Keeping in over the winter

[HappyHunter]

I have to choose quickly between leaving boat in over the winter, of lifting at the end of October (letter from Campers yesterday). I have 10 yr old 30 footer with f/w cooled Yanmar 20. What are the implications of keeping the boat in the water in the sense of having to drain down the cooling system etc. if I can't guarantee getting down every week or so. I'm not a fair weather sailor, and would quite like the occasional winter trip, but am worried about not "winterising", which, if I get it done, means I cant use the boat anyway. Any advice grafetully received

 

[tcm]

I think the winerising thing is overdone- provided you take sensible precautions, have enough antifreeze and so on. Once ashore, they may stack you in tightly, may have a powerline or not, you'll need access and so on, and you may not be able to get in until march or later. The big marina do seem to like frightening people into going ashore so they can plan things. If you fancya triop no and again, stay in imho. You can always come out later, for a little while.

 

[ccscott49]

I stay in every winter, but also take precautions, make sure your antifreeze is strong enough and if your mooring is in fresh water, it may be an idea to drain the raw water side, when you're not there, it's simple enough to do and reverse when you come back to the boat, just make sure theres plenty of ventilation. cushions etc are kept dry, or take them out and bring them down when you need them.

 

[tcm]

Re: cushions etc

yes, best to take textiles out and keepem in a nice dry house. If you can't, on a dry day wrapem in a plastic bag as tightly as you can, and ram them into the highest shelf/cupboard you can find, which keeps them away from moisture. For bedding, lift then so they are standing sideways-up, and insulate them from condensation with assorted old crap towels or rags. Go round with a bit of rust inhibitor eg wd40 spray everything metallic, even taps and light fittings, using bogroll or rag to shield non-metallic bits. If you want to find some one to keep an eye on the boat, best pick them when they visit another boat, so you know that they do actuallly visit another boat on yr pontoon, rather sit in an office doing not much.

 

[IanR]

Re: cushions etc

Important to me if you can afford the cost of the Electricity (Assuming you are able to Plug in at Campers) Then plug in an oil filled radiator with a thermostat on low. It keeps the boat free of mildew, circulates air by convection (Not a Fan heater) and gives you a reason to nip down and check the lines. Take a book and a Nip!!!

If you leave the engine bay open, you can also keep the temperature up.

Cheers

 

[pvb]

Yes, stay in...

I too keep the boat in the water over the winter, and there are some nice days when you can get out and enjoy the novelty of seeing very few other boats!

No need to winterise, just check antifreeze concentration. It needs to be very cold indeed before the saltwater in the boat's system will freeze, and we're unlikely to get those temperatures in the UK.

You're best to fill the diesel tank before winter; this will minimise the chance of condensation causing water in the tank.

Ventilation is vital. Not a bad idea either to wipe over hard surfaces inside the boat with Dettox or similar before the winter weather.

You'll find you use little water over the winter, so you might add some purifier tablets to the tank and then fill it up. This should keep it fresh. Take drinking water with you whenever you go.

A lot of people leave shorepower connected over the winter to keep batteries charged. It's better, if you can, just to connect the shorepower for a day or two if the batteries need a boost.

 

[Guest]

electricity is all in at campers, I like to come out each year
it allows the boat to dry
I have time to check all the underwater fittings etc carefully and do any maintainance
I can do a proper job of antifouling, replacing annode, cleaning prop, cleaning and polishing the hull etc.
I leave a dehumidifyer on board with a couple of heaters.

the deal from campers is a good one and they already have my form.!!!

Pete

 

[davidwf]

Buy a dehumidifier and run it over winter, it will keep all the damp at bay. Cost around £100 for cheap one to £199 for one with Humidistat and the capability to run at low temps. Don't buy a boat one go to B&Q.

 

[andyball]

I bought an upmarket B&Q one & it was hopeless at low-temp. Took it back & got the second-cheapest one, which works superbly, even below 5C.

Going back to staying in for winter : I've only been boating for 2 years, but I really enjoy the winter : less "traffic", different scenery, it's great.

 

[pvb]

Waste of money...

You don't need a dehumidifier - you just need ventilation. I've survived about 25 boat winters without ever owning a dehumidifier.

 

[andyball]

Re: Waste of money?....hardly

I don't actually use mine on the boat....in an unheated garage with lots of tools in; for which I did try lots of ventilation & still got damp & rust (the walls are only 1/2 brick ).

It has stopped the problem totally, so not a waste of money for me.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: NOT a Waste of money...

A dehumidifier - by keeping the air in the boat dry, not only protects your upholstery etc, but prevents corrosion to all your electrical ancilories, especially as most boat builders still use cheap old automotive copper wire and not tinned copper.


So if you want trouble free electrics USE A DEHUMIDIFIER. Incidently you don't want too much air circulation with one, otherwise they can become expensive to run. If the moisture content is low, I would argue air circulation is not so important.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: NOT a Waste of money...

Quite right, if the moisture content is low enough, the mildew etc, won't grow. But you still need some ventilation. I've always just ventilated, I don't seem to have any problems. But I've seen a lot of bnoats with de-humidifiers and they seem to be fine. The carcoon, car storage system, just uses ventilation, but it's inside a garage, which tends to keep most of the damp out anyway. I don't have to worry too much in the meddy!