I might be renting a spot on a lake long term close to where I'm working. I've noticed you never see any bass boats docked long term. I assume this is mostly because people tend to fish different spots, but are there any adverse affects to keeping your boat on the water in season?

I don't ever have time to fish (three times on the boat this year...luckily its paid off) and would like to just keep it on the water so I can leave my truck at home (have a company vehicle) and have time to fish after work.

Thoughts?

EDIT: Just thought about charging batteries...I guess I could pull an extension cord all the way out there...are the boats grounded well enough to not cause a shock hazard? (Its a Nitro).

Unless you plan on fishing every other day I would not leave a boat in the water

Sun is the enemy of any fiberglass boat. The UV rays will damage the gel coat, so, you should keep it covered. Then, no matter how clean and clear the water may appear, the hull will get coated with gunk, be it living organisms or chemical slime on the surface of the water.

That's why there are covered docks with mechanisms that will lift the boat out of the water when not in use. To protect the gel coat from the sun, you should keep the boat covered.

Factor in the cost of docking fees, plus the increased maintainance and it makes leaving the boat in the water a bad deal.

While not as harsh as a salt water environment, leaving a boat on the water, especially one used infrequently will take its toll on a boat.

Why is it worse to leave a boat sitting? Good question. The simple answer is that when it sits unused, bird, insect and other animal droppings sit on the surfaces. A regularly used boat at the very least gets rinsed down by spray, and usually wiped down after each use.

Ever see a mobile home that has been sitting in the same place for years with the tree sap, mildew, and who knows what else covering the surface?

So as an alternative...is there a storage facility anywhere near this lake? Perhaps something enclosed...with electricity...Look outside the box...