's none for te time a boat is laid up).

Freeze damage is not hidden. Either the hull is scratched from breaking through it or it's crushed, but all marinas up here use bubblers if they keep boats in the water, and most use them anyway to keep their pilings from being lifted.

I'd take the one that surveyed best. I would want to know any problems and, if fixable, the cost to do so. Now, perhaps many of you have the expertise to fully examine the boats. To me the climate is just one part of the equation. How it has survived whatever conditions is key. That is the result of build, climate, maintenance, and in some cases luck. It's costly but making a big mistake is more so.

It depends on the survey and records.

Pests?? Like NY size rats ?. Growth is cleaned, no factor. Sure the water is salty but I don't this it s less salty up north.

Down here the AC is run 24/7/365 so interiors are pretty dry, no even close to the dampness I ve seen up north and the condensation.

I just don't think it s as clear cut as many make it seem, and most boats do not run 100 hrs a year up north, browse YW, you ll see.

This has gotten to be a rediculous debate, having nothing to do with the OP's post. Advice from Florida about how to take care of a boat on Long Island is irrelevent.

As for "most boats do not run 100 hrs a year up north", my clients are told to run a minimum or 100 hours in our 6 month season or sell the boat or start saving their pennies for a rebuild. I've had only one client buy a boat with too low hours, and he got to use it for 13 hours before shelling out 30K for a rebuild.

Love the Internet.

Keeps people honest.


I did not say that.

Yes, you did.



P.S.- Winter is the season in Florida. Dah.

Just ask Pascal.

Folks

NYCAP you are quite right. My own experience up north here is this: My 50 has been in the water for 15 Winter seasons for me. Post used some water proofing in first 2 coats in the mold.? Even though I have never noticed blisters, I had my boat barrier coated 12 years ago with 5 coats of barrier epoxy. I short haul every 2 year and have 1 coat of ablative paint applied. I run my boat a lot 100-150 hours a year , which is unusual for a rec boat-( My wife knows all the restaurants on the south shore of CT and north shore of LI). I have noticed no blisters . However, If I sit in the slip for more than 2 weeks during late July thru Oct, I'll send the diver down.

I think also, its all about where you are docked. At one point, I had a great place in Oyster Bay that was very brackish from the underground streams. No growth ever!

Ruby, I was blinded by the sun reflection off your boat as I came home last week. You are becoming a navigational hazard!