Haul-out or leave-in the water for winter???

[Robert Wilson]

There are obvious costs savings and the potential benefit of a few winter sails, of not hauling-out , but what would be the draw-backs or harm of leaving a GRP boat in the sea (on a sheltered mooring)?
My tri-ennial survey is due next winter (2013/14) so the boat will have to come out next end-of-season.

I have a few maintenance jobs and over-wintering of the engine/boat/rigging etc., all of which could be done "on the water", and all other below-waterline jobs on the "annual to do list" can be done when dried-out for a tide or two.

It seems to me that a boat on a mooring (with the mast up) is just as safe as ashore with the mast up.
I am lucky that I can get to the boat every day if need be (gales permitting) to keep an eye on her.

What does "The Team Think"?

 

[Tranona]

The constraint is likely to be your insurance company. Generally not keen on insuring boats on swinging moorings in the winter.

Clear downsides are potentially difficult access in bad weather. Common to leave boats in the water in marinas and mud berths (probably not many in your part of the world!) and they come to no harm.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Thanks for prompt response.
Actually my Insurer (Towergate Mardon) insure me for 365 days a year on the water. In the past I have alerted them when I've hauled-out and then re-floated. Absolutely no quibble from them.
You're right about mud-berths, none up here (unless you get the tides SERIOUSLY WRONG !!).
I have heard that long-term immersion in water/salt water is bad from the osmosis point of view, but I've heard arguments both ways. Verrry confusing!

 

[Tranona]

A boat such as yours either has osmosis or has not. It is potentially there from the day it was moulded. There is no clear evidence that leaving in the water or hauling out has any real influence on whether it develops or not. So, no harm in being confused!

 

[Robert Wilson]

A boat such as yours either has osmosis or has not. It is potentially there from the day it was moulded. There is no clear evidence that leaving in the water or hauling out has any real influence on whether it develops or not. So, no harm in being confused!

Now THAT'S the first time anyone has told me THAT. If true (and I humbly assume you are correct) then that is very good news.
At least next winter when my survey is carried-out then my surveyor (Ian Nicholson) should spot any of the dreaded "O" and advise accordingly.

All of you, please keep the GOOD NEWS coming - but those with grim tales to tell please alert me too!!

 

[Zagato]

I have recently looked into this and quite a few keep their boats in on swinging moorings in Chichester Harbour over the winter. The only 3 owners that are about in my yard at the moment are keeping their boats in once they have been done up. The Harbour Master says quite a large proportion are left in and I know of four other Crabbers that are left in although two of those are in Chi Marina.

I wouldn't worry about osmosis, think instead of all those crisp sunny winter sails with nobody around I'm keeping mine in next winter, It will save me 1K and that can go towards heating gear ...

 

[Tranona]

Your boat is getting on for 40 years old, so even if you haul it out in the winter it has spent 20 years in the water already.

Personally, I would not leave a boat on a mooring all winter unless it was really sheltered for reasons of accessibility and security, but have no problems leaving it in the water in our nice sheltered marina, along with the other 400 or so boats in the club.

 

[Tugw]

Mines been on the mooring for over 4 years apart from the odd beaching to clean its bum,No problem.

 

[ukmctc]

There are obvious costs savings and the potential benefit of a few winter sails, of not hauling-out , but what would be the draw-backs or harm of leaving a GRP boat in the sea (on a sheltered mooring)?
My tri-ennial survey is due next winter (2013/14) so the boat will have to come out next end-of-season.

I have a few maintenance jobs and over-wintering of the engine/boat/rigging etc., all of which could be done "on the water", and all other below-waterline jobs on the "annual to do list" can be done when dried-out for a tide or two.

It seems to me that a boat on a mooring (with the mast up) is just as safe as ashore with the mast up.
I am lucky that I can get to the boat every day if need be (gales permitting) to keep an eye on her.

What does "The Team Think"?

Only haul out if needed, and only for the maximum amount of time needed only for jobs that need the boat out.
Use Jotun antifoul seaqueen don't need tobe out for 3 years!

 

[Robert Wilson]

Zagato: Sorry to enrage you, but my "haul-out/ mast-down and then put back, over-winter hard-standing" costs come to about £150.......
So WHY am I bothered about costs, I hear you all say? Ah well, "every little helps", as "TrashCo" say.

Tranona: I never thought of it that way! But I was told many years ago that it helps to "dry-out" each year.
That was when I had a 70 year old wooden gaff cutter - she dried-out each winter, opened-up her planking and leaked like the proverbial sieve for weeks after put-back.!!
My poor Javelin30 sits on her mooring all by herself, except for a yacht about a mile away. SOLITUDE up here - marvelous!

 

[Robert Wilson]

Only haul out if needed, and only for the maximum amount of time needed only for jobs that need the boat out.
Use Jotun antifoul seaqueen don't need tobe out for 3 years!

Thanks; another positive response
I'll look-up that Jotun a/f, sounds good.

 

[Zagato]

Zagato: Sorry to enrage you, but my "haul-out/ mast-down and then put back, over-winter hard-standing" costs come to about £150.......
So WHY am I bothered about costs, I hear you all say? Ah well, "every little helps", as "TrashCo" say.

Blimey, if it's that cheap buy another boat just for winter

£500 haul in and out twice - double lift each way onto tractor and trailer to site
£150 mast up and down BUT I don't need to do this
£45 per month storage which is where the saving is over others in the area.
+ hire of stands!

Luckily I haven't had a boat long enough to incur the extra lift charge or mast down! If I bottle out of leaving her in during say Jan/Feb I can get her hauled out at another place and stored for probably £360 - certainly cuts the cost down but I'll leave her in...

 

[AntarcticPilot]

............

If I bottle out of leaving her in during say Jan/Feb ...........

Actually, judging by various incidents reported on here, where boats have been badly damaged or even destroyed by falling over or being in the way when another boat fell over, I feel my boat is safer in the water! After all, she CAN'T fall over when she's in the water, it is very unlikely that another boat will fall over on her, she's in a sheltered marina, so what's to go wrong? It happens that up here, anti-fouling usually lasts 2 years without any problems anyway.

I usually only hoist out every other year at the moment.

 

[Zagato]

Very true, I know of a row of boats that fell like dominoes in Wales and the owner of my yard suggested I left the mast down this winter despite being in between two higher boats on cradles - I put my mast up though

There seems to be many differing opinions on how to support a boat from one stack of wood chocks in the middle to wood props/ metal stands to cradles! I have four metal stands with additional wood props at the bow sides and one underneath the bow. It used to have just one set or wood chocks on each side YIKES but it didn't ever fall over sooo...

I wouldn't sleep at night with it like this...

 

[pvb]

My boat stays in all year round; it only comes out for a week every other summer for antifouling, anodes and polishing. I do it in the summer when marinas have a cheap summer lift-out offer.

I've never subscribed to the view that having a boat ashore in an English winter will "help it dry out".

 

[Slycat]

My boat stays in all year round; it only comes out for a week every other summer for antifouling, anodes and polishing. I do it in the summer when marinas have a cheap summer lift-out offer.

I've never subscribed to the view that having a boat ashore in an English winter will "help it dry out".

Nice to hear this!
I love having my 24' yacht in the water all year around but was was always told it should be lifted out to 'dry out' ever few years!

Sheltered Marina so wear and tear isn't a problem.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Blimey, if it's that cheap buy another boat just for winter

Now I hadn't thought of THAT idea!
Anyone know of a good Javelin30 going at low price?? !!!!!!

But hang-on a minute - what do I do with the "summer boat" during winter? Rats, back to the original problem!

To you all, many thanks for the varied ideas and resons submitted.

Hasn't ANYONE got a reason for NOT leaving the boat in the water over winter?

 

[Robert Wilson]

Very true, I know of a row of boats that fell like dominoes in Wales and the owner of my yard suggested I left the mast down this winter despite being in between two higher boats on cradles - I put my mast up though

There seems to be many differing opinions on how to support a boat from one stack of wood chocks in the middle to wood props/ metal stands to cradles! I have four metal stands with additional wood props at the bow sides and one underneath the bow. It used to have just one set or wood chocks on each side YIKES but it didn't ever fall over sooo...

I wouldn't sleep at night with it like this...

I wouldn't be too keen to leave MY boat like that! At least the various blocks could be stitched together with a battern to stop them spreading open?? I wonder who insures it?

 

[Vara]

Marina berth and I leave it in all year round, my aim is to have it out the water for a maximum of an hour a year.

Benefits, use boat as country cottage, every now and then you get some bonus sailing days or weekends, boat is in environment which rarely drops below 10°.

Most routine jobs can be done with boat in water.

Can't see any downside to this policy.

 

[doug748]

Hasn't ANYONE got a reason for NOT leaving the boat in the water over winter?

Well, I enjoy the rhythm of the seasons and looking after the boat, and adding stuff, over the winter is part of the fun.

I manage to open the boat up with lots of vents and never have a problem with condensation. Power is at hand and you can charge the batteries and warm your feet with a fan heater.

You get to socialise with other old pharts in the boatyard and drink lots of tea whilst avoiding doing any DIY at home.