We are buying a 1988 35 ft Luhrs Alura and are weighing the pros and cons of installing a boat lift vs wet slip and are looking for advice. Either option will be at our private pier in our backyard on a creek off the Chesapeake. The boat is in great condition and has been bottom painted annually with Pettit Hydrocoat and wet slipped locally for the past 9 seasons. Over a ten year period (our expected ownership of the boat) the cost of installing the lift vs wet slip/hauling/bottom painting/winter storage annually is fairly even. Here are some issues we've been considering...
- Will wet slipping for the next 10 years increase our odds of hull/bottom issues compared to being out of the water on a lift. Boats are meant to float, right
- On the lift we will not be able to run the air conditioning to keep the humidity down in the cabin. Should that be a concern?
- We have always had smaller outboard runabouts on lifts so are not familiar with the chores associated with wet slipping. Is it a much bigger head ache? Does it add much more risk to the boat?
- If we keep it on the lift should we still bottom paint every few years? What affect does being exposed to air instead of water have on that ablative paint?
- What winterizing logistics should we consider for staying on the lift all winter vs placing on the hard?
Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Divebums
- Will wet slipping for the next 10 years increase our odds of hull/bottom issues compared to being out of the water on a lift. Boats are meant to float, right
- On the lift we will not be able to run the air conditioning to keep the humidity down in the cabin. Should that be a concern?
- We have always had smaller outboard runabouts on lifts so are not familiar with the chores associated with wet slipping. Is it a much bigger head ache? Does it add much more risk to the boat?
- If we keep it on the lift should we still bottom paint every few years? What affect does being exposed to air instead of water have on that ablative paint?
- What winterizing logistics should we consider for staying on the lift all winter vs placing on the hard?
Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Divebums