Laying up for the winter

[SeaDave]

I've had a letter through from my marina about this (first year in a marina - previously on river).

Is this generally accepted as a must do for the winter? I ask as my boats been at it's berth for about 3 months so far and I was hoping to get out on it on the odd calm wintry day - which obviously's going to be difficult if it's laid up.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[colingr]

If you want to use it leave it on the water. There's no real need to lift it during the winter, unless the marina freezes over!

 

[dkm]

only a must if you plan not to use the boat and will not provide any heating on board. I'm assuming you have shore power so stick a tube heater in the engine bay, oil filled rads in the cabin(s), a dehumidifier and leave on permanently or on a timer/temperature controlled switch and enjoy winter boating - some of the best days - flat seas and les traffic

 

[whisper]

Agreed, leave it in and use it. We've kept ours in the water for the last 3 years and there are some super boating days to be had "out of season".

 

[SeaDave]

Ah, I don't have shore power as it doesn't have that sort of electrical system.

Would it be alright unheated and non-dehumidified? It was on the river last year, I can't see what difference the sea would make.

 

[rwoofer]

Unheated, boats are better left in the water, unless you are somewhere where the water is known to freeze completely.

 

[SeaDave]

Ok thanks for that - in the water it stays.

 

[whisper]

We've not got any heating or dehumidifier either. Just ensure that there is decent ventilation.
With the hull sitting in the water the boat won't have to cope with such temperature variations that occur on dry land. I suspect that in Winter the sea will be warmer than the river, unless your mooring used to be downstream of a power station /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Malcb]

I've left mine in the water, at a marina, for the past two winters. Only lifted it for a week in May to antifoul etc, as I reckon I can do more in a week in May than in 3 months over the winter.

I'm only lifting it this year because I want to do some extra maintenance which will be easier if it's out of the water for a longer period.

I did tell my insurance that it was in use all the year round, no problem as it is in a marina.

 

[Seadee]

Agreed - leave it in. Fantastic winter days are almost guaranteed if you can get off ata moments notice. I don't bother with dhs and heaters - too stingy to pay marina rates. Just get an old duvet and hoof it over your engine just in case it gets really cold. Agree with Twister though, mine has never frozen leaving it in. Have heard the contrary though, guy on the hard forgot to drain down and cold plus wind froze him up. Expensive mistake.

Leave in, get a pack of squid in and go get those cod.

CD

 

[SeaDave]

Good - I wanted the flexibility of being able to use it as and when conditions permitted.

On the cod note, caught a lovely one on Sunday. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif