Advice on Wintering Boat

[OceanSprint]

I would value some advice with my boat.

- I put her into the water for the first time in June 2013 after it had been stored ashore for some time.

- It had recently been coppercoat antifouled

- I enjoyed some lovely winter sails in it last winter

- It is kept in a NE Scotland very secure marina

So I am coming up to the second winter for her in the water, and I am not sure what to do. Casual inspection from the surface seems to show her hull is ok, but should I:

1. Leave it in the water for another winter, and squeeze some more sails in.

2. Dry her out (she is bilged keeled and there is a drying pad in the marina), and check the bottom - then clean it if needed (free)

3. Lift her out for a proper clean and polish (£100 to £200 crane lift)

Any thoughts very welcome.

 

[pvb]

For many years, I kept my HR352 in a marina berth all year round, just lifting every second summer for antifouling and polishing. My new boat has a saildrive, so will probably need the anode checking annually. Otherwise, there's no reason for annual liftouts - boats are unlikely to "dry out" in a UK winter!

 

[simonfraser]

Leave her in, use her, you only live once.
And easier to keep her in commission 365 days than just the summer.

 

[OceanSprint]

Many thanks. I did worry about "osmosis" and water seeping into holes in my rudder, after reading lots of stuff in magazines. Leaving it in, for me, is a really good option.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I seem to worry more about my boat when it's out and on the hard than when she's in the water.
She's staying afloat again this year (sheltered swinging mooring 1.5miles from the quay), but was out last winter for major electrical, mechanical and rigging work.
Every forecasted gale had me wondering if she'd fall-over, but on the mooring she just bounces a bit.

I may not get much if any sailing but I still enjoy pottering about on her, and just sitting on her away from the shore. Good therapy (not really needed!) and useful for adding to the never-ending "To Do List".

Apparently osmosis won't be a problem - or so I was told on here a few years back. I was also told that boats are meant to float not stand on their keels putting un-natural pressures on the hull.

The big benefits are the lack of hassle hauling-out and putting-back (I have a v. large wagon-chassis trailer which is a pig to manoeuvre) - and the cost-savings.

 

[OceanSprint]

I seem to worry more about my boat when it's out and on the hard than when she's in the water.
She's staying afloat again this year (sheltered swinging mooring 1.5miles from the quay), but was out last winter for major electrical, mechanical and rigging work.
Every forecasted gale had me wondering if she'd fall-over, but on the mooring she just bounces a bit.

I may not get much if any sailing but I still enjoy pottering about on her, and just sitting on her away from the shore. Good therapy (not really needed!) and useful for adding to the never-ending "To Do List".

Apparently osmosis won't be a problem - or so I was told on here a few years back. I was also told that boats are meant to float not stand on their keels putting un-natural pressures on the hull.

The big benefits are the lack of hassle hauling-out and putting-back (I have a v. large wagon-chassis trailer which is a pig to manoeuvre) - and the cost-savings.

Music to my ears!

Mine too has a road trailer for it to sit on, and the thought of emptying all the lockers of the accumulating junk to lighten the boat prior to sitting on the trailer was daunting.

I think I will still sit it on the drying pad for one low tide to look underneath.

But also still need to remove outboard for a service - but not such a huge task.

Thanks again.

 

[laika]

2. Dry her out (she is bilged keeled and there is a drying pad in the marina), and check the bottom - then clean it if needed (free)

If the boat has been in the water since you bought it you don't know what the anode wear is going to be like. If it's a bilge keel it's a no-brainer to check it out and replace if necessary. Much cheaper than your prop etc. being eaten away

 

[Fantasie 19]

2/. would do it for me...

 

[Kwik Decision]

If the boat has been in the water since you bought it you don't know what the anode wear is going to be like. If it's a bilge keel it's a no-brainer to check it out and replace if necessary. Much cheaper than your prop etc. being eaten away

+1. Just done an anode change and btm scrub on ours, on the beach at E Head. We'll now stay in over winter.

 

[jac]

If you have a drying area you can use then dry out one nice tide. Clean off any weed and replace the anode if required.

No need for anything else.

 

[Birdseye]

I would value some advice with my boat.

- I put her into the water for the first time in June 2013 after it had been stored ashore for some time.

- It had recently been coppercoat antifouled

- I enjoyed some lovely winter sails in it last winter

- It is kept in a NE Scotland very secure marina

So I am coming up to the second winter for her in the water, and I am not sure what to do. Casual inspection from the surface seems to show her hull is ok, but should I:

1. Leave it in the water for another winter, and squeeze some more sails in.

2. Dry her out (she is bilged keeled and there is a drying pad in the marina), and check the bottom - then clean it if needed (free)

3. Lift her out for a proper clean and polish (£100 to £200 crane lift)

Any thoughts very welcome.

Leave it in, enjoy using it. Dont ever pay a ridiculous £100 to £200 for a crane lift. The max you should pay might be £50

 

[jac]

Leave it in, enjoy using it. Dont ever pay a ridiculous £100 to £200 for a crane lift. The max you should pay might be £50

Depends where your are though. At Solent prices you will do well to get one for less than £200.

 

[Birdseye]

Hes based in the back of beyond - n e scotland. But even in the solent you wouldnt pay £200 unless money didnt matter.

 

[jac]

Hes based in the back of beyond - n e scotland. But even in the solent you wouldnt pay £200 unless money didnt matter.

If you want to use one of the commercial operators then you do.

 

[NormanS]

Hes based in the back of beyond - n e scotland. But even in the solent you wouldnt pay £200 unless money didnt matter.

Says he from Falmouth, which some of us would consider to be beyond the back of beyond.
Usually when lifting boats out with a crane, lots of owners club together, and split the cost, bringing it down to a reasonable figure.

 

[VicMallows]

+1. Just done an anode change and btm scrub on ours, on the beach at E Head. We'll now stay in over winter.

My first reaction was: 'E Head .... that's a long way to travel from Hamble just to dry out'. Then I started thinking: how many convenient free places are there for a bilge keeler to dry out (other than within Chi Hbr)?

Priory Bay comes to mind ....but the 'Lord' tends to get upset about scrubbing-off.
Bembridge beach charge £10.
Go west to Studland/Poole and the tidal range is insufficient.


Edit: sorry if this is irrelevant to the OP question...... that is the problem when simply replying to 'the latest post'

 

[OceanSprint]

Says he from Falmouth, which some of us would consider to be beyond the back of beyond.
Usually when lifting boats out with a crane, lots of owners club together, and split the cost, bringing it down to a reasonable figure.

Don't quite follow all of this but yes, I am from Falmouth, but no I don't sail there after moving to NE Scotland 28 years ago. We really value the Solent and all the sailing waters down there as it keeps you lot from our pristine waters up here in the back of beyond, and thank goodness we are here.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Don't quite follow all of this but yes, I am from Falmouth, but no I don't sail there after moving to NE Scotland 28 years ago. We really value the Solent and all the sailing waters down there as it keeps you lot from our pristine waters up here in the back of beyond, and thank goodness we are here.

+1+ for the even better NORTH WEST :encouragement: