Boat in water for the winter?

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derekgillard

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We are thinking of leaving our boat in the water all winter, we have a new 3G yanmar with fresh water cooling, do you folks who leave your boats in winterise the engine to protect it from frost etc.

We intend to have a de humidifier and heater on board. Any othe rtips for leaving a boat in?


Thanks

Derek
 
Need to consider a few things.

Protect the engine by closing the sea cock and pouring a glycol mix into the raw water filter whilst the engine is running. Pour in until the mix runs out the exhaust.

Make sure all secocks are closed, in case of freezing and damage to hoses. Check all of these hoses prior to opening the cocks when using the boat.

Drain down water and waste tanks, hoses etc.

Keep batteries well charged, remember the engine will be harder to turn over when the oils are colder and thus more viscious.

Im sure ive forgotten lots of stuff, but Im sure other will fill in the gaps.

Regards

Colin
 
If you are not able to go down regularly to wherever you keep your boat, then lift out if you can....peace of mind...

If you are able to pay regular visits, then keep engine in commission and use her.....you'll only regret it if you go down on a beautiful quintessentially british winter's morning and can't go out because the motor is winterised!!!

Our previous boat, a Dehler 37CR, had 3GM30F motor and was kept in commission all year in Plymouth....even Salcombe is useable at that time of year!! I checked the anti-freeze carefully, did an oil change before and after the winter. Then we visited every couple of weeks, used it like a floating caravan and ran the motor for 30 mins if we didn't sail....dehumidifier and 2x 1.5m tube heaters did the trick when we weren't there and diesel heating did the business when we were!!

Now the coldest it gets for us is about 12 degrees, which is actually colder than the sea around us !!! Suffice to say, "Freya" stays afloat and in commission!!
 
Your fresh water will (I hope!) have antifreeze in it, so that's not a problem until well after the sea freezes around the boat. You'll find all sorts of advice about dtraining water tanks, pipes etc and dire warnings of what will happen if you don't, but if you have a fan heater set to the defrost setting or the lowest it'll go to, you shouldn't have any problems with anything freezing. Even without heat, it would take several days of temperatures well below zero before problems start.

Otherwise it's the same procedure as for coming out, except that the mast can stay up! I'd take the cushions home, empty all the lockers and leave them open so air can circulate. Open the engine access too, for the same reason. If you can make up a reasonably weatherproof cockpit cover, I'd do the same with the cockpit lockers.

Oh, and don't forget to remove the sails! I've seen a few genoas blown out over winter!

Personally, I'd leave batteries in situ and run the engine for half an hour every couple of weeks - better still, go sailing, there are some lovely days to be had on the water all through winter.

One last thought. Make sure your insurance covers you for being in commission all year round. Some don't.
 
Really the question is "are you going to continue using it over the winter too?" If you are then I would simply suggest ensuring that you have the correct anti-freeze in the fresh water cooling circuit. If your boat is located where freezing of the surrounding water is a risk (ie fresh water, and especially fresh water "in the pipes") then perhaps your decision is not wise.

Aeolus spends every winter in the water, being used as much as the weather allows. But this is in sea water where the risk of freezing is much slimmer and the temperature of the body of water rarely even approaches 0 deg C. Closing the seacocks when you leave the boat is good advice at any time of year.

Regards,
Jeff.
 
Service the engine in autumn, leave a frost protection heater on board and a dehumidifier. Open lockers, prop the cushions up and keep an eye on weather trends. The last five winters that we have had have been no problem. If an extended period of bad weather was forecast I would winterize the boat in greater depth, but I prefer her to be ready for use. Our marina guys check the power supply regularly so anything that trips out is soon sorted. Oh yes, make sure that your insurer is happy. Most allow 12 months in commission for Solent marina berthed boats.
 
Sorry to hi jack this thread a bit but

I have an option to over winter the boat in a canal (fresh water) which although, unlikely may freeze.
Or on a swinging mooring in a marina in a sea loch.

