Lift out or leave in?

[robp]

What's the current wisdom on lifting out? With a relatively new boat is it important to "dry out" for a few months, or have lay-up methods and materials improved to obviate this to a degree? Or, does one balance the annual lift out costs against rectification of an unknown possibility of Osmosis?

There are advantages to leaving in of course. Electricity, (heating and dehumidifying) if in a marina. Ease of running up the engine and not being tied to a date for winterising. Access etc etc. And of course sailing on Boxing day and more!

Opinions appreciated.

 

[iangrant]

Leave her in and go sailing in the winter, have the place to yourself, well with a few of us anyway! Osmosis is osmosis - bit like not driving your car in the rain in case it rusts!

Ian

 

[robp]

Cos there is also the argument, that winters aren't winters anymore either!

 

[Mirelle]

Buy a real boat, then she will benefit from staying in, she will be warmer in winter because wood is a good insulator and does not sweat, and you can have a proper solid fuel stove to keep you warm!

 

[billmacfarlane]

If it's a relatively new boat you might have an isophthalic gel coat which while not eliminating osmosis lessens the chance of getting it. I'd try it in for a winter and see how many weekends you get sailing. Then the problem you've got is how and when you antifoul.

 

[iangrant]

Yes, you're right and of course Summers aren't either! Don't tell everyone about staying in the water in the winter they'll all bl**dy do it!

 

[davel]

If it's a new GRP boat you might do well to check the warranty conditions.
I have a relatively new boat which has a clause stating that the hull warranty (5 years) is conditional on the boat being lifted for at least 8 weeks per year.

I lift mine out during January and February - that way I have the opportunity of an Xmas and New Year sail.

 

[robp]

Wouldn't I then be spending more time worrying about the top than the bottom? When would I go sailing??

 

[brians]

To save us all delving into our files - what make is your boat?

I may then have to delve quickly.

brian

 

[ChrisJ]

Also, check your insurance. Mine is cheaper (so they say!) because I agree to be out of the water from 1/11 to 1/3.

 

[robp]

One of Anette Roux's finest... A Beneteau

 

[davel]

It's an X332 manufactured by Danish boat builder X-Yachts.

 

[pvb]

Leave it in...

It's not going to "dry out" appreciably in a British winter anyway. There are lots of great sailing days in the winter months, too. The time to lift it out is in the summer, when marinas have special cheap offers, and when it's much more pleasant and conducive to antifoul and to polish the topsides. Try putting on several good coats of eroding antifouling (such as Micron CSC), using a brush, and you may find that antifouling can be a 2-yearly job, rather than an annual chore.

 

[Mirelle]

Thousands manage it! Hoary old myth put about by the GRP factories PR depts.

 

[vyv_cox]

Mine has been in for five years now, and in fresh water. The hull has always had a tendency to absorb water and was epoxy treated before we bought. There is now some evidence of blistering. We are hauling out this winter to do some sterngear work and, based on past experience, I think the blisters will probably reduce somewhat. The unknown is the epoxy coating, which will inevitably reduce the movement of water outwards. In a couple of years I intend to treat blisters myself, opening them up and filling with epoxy filler paste.

With modern gelcoats I don't believe there is much risk of absorption problems for very many years. Ours was built in 1985.

 

[Guest]

I am currently aiming to leave my two year old boat in for the first 5 years of its life in the hope that if it is going to get osmosis it will do so while under warranty.
This worked with my previous Kelt which was gel shielded under warranty and then had no problems for 7 years

 

[robp]

Quite a few people would probably think that too. As davel posts earlier on however, that might well contravene the Hull Warranty Conditions. If I was writing the Hull Warranty Conditions, I would certainly impose conditions to protect my company as much as possible. I think the best you can probably hope for is to save enough on lift outs to "insure" yourself.