Capt Lou wrote:

Just started and ran my boat's engines for the first time this season. I am
lucky because I keep my boat in the water year round. The weather has been so
lousy around here that most of the boats stored on land still have their covers
on. Going for a shakedown cruise today while the temperature gets close to 55
degrees F.
Sea temperature still in the high 30s.



Hmmm. I think the worse thing you can do is keep a small boat "in the
water" year-around. Other than abuse, nothing ages a small boat faster.
Small boats last longer and look better when they're trailered or kept
on a shore cradle or rack.

I grew up in New England, and my daddy was a boat dealer. I can't
recall anyone who kept a small boat "in the water" year around. Even the
fire and rescue guys hauled their boat and kept it on a trailer at my
dad's place during the winter months.

Just a different opinion on this.