question about wet slips: what steps to take?

[MrBill_FLL]

OK, I'm putting my boat in the salt water for at least a month while my trailer is fixed. (maybe as long as 3 months)I'm adding a bilge pump to the cabin, with check valve and float switch.(I may add a bilge to the laz, w/ float sw)what else should I do when I keep my boat in the water?do you think its better to keep the motor down or up?what about the balast? add some dry chlorine?any electrolysis issues to worry about (like the balast cap/plug/rod?)I have 2 yr old alabative paint, which I may freshen up... none on the ida rudder.anything else I should or must do?thanks!

 

[Capt. Kermie]

Wet Slip

I can't think of any reason why you would consider leaving the engine down, if you look around the marina you'll see that most folks with outboards have the engine up. I wet slip for 3-6 months of the year with engine up and all fins up as well. As for ballast, I leave it empty if I am already empty from motoring, but if I have been sailing and it is rough I don't bother to empty it. Between sailing and motoring the ballast is refreshed enough that I don't worry about chlorine tablets and the like. Now that you are in a position of being forced to wet slip you will be hard pressed not to do it again, you'll be spoilled, it is hard to give it up once you've done it.