1995 Cobalt 252 consolidated revitalization and fix-up thread

[thunder550]

Looking like the new EOH actuator and coupler will be here Wednesday, and the rear axle brake kit will be here Thursday. So...boat is going to the lake Friday, renting a slip for a night or two and bringing the trailer back home empty to work on. Yay for new brakes!

[Big Block Power]

Looking like the new EOH actuator and coupler will be here Wednesday, and the rear axle brake kit will be here Thursday. So...boat is going to the lake Friday, renting a slip for a night or two and bringing the trailer back home empty to work on. Yay for new brakes!

You know once you slip your boat your not going to want to pull it out.

[thunder550]

I know! Ugh. Send me your address, I need to let them know where to send the monthly bill. Thanks BB! You're the best

[NautiGirl]

Looking like the new EOH actuator and coupler will be here Wednesday, and the rear axle brake kit will be here Thursday. So...boat is going to the lake Friday, renting a slip for a night or two and bringing the trailer back home empty to work on. Yay for new brakes!

You know once you slip your boat your not going to want to pull it out.

Until you see the price tag of slip fees and a lift! I would LOVE (or LOCE) a lift and a slip but hard to justify 4k a year for a slip when it only gets used maybe 6 months out of the year. LOCE the convenience but sheeeeew! No thanks!

[Big Block Power]

I know! Ugh. Send me your address, I need to let them know where to send the monthly bill. Thanks BB! You're the best

Just because I've been helping you so much lately with great advice but all that trailer money would have paid half the year at pleasant right next to SC Wake
Sorry bud just trying to help

[thunder550]

Until you see the price tag of slip fees and a lift! I would LOVE (or LOCE) a lift and a slip but hard to justify 4k a year for a slip when it only gets used maybe 6 months out of the year. LOCE the convenience but sheeeeew! No thanks!

Yup $500/month for a covered one here. That includes trailer storage. Then gotta buy a lift on top of that. Ouch. Although I'm already paying $250/month for storage anyway...

Just because I've been helping you so much lately with great advice but all that trailer money would have paid half the year at pleasant right next to SC Wake
Sorry bud just trying to help

Stahhhhhppppppppppp

[nolaboater99]

Why do you need a lift? It's a boat....it's supposed to be in the water. And you're in fresh water. My '85 Cobalt spent 28 years in salt water....no lift. we had a bi-monthly bottom cleaning service for bottom growth. It was properly serviced, cleaned and maintained (most of the time) and it's still going.
Shawn

[thunder550]

Possible gel coat blistering, marine growth, accelerated anode wear, quagga mussels...several possible reasons that require ongoing maintenance. Or one time purchase of a lift. Not sure if one is better than the other, but those are some reasons. Either way, a slip is not in the budget for the next few years so not a decision that needs to be made any time soon.

[nolaboater99]

I understand the budget but.... I would be stunned if a Cobalt blisters, marine growth in a lake comes off easily during a hard run or with a pressure washer, anodes are supposed to wear....that's why they're there, no answer for the mussels (are they in your boating water?), you're the type of guy that would do the maintenance anyway.

Having the boat in a slip is the best unless you are regularly towing to many different boating destinations. Don't let the lack of a lift keep you from keeping the boat in the water. Trailering, launching, retrieving sucks. And the little extra maintenance you do with the boat kept in the water is that much you don't have to do to a trailer.

[Bfun220]

Trailering, launching, retrieving sucks.

I could wet slip my boat at the city marina for under $400 a season. But I dont like the idea of it sitting in the water for reasons thunder stated. I like to have my boat in the garage where I can work on it, clean it, just sit in it or stare at it. Helps I'm close to my launch. I can leave my driveway and be underway on the water in under 15 minutes.