The canal is cheaper until you take into account the two haul outs to change anodes.
is changing anodes required? or can I just bolt on a magnesium anode to the zinc one already there. (or just leave the zinc one on)


Is freezing a real problem on the sea, is it worth the extra for a pontoon and electric?

I only expect to visit and go sailing 2 or 3 times over the winter.


TIA Guy
 
I would not bother to winterise if you were going to use the boat occasionally. There is little chance of anything freezing in sea water on the south coast . If there is an extended cold snap going to last more than a day or two, put the heater on a timer to come on for a couple of hours each night.

My boat has stayed in every winter for the last 8 or so years with no problems.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would not bother to winterise if you were going to use the boat occasionally. There is little chance of anything freezing in sea water on the south coast . If there is an extended cold snap going to last more than a day or two, put the heater on a timer to come on for a couple of hours each night.

My boat has stayed in every winter for the last 8 or so years with no problems.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would echo this. Generally if the conditions are succiently bad to freeze the sea water around Portsmouth you are probably better in the water than out!

I don't have shore power and have had to chip ice of the secks when arriving at the boat to go fishing in Jan but the only real issues are the loo and fresh water tanks / pipes which are carefully drained down.

The advice to get the engine servicing done when use is anticipated to resuce - end Oct? - is good. On the other hand I wouldn't run the engine for the sake of it - only start it if you are going to bring it up to full working temperature and run it there for a time.
 
I think I had more damage from frost getting inside places and cracking them (delamination on glassing around a retro-fitted p-bracket) when the boat was stored ashore in the past than I do while in the water now.

The boat does have an epoxy gelcoat which replaces the Westerly sponge previously fitted to the boat. This has now stood up to five solid years in the water - main problem is "bronze" skin fittings dissolving faster now the boat is in the water more. Like I have had to electrically bond them together for the first time - it survived 25 years on the first set and about 4 on the second set.
 
I'd endorse most of the advice given here. The Norwegians, where it gets a sight colder than it does here, think that we are daft to winterise engines. They don't and neither do I, just change oil and filters and ensure that you've got antifreeze in the cooling system. If you're not in a marina where I'd put an anti-frost heater on, I'd drain out the freshwater from the tanks and re-fill when on board or use bottled.

As for taking off sails, assuming that you have roller furling gear then don't bother, just ensure that the sail is rolled tight with a few sheet wraps around the sails and ensure that the furling line is tied off and not chaffed. We have left our boat in the water for most years we've had it and she has ridden some fairly foul weather including a two day F12 in a Norwegian marina and plenty of winter F11s on her swinging mooring in Keyhaven.

The last thing I'd consider, if in a marina, are doubling up the mooring lines and adding snubbers and think about how to defend your topsides against the higher degree of movement the boat will get during the winter gales. Personally I'm happier with ours staying on a swinger, this seems to look after the boat better than constant contact with a pontoon.
 
Within the Hamble the temperature of the water doesnt fall below around 6 - 8c so I view the boat as being kept in a bath of warm water. Unlike others here I change the oil in March time on the basis condensation in the oil etc will be removed, and I have a season ahead with fresh oil.

The only problem we have encountered in 3 winters is ice on the decks.
 
Had a guest who runs a canal hire-boat business. He used Honda outboards and left them on all year round. In fact he warned me against taking my outboard off and laying it in the cockpit as he reckons frost and ice is much worse in enclosed areas than above the water.
 
Leave her in and sail her! Just make sure there's antifreeze in the cooling system - not just water - and have some fantastic days sailing when the anchorages are empty, you can pick up a mooring anywhere and there's no risk of the boat falling over in a storm. Boxing day at sea is Brill!!
 
I agree with the majority of posters.I serviced engine at end of October,& drained drinking water tanks.I sailed a few times in the winter & ran the engines every month to charge batteries as I am not on shorepower.This on the cold east coast.
 
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