Boiling strings works because you're getting rid of all the oil and gunk out of them, and that's what deadens strings. If you never touch the bass, they'll last for a long long time. When I was gigging three nights a week, I'd go through a set every six months (still better than the guitarists' Elixirs that were changed every other week (or so it seemed)).

Fact is, bass and guitar look kinda the same, have the same standard tuning pattern, and that's where the similarities end. If I pick up a bass with my guitar head on, I wonder why it sounds weird for a few minutes and then remember "duh, its a different instrument."

Fun fact, same story is apparently true with pianos and organs, though you'll never hear about it online coz they can't hook their keyboards up :P