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

[Lodesman77]

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".

+1

Yes, it can sometimes be an issue getting out to it in rough weather, but it's great to have it available all year round.

Doing jobs on board are a little more difficult, but winter rates in marinas are better and if you have a list of jobs to do it can be better to go in and have shore power/bins/chandlery etc handy for a few days.

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[Zagato]

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?

Me now, but it's on stands currently as said

I agree with the enjoyment of working on your boat over winter and having a beer in the local with other owners. I use mine as a caravan which is very handy especially as the mother in law only lives a few miles away - she always asks why I have so much to do on my boat

 

[Marsupial]

boats are designed to float, that is be supported by water all over not perched on 4 spikes (sorry pads). Also sea water stays around 6 deg C in the UK; so its hard to freeze up if its afloat, but not impossible in very extreme weather. My vote is to stay afloat for as long as possible between bottom services, cheaper and kinder to the hull. That said if I had a swinging mooring I could change my mind.

 

[dunedin]

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".

+1. And being in sea water seems to reduce frost damage