Leaving boat in water over winter

[chouchou]

I have a Jeanneau 29.2 (2002) and sail it on inland waters in Ireland. I left the boat in the water last year. Significant amounts of ice formed on the lake and the boat was fine. Does anyone have an opinion about leaving the boat in the water when ice forms.

Also I take the boat out of the water about every year and a half for a couple of weeks. The reason is I use the boat all year around. Does anyone have an opinion on only taking the boat out for a minimum amount of time.

Regards

 

[dgadee]

Last year boatyards in lough derg (county clare) were telling me that had done good business with replacement engines due to cracked blocks.

 

[daveyw]

Lough Neagh had a couple of damaged engines and at the thaw a boat sunk in Kinnego marina. Make sure you antifreeze both the fresh water side and raw water side of your engine. Ensure you have antifreeze blowing from your exhaust so the water in your silencer is protected. I also pumped antifreeze through my toilet and ensure all my seacocks are shut. An automatic bilge pump is a good idea.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Some say it's good for GRP boats to 'dry', others say it's not good to have a wooden boat in too dry a state for too long otherwise they open up.
I like my boat ashore in the winter as it's easier to work on where I am.
A friend of mine built himself an all over tent attached to his cradle with good walking height above etc., I've gone part way and had a tall, over-all cover made so I can continue working on her during the winter. It must also help keep the frost out of those places that can get damaged.

 

[Csail]

Just launched ours, safer in the water over winter, just check engine anti-freeze and drain fresh water systems.Also fill diesel right up.

 

[Seajet]

Just launched ours, safer in the water over winter, just check engine anti-freeze and drain fresh water systems.Also fill diesel right up.

Csail,

how do you think she's safer in the water over winter - thieves and vandals ashore ?

When my dad bought a new boat and put her alone on the club moorings, the scrotes went for her like a magnet and broke in...something to do with standing out I suppose.

I happen to be a fan of gel-shield preventative treatment against osmosis, would also worry about skin / engine fittings and anode maintenance.

Another consideration is that my insurers - St Margarets / Haven - get funny about boats left afloat over winter, swinging moorings are right out, it's a marina or ashore.

I did try keeping my boat afloat in a marina over a winter, have to admit we didn't get the calm sailing I'd imagined, and the nights were long, dark and cold...

I used to race dinghies in the winter and although we got frozen, it was only for a few hours and adrenalin kept us warm if it was windy, the showers made it worth trying to win so as to get there before the other berks or they used all the hot water !

It has been known for winter sailors to take advantage of hot air hair and / or hand dryers in club or marina loos, and a hot air blower heater producing dry air ( on an RCD safety plug ) is a godsend for boat and self.

 

[maby]

Csail,

how do you think she's safer in the water over winter - thieves and vandals ashore ?

...

There's a surprisingly large number of boats seriously damaged every winter in boat parks after being blown off their cradles in strong winds. Dunno about swinging moorings out on the open water, but our insurance company told me that they regarded our marina pontoon mooring as safer than the marina boat park.

 

[Skysail]

A boat afloat in a marina is less likely to freeze than ashore. Sea water temperatures very rarely go below zero C, at least on the South coast.

Most insurers insist boats are not left on swinging moorings in winter.

 

[Seajet]

Maby,

I'd think that's down to poor cradles !

When the 1987 October Hurricane hit, a lot of boats got totalled by being knocked over in 'domino effect'.

After that the practice of shoring boats on oil drums became frowned upon, though a friend has just had his boat's hull damaged by an over-enthusiastic type wielding a hammer against a tapered wedge, it takes a bit of knowledge, intelligence or experience to do things right...

Skysail,

I always empty the fresh water and loo tanks for that reason, though must admit I've known people who don't, and seem to get away with it; not that I'm recommending it or would try it !

I also donate last season's petrol to the lawn mowers and store the tank dry & warm, though this would be tricky with a built in diesel tank; when I had one I drained it and rinsed it with Genklene over winter, as that's not available now I suppose white spirit or preferably some better evaporating spirit would do.

 

[saltylegs]

Lough Neagh had a couple of damaged engines and at the thaw a boat sunk in Kinnego marina. Make sure you antifreeze both the fresh water side and raw water side of your engine. Ensure you have antifreeze blowing from your exhaust so the water in your silencer is protected. I also pumped antifreeze through my toilet and ensure all my seacocks are shut. An automatic bilge pump is a good idea.

I guess Paddy must have been off then

 

[jimi]

over the winter i leave an oil radiator on in the boat at a low temperature to

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Last year boatyards in lough derg (county clare) were telling me that had done good business with replacement engines due to cracked blocks.

Yes it was the same here in Cardiff, though I had no problems despite ice forming round the boat and staying there for several days.

 

[daveyw]

I guess Paddy must have been off then

I think he might have been!

 

[bikedaft]

dad's boat (grp) has been in the water for about 36 of the last 38 years. ice can nibble at the teak rudder so we used to put tyres at bow and stern, but its not been still and cold enough for many years now (tayvallich) ice was 6" one year and a couple another year.

have started wintering ours in the water also.