Do you like it in or out over winter?

me too

Like others, I have a boat to enjoy. Some of my best days have been in the clear (cold!) winter. Being based in the West of Scotland (Largs) we have just endured several weeks of sub (very sub) zero temperatures. The boat (mobo) had no heat, no de-humidifier, for over two weeks.
Water tank (tank was half-full when left), pipes, head, even the Eberspacher, etc all worked first time when I put them on at midnight on Friday. Engines started on first turn of the key.
In works for me. Why would I want to give up this great pleasure that is boating just because it's winter?
 
AllanJ said:
Being based in the West of Scotland (Largs) we have just endured several weeks of sub (very sub) zero temperatures.
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Slightly different scenario on freshwater rivers, marinas and canals where the water temperature is likely to get much lower in a fairly short period of time, particularly where shallow.

Some years ago I was based on the Wey Navigation. a freswater river/canal, with only a foot or so of water underneath the boat. During a spell of particularly cold weather - a few degrees below zero for some days - water left in the raw water side froze and the end was forced off the heat exchanger by the ice. Luckily the end nut was soft metal and the thread gave way so not too expensive but taiught me a lesson about winterising!
 
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History always was a valuable lesson!

When I bought No Regrets, there was an inch of Ice in the Marina, and the previous owner showed me the measures he took.

I simply do the same, as it's unlikely to ever get colder than it was...
 
dunmall said:
Osmosis (dreaded by all GRP boat owners) is a process where water travels from one place to another if nothing impermeable 'prevents it' from doing so.
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Not quite. Osmosis is actually a process involving money. In a marine environment, money tends to flow along a gullibility gradient, from the more gullible to the less gullible. Unchecked, so much money can accumulate in the pockets and bank accounts of those offering to "treat" osmosis that they get visibly bulgy. This is known as "flashing ones wad".

Opinions on how to deal with this are varied. Some people recommend simply dealing with bulging wads as they appear - a short length of lead pipe, firmly applied, often helps drains the affected area. Others, like myself, advocate a barrier layer of cynicism which, provided it is maintained properly, can slow the diffusion of money to almost nothing.
 
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