Active Active   Unanswered Unanswered

Boat on a lift - soak or no soak?

Framing, planking and fairing. Repair, or reconstruction. If it's hull related, you'll find it here.

Moderators: Don Ayers, Al Benton, Don Vogt

tparsons56
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:02 am
Contact:

Boat on a lift - soak or no soak?

Post by tparsons56 » Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:51 pm

Having spent many springs of my youth on my back scrapping and painting the bottom of the family 1951 31' Chris Craft cruiser I swore off wood boats. Now after many years of cruising the Great Lakes in a plastic boat we bought a cottage on Lake Charlevoix in Northern Lower Michigan which is a great location for a classic wood runabout.

Now that the "wooden boat" bug has returned I would like to get a 19' to 23' runabout and keep it on a hydraulic lift during the summer. Being that the majority of the time the boat will be out of the water except while in use there will be no "soak" time. Should I just be looking for "no soak" bottoms?

User avatar
JimF
Club Executive Team
Posts: 637
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:48 am
Location: Austin, TX
Contact:

Post by JimF » Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:09 pm

Absolutely! Any boat 40 years old (or older) with an original bottom is worn out from too many soaking up cycles. Get a boat with a recent replacement bottom, be it 5200 or cold molded that is meant to be dry stored. You will not be disappointed if the job was well done. As far as the bottom is concerned, it is like owning a glass boat. If you can start the engine, you can go boating.
1930 Chris-Craft Model 100 20' "MOXIE"
1940 Chris-Craft Red and White 25' "Old Paint"
1946 Chris-Craft Sportsman 25' "CinCity"

User avatar
Doug P
Posts: 1036
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:24 pm
Location: Pacific NorthWest
Contact:

Post by Doug P » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:03 pm

Is the lift over the water and used to lift it in and out?.....if so, the proximity should be enough to keep the hull reasonably swollen.
Doug

boat_art
Posts: 556
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:09 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Post by boat_art » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:44 pm

Some of my customers fortunate enough to have a lift keep it partly in the water at all times. That way even a "soak up" bottom stays ready to go at all times. Either type of bottom will work for you and you will have the best of both worlds!
Let us know what you decide to get and, of course, share some pictures!
http://www.boatartgallery.com
1956 CC Connie 47'
1959 Caulkins bartender
1965 Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer
1953 Chris Craft Holiday
1941 Chris Craft Deluxe
Plus 8-12 customer boats at any time
God don't count the days spent messing around in wood boats.

boat_art
Posts: 556
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:09 pm
Location: United States
Contact:

Post by boat_art » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:47 pm

Wait, I reread your posting. You said it would be out of the water when not in use? In that case there is no question that a 5200 bottom is the best way to go. I assumed you meant a boathouse with the boat suspended on the lifting rings.
We still want pics and updates!
http://www.boatartgallery.com
1956 CC Connie 47'
1959 Caulkins bartender
1965 Cheoy Lee Frisco Flyer
1953 Chris Craft Holiday
1941 Chris Craft Deluxe
Plus 8-12 customer boats at any time
God don't count the days spent messing around in wood boats.

tparsons56
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:02 am
Contact:

Boat on a lift

Post by tparsons56 » Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:19 am

Image

The boat would be on a lift over the water next to the 1976 Herreshoff sailboat I renovated last year.

The waters of Lake Charlevoix can get very choppy so keeing the boat partially in the water would not be an option.

User avatar
Matt Smith
Posts: 921
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:14 pm
Location: Reedville VA,
Contact:

Post by Matt Smith » Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:42 am

Not to add to the confusion. First absolutly with a 5200 bottom. Start there and its not an issue. Something you may consider is a later model woody with a plywood inner hull. I have mine on a lift all summer and it fine with no 5200. I will be honest that I wish it had the 5200, but with the plywood its fine. Jim is right as well, soaking cycles do a ton of wear and tear. Also consider your sides. Sorry, had to add to the mess. It all depends on the specific boat I guess in the end
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

User avatar
WoodenRookie
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:27 pm
Location: St. Louis, MO
Contact:

Post by WoodenRookie » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:02 am

In the 50-60's we would have said Caulk it, in the 60-early 70's we would have said fiberglass, then we moved to the West system thru early 80's and now 5200 is the answer. In 20 years they will be laughing at the 5200 bottoms because we should be using the next space age technology. Each boat, condition, location, budget, and use, will answer each individual needs. Do your research and hope you leave the boat in shape to be passed on. The devil is in the details
1959 18' Continental "Knot Yet"
2013 Cobalt 200WSS
1977 Lakescraft Pontoon

User avatar
JimF
Club Executive Team
Posts: 637
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:48 am
Location: Austin, TX
Contact:

Post by JimF » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:13 am

http://assets1.mytrainsite.com/501198/n ... dock_2.jpg

Could you put in something like this? You absolutely cannot leave your boat exposed to the elements in the harsh solar environment of Florida.
1930 Chris-Craft Model 100 20' "MOXIE"
1940 Chris-Craft Red and White 25' "Old Paint"
1946 Chris-Craft Sportsman 25' "CinCity"

User avatar
Matt Smith
Posts: 921
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:14 pm
Location: Reedville VA,
Contact:

Post by Matt Smith » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:24 am

HA, Jim I almost said the same thing. It needs a cover, the bottom soaking will be the least of the problems. That sun will fry a coat off in a week. the cover will also help it stay moist.
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

tparsons56
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:02 am
Contact:

Post by tparsons56 » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:41 am

Thanks to all for your input. The lift would have a cover but being in Northern Lower Michigan we definitely don't have much of a sun problem [only lack of]. We launch at the end of May and pull in mid-September.

It sounds like 5200 bottom is the way to go. Now to select a model and year!

User avatar
Matt Smith
Posts: 921
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:14 pm
Location: Reedville VA,
Contact:

Post by Matt Smith » Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:46 am

Drive down to the Antique Boat center in Ohio and go sit in some. They have about 70 boats there and you can feel and touch and ask. then you know more. Also Mertaugh Boats up in Hessel is a fantastic resourse. You are in Woody boater heaven up there. Should have no problem finding a cool boat.
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

User avatar
JimF
Club Executive Team
Posts: 637
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:48 am
Location: Austin, TX
Contact:

Post by JimF » Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:04 pm

Sorry! I am combining topics. There is a guy in Florida wondering about how to keep his boat from melting in the sun and I was confusing the issues.
1930 Chris-Craft Model 100 20' "MOXIE"
1940 Chris-Craft Red and White 25' "Old Paint"
1946 Chris-Craft Sportsman 25' "CinCity"

User avatar
Doug P
Posts: 1036
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:24 pm
Location: Pacific NorthWest
Contact:

Post by Doug P » Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:36 pm

JimF wrote:Sorry! I am combining topics. There is a guy in Florida wondering about how to keep his boat from melting in the sun and I was confusing the issues.
Jim.....It has been a long winter, but, Cabin fever in Austin :?:

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests