Is it sensible to expect to use boat in winter ?

N

Nick2

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We would ideally like to use our boat based at Hythe Marina throughout the winter only lifting her for antifoul and essential dry works.

Other than it being colder and wetter what are the general sea states likely to be around the Solent and is it generally feasible to be using the boat all year round?

Nick

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No reason at all why you cant use it all year. Course in the winter it will become more like the country cottage with perhaps just short hopes and back in the day. But especialy in the Solent, there should be no problem Only thing that stops me is that they take away most of the visitors pontoons and dinghy landing pontoons.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
Winter boating is fantastic cos' there is nobody else around, you just pitch up where you want and when you want and there will be a berth free!
We used our boat all through last winter and intend to do the same this year (we will have it lifted out for a week to do the antifouling,anodes e.t.c) But other than that we will be out and about. Sea states are no worse and it is lovely sitting inside with the heating on when it is -2 outside and all the (very few) yachties are freezing to death/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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L' Moose
 
exactly feel the crisp cool air on your face as you motor along lovely.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
 
Some of the best boating days of the year can be had in the winter. A good set of thermals, hat and gloves and away you go. Last year I bought some ski goggles which are fantastic in the cold wind - stops your eyes running! Mind you Nick, you could just go "downstairs/forums/images/icons/wink.gif As to sea state, wind nd tides still occur in the same way as the summer! I'll be out there[smile}

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Just remember that if you sink on a very cold day you could die in minutes. I have bought a new dry suite for the winter, I know others on here have them, so you may consider one as a good investment if the weather suddenly turned. remember that they don't keep you warm, just dry, so you will need a good 'wooly bear' (all in one fleece suite) or other suitable thermal clothing underneath. The marine superstore were doing the crewsavers for £199 instead of £307, but you may pick one up at the SBS. The suit may not be so important for you as for me on my small boat, but the water would be the same for both of us if anything did happen. So many people see a lovely day but forget to take account of the very cold sea temp /forums/images/icons/wink.gif This could give you that few extra minutes while help is on it's way, if you have an EPIRB or handheld waterproof VHF /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>
 
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L' Moose
 
Just think of some of those crisp autumn and spring mornings when the sun is out, and the sky cloudless. That's when you'll curse if your boat isn't in the water.

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Some of best boating days are in mid winter.Glass smooth water and bright blue sky above.Have always managed to get out for day or two over Xmas.
Heating on,patio doors shut,mug of hot tea.Bliss.
Those woofty summer sports boat owners do not know that they are alive./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Two boats please one here n one in the Med
 
Aha,that comes after you get ashore to defrost all your bits.Before going home to your dinner and a feel up of the old woman to get your hands warm .

<hr width=100% size=1>Two boats please one here n one in the Med
 
Aha,that comes after you get ashore to defrost all your bits.Before going home to your dinner and a quick feel up of your beloved to get your hands warm .

<hr width=100% size=1>Two boats please one here n one in the Med
 
When wet, fleeces will sink you fast. These very cheap materials "feel warm" when dry but are actually more dangerous when you are in the water. A proper heavy duty (not fleecy) outfirt wd be much better.

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the solent is protected, so there are crisp flat days. BUT - it can be very blimmin cold. Extra duvets, more extra duvets plus thermals,. plus windproofs. It'll still be cold.

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ah but he's wearing it under a drysuit so that's not an issue!
However, in the spirit of the thread, can I suggest the following reasons why you are less likely to sink in the solent in the winter:-
less boats / chance of collisions
no hurry for a mooring / berth / anchorage which means fewer shortcuts on checks and whilst en route including hasty anchoring techniques rafting up etc
less alchoholic cold drinks hastely consumed to cool down
less stress and the resulting poor judgement calls!
less showing off



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Answer has to be yes

You'll get some great boating in the winter as a rule and mostly the boat benefits. Certainly the electrical/electronic systems won't suffer from use. Ditto the engines (as long as you don't simply idle them away for hours on the mooring...bad, bad. They need load and propoer temperature.

Depending upon the winter conditions there some things to watch out for. Relying on sometimes overburdened (when all the frost stats kick in) marine power supplies to keep a greenhouse heater going and your domestic water system from freezing is a bit interesting in terms of odds. That said the winters are generally milder these days especially in sea berths.

Back in the 1980s I used to decommission the water system and suck through some water/antifreeze mix on the raw water side before leaving the boat between visits in the winter but the MBM boat has stayed in commission through several winters in Portsmouth since 1998 without an issue.

You do however need to move the fenders at regular intervals if you stay afloat, to stop them chafing the gelcoat or paintwork, and you do need to keep a careful eye on covers. I'd also be tempted to take home any unnecessary external upholstery and, when you leave the boat, to prop open doors, crack open the toilet porthole a touch especially if your boat is badly ventilated and also stand the bunk cushions on end, especially if you stay aboard.

As for the weather at sea, there are periods of high winds; the probability charts show the winter months to be worse as a rule, as you might expect. Also, rather annoyingly, the best weather usually comes when its cold enough to freeze any carelessly exposed bits right off (talking fingers and the like) but the skies can be stunningly clear and the water just as calm as you like in-between the lows.

Water temperature is an issue if you fall in but then, frankly, it's not a good idea to fall in anyway, whatever the time of year. Water temp good anyway at the first part of the colder season; it falls aweay from there until Feb-Mar period which is not funny, even in a dry suit. I wear a 275N lifejacket for winter boating purely because I am cold-blooded and have to wear loads of layers, hence bulk-up easily. Not often a dry suit though, mostly just usual snugs and foul weather kit to keep wind out.

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I was talking about under the dry suite, that is what a wool bear is for /forums/images/icons/wink.gif We use them for diving and they are great, I have never wet one yet and would hope on a boat I wouldn't go that deep /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif. I am pretty open on my boat, so have to take extra care. Some of the nice big boats would give some good wind protection, so I guess you dress to the boat you have, plus any emergency that may come along /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>
 
And Sea Start to yourself /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>
 
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