Help out for winter or not

[Guest]

It's my first year as a boat owner and i would appreciate advice. should i take my small westerly out of the water for the winter, it's on a swinging mooring at itchenor, ihad thougt that i might go sailing for the odd weekend is this really practical. thanks

 

[byron]

Leave it in mate, the moorings at Itchenor are quite safe in in the severest gales.

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[Guest]

If the mooring is relatively quiet and the boat has no problems that need fixing ...... enjoy the clear winter days ... they can be cold, but I have enjoyed some real crisp and beautiful sunny days in winter. Marina's / creeks / harbours are less crowded, pick of the spots etc. Across from Itchenor - Bembridge, etc. can be good ..... etc. etc.

As an extra - my boat stays in usually 2 out of 3 winters and thats in Chichester harbour also.

 

[iainmillett]

It's always a good idea to let the hull dry out ashore for a month or so if possible.
Also look at underwater fittings etc.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Depends on what you think needs done underneath in terms of maintenance and the state of your antifoul. The moorings in Itchenor are generally very secure though I noticed yesterday that one has dragged near Northshore. It wasn't a Conservancy one. If you keep it in you can enjoy some lovely crisp day sails round the harbour and you can hear the sea birds that you can't in summer because of the background noise.

 

[rogerroger]

I took my boat out from Itchenor yesterday and had one of the best sails I've had all year. It was cold, but this doesn't stop people skiing does it ?

The wind was a really constant F3 from the NW and was managed to get in and out of Chi Harbour without having to dice with hundreds of speeding & unpredicatable dinghies and windsurfers.

Having said that - it will of course get a lot colder than it was yesterday and I AM taking her out of the water this Saturday and putting her back in in March.

This too is my first year and she's coming out primarily as there are so many jobs I didn't do when I bought her in March as I put her straight in and started sailing.

I think I'll leave her alfoat next year but might take advantage of the cheaper winter rates in the marina.

ps - grounded the outboard in the dark yesterday and had to row the whole leangth of Itchenor Reach against the tide ... doh!

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Several years ago we had a Macwester 26 which had been tacken ashore for the winter during the first 16 years. Soon after we had her we left her permanantly in a marina berth in Chichester marina so we could sail during the winter. it is true that we had many very good weekends sailing her.However we then started to have an osmosis problem, but only below the waterline. We can to the conclusion that the winters ashore had given her the chance to dry out and not allow the osmosis to build up.

 

[Guest]

Take her out for about four months. She will thank you for it in the long run. It will also give you peace of mind during those January and February gales when you will really not feel like using her. Pop her back in when the days are getting longer. All the best.