Leaving the boat in over winter?

[dunedin]

It is certainly easier on the systems if the boat is left in during the cold of the winter, although it makes sense to drain down the domestic water system as this is most likely to freeze up. Tube heaters in the right place, and some degree of dehumidifying is a good idea. I traditionally have lifted my boat every other winter, but was in fresh water, so less aggressive on anodes and antifoul. My new boat will come out in the spring for anodes and a/f.

Only time we have had issues with frost damage was ashore. We tend to depressure the domestic water (ie open a tap with pump off) when we leave the boat at the end of a sail, and keep one of the tube heaters close to the water pump/ filter. But so far, touch wood, not had any issues with this when afloat, even with air temperatures -10c or so - as the sea water is warmer than the air.

 

[Stemar]

Only time we have had issues with frost damage was ashore. We tend to depressure the domestic water (ie open a tap with pump off) when we leave the boat at the end of a sail, and keep one of the tube heaters close to the water pump/ filter. But so far, touch wood, not had any issues with this when afloat, even with air temperatures -10c or so - as the sea water is warmer than the air.

In the UK, the sea temperature almost never gets below freezing, so keeping the boat in the water protects engine and freshwater systems. I'd only be concerned on the south coast if the weather stayed several degrees blow zero for a week or more, which is pretty rare. It happens far less often that Daily Wail "We're all Going to Freeze to Death" headlines would have us believe

I only come out if I've something I need to do that I can't do alongside - like painting the deck and cabin last winter. Except that if it was dry enough to sand and fill, it was too cold for filler to set, so I ended up spending my summer holiday doing it instead, and it was so hot the paint dried too quickly...

 

[ukmctc]

I'd say most come out due to the insurance cover stating they will over winter in the hard. I only come out when required, that's usually once every 3-5 years. Get a good antifoul, give her a good service and change your insurance policy to cover all year round sailing.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Never ceases to amaze me just how many people think the boat is best out ashore in the winter and the dreaded word the 'sailing season'.

Some posts replies here suggest they are not even using their boats for 6 months of the year, they must be the rich one's who can afford to pay for a boat doing nothing, they will probably be experts propping up their local yacht club bar talking about rusting Beta engines like an earlier post today.

What season? I sail all year round and yes in the winter we get some brillient weather even in -12 C, what heating?? just wrap up and get out there!

I also 'stay in' for minimum 2 years at a time between antifouling/anode replacement, thats another myth to me that it needs doing every year, BUT I do always add an undercoat before adding 2 x antifoul (Jotuns Seaqueen).

My philosophy is simple, if you have a boat 'use it' and that means 'all year' !

Mike

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[JumbleDuck]

My philosophy is simple, if you have a boat 'use it' and that means 'all year' !

My philosophy is simple, if you have a boat 'use it' and that means 'as and how gives you the most fun and not how someone else tells you to' !

 

[Seajet]

+1 !

 

[jac]

My concern is more the lifting / resting in cradles. I know that things very rarely go wrong but boats are designed to be supported all over by water, not in a small number of specific places.

 

[Caer Urfa]

My concern is more the lifting / resting in cradles. I know that things very rarely go wrong but boats are designed to be supported all over by water, not in a small number of specific places.

If a boat is lifted correctly with appropiate lifting slings from a hoist or a crane with a hoist frame it will not damage the boat, however in 7 years I have seen three boats damaged by lifting them without a frame and another with a Hiab truck crane.

Depending on the hull design of your boat some have to be in a cradle, but many including my own can be safely be just blocked and chocked up correctly.

Mike

 

[reeac]

Never ceases to amaze me just how many people think the boat is best out ashore in the winter and the dreaded word the 'sailing season'.

Some posts replies here suggest they are not even using their boats for 6 months of the year, they must be the rich one's who can afford to pay for a boat doing nothing, they will probably be experts propping up their local yacht club bar talking about rusting Beta engines like an earlier post today.

What season? I sail all year round and yes in the winter we get some brillient weather even in -12 C, what heating?? just wrap up and get out there!

I also 'stay in' for minimum 2 years at a time between antifouling/anode replacement, thats another myth to me that it needs doing every year, BUT I do always add an undercoat before adding 2 x antifoul (Jotuns Seaqueen).

My philosophy is simple, if you have a boat 'use it' and that means 'all year' !

Mike



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But if you're talking Colvic Watson then you have a wheelhouse, windscreen wipers and an armchair to sit in.

 

[Caer Urfa]

But if you're talking Colvic Watson then you have a wheelhouse, windscreen wipers and an armchair to sit in.

No mate I never steer 'under sail' from the wheelhouse wheel but always from the tiller, I like to see what's happening with the wind and sea, but the wheel steering sure is handy when it blow up!

Mike