[nolaboater99]

Everyone has there own opinions which I tend to respect. BUT.... Thunder's fears are unfounded. You've heard stories about blistering. My last 3 boats were slipped. A 26' 4Winns, a 24' Sea Ray and a 52" Motor Yacht. The 26' never had a blister. The Sea Ray and the Motor Yacht each had 8-10 blisters smaller than a quarter. They were there when I bought the boats. (Rule is you repair if they get to half dollar size)

I personally prefer my boats in a slip. I use them more. It's much easier to just drive to the boat and get in and go. No waiting to launch, no waiting to retrieve, no frustration waiting for some inexperienced person that doesn't know what they are doing, no waiting for a boater that doesn't understand launch ramp etiquette, no looking for a parking place for the truck and trailer. You can still wash your boat in the slip. They even make tools to make the job easier. As for working on the boat, unless you are doing something on the outside you can still work on it. Yes, it takes a bit more planning to make sure you have all of the tools, parts, etc. that you'll need. As for the bottom growth....it comes off and unless you are keeping it in salt water, it comes off pretty easily.

Lastly, there is a camraderie at marinas. I've made great friends there years ago that are still friends today. Some of my best days have been just hanging out at the boat, washing, polishing, fixing, drinking beer with other guys doing the same. It's a way to spend even more time with your boat.

Some of you don't want your boats left in the water and that's OK. But the reasons stated above are unfounded and some of you are missing out on a big part of boating. I'd suggest you find a slip and give it a try for a season. You don't need to bottom paint. Just keep the cover on it.
Shawn

[AsLan7]

Thx Shawn.

Great contribution.

I hope to give it a try in the near future.
.

[Ytmsn]

Katie I like that you put your name in the Sig line in red, but why not pink? Are you slipping? Which brings up another point...
Anytime it is you posting and not mr. Nautie you should put one word in pink so we can tell.

[thunder550]

Everyone has there own opinions which I tend to respect. BUT.... Thunder's fears are unfounded. You've heard stories about blistering. My last 3 boats were slipped. A 26' 4Winns, a 24' Sea Ray and a 52" Motor Yacht. The 26' never had a blister. The Sea Ray and the Motor Yacht each had 8-10 blisters smaller than a quarter. They were there when I bought the boats. (Rule is you repair if they get to half dollar size)

I personally prefer my boats in a slip. I use them more. It's much easier to just drive to the boat and get in and go. No waiting to launch, no waiting to retrieve, no frustration waiting for some inexperienced person that doesn't know what they are doing, no waiting for a boater that doesn't understand launch ramp etiquette, no looking for a parking place for the truck and trailer. You can still wash your boat in the slip. They even make tools to make the job easier. As for working on the boat, unless you are doing something on the outside you can still work on it. Yes, it takes a bit more planning to make sure you have all of the tools, parts, etc. that you'll need. As for the bottom growth....it comes off and unless you are keeping it in salt water, it comes off pretty easily.

Lastly, there is a camraderie at marinas. I've made great friends there years ago that are still friends today. Some of my best days have been just hanging out at the boat, washing, polishing, fixing, drinking beer with other guys doing the same. It's a way to spend even more time with your boat.

Some of you don't want your boats left in the water and that's OK. But the reasons stated above are unfounded and some of you are missing out on a big part of boating. I'd suggest you find a slip and give it a try for a season. You don't need to bottom paint. Just keep the cover on it.
Shawn

They very well may be unfounded. It's just personal preference for me. We do have quagga mussels at most of the lakes here in AZ. I've also fixed a void/blister in my gelcoat already. Not sure what the cause was, but nevertheless when I get to a point where I can stomach paying for a slip I will want the boat out of the water when not in use.

Either way, the cost of the hoist is not a deciding factor in getting a slip, it's the monthly slip rental fee that I'm not willing to take on right now. Once that's in budget, the up front cost of the lift should not be an issue. I have a kid in Montessori school and a wife getting her MBA, once those are finished we will be $1400/month ahead of where we are right now and I'll be able to start thinking about a slip. I'm thankful to even have a boat right now.

[NautiGirl]

All personal preference.... And I'm with you...it's not staying in without a lift!