our first UK winter with our sailboat - noob questions about what to do

[Marceline]

Hi - just wanted to check on a few things re: our 24' sailboat we bought earlier this year

Its now come off its mooring and in a marina ready to go onto the hard at the end of this month. The engine is a petrol outboard (in a well) that we are planning to take out and bring home to put in the garage (and watch youtube vidoes how to winterise), and weer plannin to take off the boat our sails, cushions, and few other things and bring them home to store for winter, and put the anchor and warp also somewhere dry, and give the boat a thorough clean

just wanted to ask about other things we should do ?

 

[Sandy]

Make sure you have plenty tea and coffee onboard, bring fresh milk for the hours and hours of chatter with boat owners avoiding doing all sorts of projects they have been putting off for years and years.

 

[MoodySabre]

Drain the water tank. Tie off any lines that might slap against the mast.
If you are leaving a battery on board then make sure it is fully charged.
If the boat is not level in its cradle then you might find that rain finds a way in so visit now and again.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Overhaul the seacocks if any and clean off/ antifoul the hull below the waterline. Polish the topsides. If the mast is being unstepped check the rigging and any electrics up there.

 

[coveman]

Hi - just wanted to check on a few things re: our 24' sailboat we bought earlier this year

Its now come off its mooring and in a marina ready to go onto the hard at the end of this month. The engine is a petrol outboard (in a well) that we are planning to take out and bring home to put in the garage (and watch youtube vidoes how to winterise), and weer plannin to take off the boat our sails, cushions, and few other things and bring them home to store for winter, and put the anchor and warp also somewhere dry, and give the boat a thorough clean

just wanted to ask about other things we should do ?

Your plan sounds good - try and devise a good method of ventilating the boat would be my suggestion to avoid condensation and moulds. Flush the outboard as soon as you can in fresh water to clear out any salt deposits.

 

[Stemar]

Draining the water tank might depend where you are and how easily you can access the boat in a hurry. It'll take a day or two even with quite a severe frost to get the inside of the boat that cold. I'm in the S of England, and frosts severe enough and long lasting enough to risk freezing internal pipes and pumps are rare, plus I'm less than an hour from the boat, so I could get down there easily enough, so I don't bother. Further north and further from the boat, I certainly would drain everything or run some potable antifreeze through the system. (Don't forget to flush it out at relaunch or your tea will taste horrible!)

As for the anchor and warp, mine just gets left on deck for a couple of weeks so the rain can wash the salt off, then I put it away after a few dry days.

 

[Boathook]

As you clean, if you find anything 'wrong' make a note of it and look again and sort out after cleaning. A lot of problems are a quick fix or very minor so can be left. I did have a 'to do' list but gave up as it got to long ! Always at the top though was sailing.

 

[LadyInBed]

If your boat is a 'dry boat', no buildup of internal moisture and you can ventilate, no problem. But if you do get a moisture build up, explore the possibility of running a mains cable to the boat and connect a couple of 80w incandescent light bulbs on a time switch. A small heater or radiator would probably be too much.

 

[LiftyK]

Much good advice above. I would add:
- if you have not emptied the outboard fuel tank do a) add fuel stabiliser to the fuel (StaBil or Briggs and Stratton or similar) then b) run the engine in a big bucket or with flushing muffs and then c) turn of the fuel cock and let the engine run dry and stop
- if you have a removable depth or water speed transducers, pull them out of the hull and leave the holes open to help increase ventilation

 

[jac]

When cleaning the boat, use some of those antibacterial/ bleach wipes used with toilets or just cheap bleach and water and sponges (with gloves unless you have very tough skin!)

they do smell a bit but will kill any mildew and leave enough residue to stop any spots developing over the winter and the smell will be gone in a few months!

 

[zoidberg]

About now would be a good time to clean and service sheet winches, any jammers, travellers, mainsheet purchases, movable sheet fairleads, etc. Headsail furling gear? Gas locker drain?

 

[Stemar]

Headsail furling gear?

Do be sure you get the appropriate service details for this. Some bearings need grease, some run dry and just want a good wash. As a general guide, I believe that metal balls will want grease, while plastic one just need a clean, but there may well be exceptions.

 

[Fantasie 19]

How old is your standing rigging? Worth dropping the mast to have a quick check of all the fixing points??

 

[Marceline]

hi everyone - so sorry I'd not replied (been ill with lousy flu and then trying to sort some pressing 'life things')

But HUGE thank you to you all for all your very helpful suggestions - I'll be working through them in the coming weeks and there's lots there for us to do/learn

 

[Marceline]

How old is your standing rigging? Worth dropping the mast to have a quick check of all the fixing points??

we're lucky in that our Standing Rigging was replaced a few years ago (2017) so hopefully it should be ok.

Our mast is on a pivoting bracket (not sure the correct term for it) with a bolt going through the base, so I guess it's doable to take the mast down. I might leave trying that until next year though as hoping to save up for a wind strenght/direction indicator for spring next year (the only electronic instrument the boat has is a depth indicator at the moment) - but will put this one on our list along with the many other suggestions thanks