keep in or haul out?

[silverdawn]

Hi, Been reading classic boat magazine regarding the classic sailing club on the orwell river using all wooden boats, very interesting and lovely choice of quality boats. however they indicate that all boats are hauled out at the end of the season and laid up in kings yard.
Can anyone tell me if this correct, would this be under cover in a special unit? I have a wooden boat and haul out two weeks every season for essential jobs and straight back in the water.I have been told by experience wooden boat owners that this is correct proceedure and any wooden boat is better afloat than ashore .
What are the opinions of the forum .

 

[Sniper]

No doubt someone from the club will be along soon to confirm this, but I can tell you that their boats are all laid up in the yard. Although they have a 'temporary' undercover workshop, the boats are otherwise outside, as is my own wooden boat, also in King's yard.

For myself, I prefer the peace of mind of knowing exactly where my boat is over the winter; I can't afford marina charges even at winter rates and I'm not going to leave her on a swinging moring. She's been out most winters in my 12 years of ownership and hasn't suffered. It also gives me plenty of time to do the maintenance.

 

[Tranona]

No straight answer. Traditionally boats were hauled out as much for safety - or put into mud berths. All the gear was taken off and stored because it deteriorated if left on board. If you have a marina or sheltered mooring then stay in. I do the same as you. 2 weeks out early summer to do AF and touch up paint etc. Much more pleasant than struggling in the colder months. Have an overall cover to keep the worst of the weather out, but open at ends to allow airflow.

 

[silverdawn]

thanks for your reply, I would also haul out if i had a swinging mooring but i have a marina berth ( bridgemarsh ) on the crouch, its nice to know that you can leave the boat ashore for extended periods , I intend to repaint the hull plus various other items next season , this will take about 10 weeks.

 

[Tranona]

You may find your clinker built boat will dry out a bit and need to take up when you relaunch, particulalry if you have it out in the warmer months. Covering the topsides, particularly if one side faces the sun could be a good idea.

 

[Sniper]

Good advice, particularly if you plan to strip the old paint back to wood in which case make sure you paint primer on as soon as possible. Also, make sure you are back in the water by the beginning of May; having been ashore in June/July before its frightening how quickly she can start to dry out!

 

[gag]

We're up by the Pentland Firth so get our wooden yacht craned out. We cover the boat completely apart from an opening either end for through ventilation , and liberally dose the teak decks and bilge with salt every few weeks. Works ok but you have to pad the ropes over the boat tarpaulin to prevent chafe. ( We get 80mph winds in winter.)

 

[gary3029]

I have a swinging mooring and I leave my boat in through the winter. I saw how she got battered whilst on the hard in some violent winds one year and decided this must be putting a lot of strain on the timbers. She now rides storms very well into wind so the stress is a lot less. I have a very strong chain and d links and the mooring is checked every year. The eber comes on every day for an hour and this keeps her nice and fresh. The other bonus is the boat is in the water for those crisp clear winter days.

 

[cliffordpope]

I think it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. With a small boat on an exposed swinging mooring I'd go for piece of mind and storage ashore. Then the bonus is that you can do a proper inspectionand have time for maintenance. Even above-water maintenance is easier when you can park the car alongside and use a ladder, power tools, etc.

 

[gag]

When it's ashore you have peace of mind.

 

[ADLS]

I haul out Lazy days and keep her in a very secure shed thats kept at 5 deg. I dont have to take anything off the boat, all smells fresh and all the electrics work when it's time to put her back afloat. yes some of the seams open up, but they do that in a hot spell as well.

They lift out/in, power wash and 8 months storage EU1,200. my mud berth on the Medway was more than that.