Lifting out

[andymcp]

Just wondering if i could canvass the opinions on this forum about wintering ashore.

We have just started the process of buying a second hand boat, 8 years old and normally wintered ashore every second year. It's been afloat last year and at the least needs a good scrub down and antifoul, but with a modern hull is there really any pressing reason to rigidly alternate afloat/ashore? I would rather a couple of weeks to dry out and use it the rest of the winter season, but wouldn't want to store up problems for the future.

As it's going to be out the water soon for the ubiqutous survey, should I look out for anything in particular as a sign of condition of the hull, or am I just being overly cautious and should throw on a few coats before floating her again for the winter?

As you can probably tell, I'm a newbie boat owner who will probably be asking lots more, so bear with me please!

A

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Andy, you could do well to enquire for a price to lift out and stand for whatever length of time at Rothesay dock in Clydebank.
They have a 75 ton hoist, and good hard standing, with power and water, and preassure washing facilities, and are somewhat cheaper than any of the marinas on the Clyde.
Speak to Keith Russel on, 07979470206, he is very helpful.
I have no connection with the buisness, I keep my boat there in the winter and find it a good yard.
C_W

 

[Tranona]

There are no hard and fast rules about this. Many people keep their boats in all year round because it may be cheaper and depending on where they are located they may sail in the winter. There is a safety issue and insurers will only normally insure in all year round if the marina berth is secure and sheltered.

Some, on the other hand, like to "put their boat away" for the winter, taking everything off and covering up as they do not use it.

Again, some say that keeping it out for the winter slows the onset of osmosis, but not sure there is any systematic evidence to support this.

If the concern is "drying out", other than surface water, two weeks will not make any difference.

In our club, most people stay afloat all year round, coming out for 2/3 weeks in the winter to clean and antifoul. I do the same with a wooden boat except that I have my two weeks in early summer when (sometimes!) it is good weather for painting and varnishing.

So, take your pick. To my mind all year round in the water is OK, but if you are not using the boat take sails off and invest in an overall cover to protect the deck and enable you to leave hatches ajar for airflow.

 

[BAtoo]

Tend to winter afloat and come out for a long weekend to AF etc; insurers OK ( no extra premium) and no osmosis problems - just sold last boat after that winter schedule for several years & no osmosis.

Also run a dehumidifier quite hard with fans to circulate the air, close all of the vents etc & generally no heat unless its going to be quite cold.

 

[charles_reed]

When in UK I used to religiously lift out every winter for 4 months - now in the Med only lift out for 8 weeks in summer.
It's a matter of economics.
If you're in the Baltic or where the sea regularly freezes, lift-out and store ashore for the winter is very desirable, or the boat may be ice-damaged.

I suspect that whatever the age of the boat, osmosis is more likely in a boat that's been afloat all her life, but if the boat is wooden it makes more sense to leave it in and only haul to clean and antifoul.

The boats I've seen having to be treated for osmosis come from all over the world and all sorts of makers - I think it's probably down to chance if your boat gets osmotic blistering.
A sensible precaution would be to treat the hull with 5-6 coats of anti-osmosis epoxy such as Gelshield Plus, whether you intend to leave it in the water year-round or not.
Sooner rather than better - you need to get right back to lightly abraded gel-coat and put a coat of different colour hard-racing antifoul on before the normal eroding antifouling.