Shoring up or store on trailer this winter ?

[winsbury]

We recently moved to a swinging mooring and the insurance insists on either a marina or coming ashore for the winter. I doubt we will use the boat much over winter judging from last year so storage ashore it is. Although I have a trailer and good quality strapping to secure the boat to it the club prefers we lift it onto the hard and shore it up with wooden bits and bobs. I cant get to the bottom of why a bilge keel boat that is perfectly stable on mud needs shoring up while on land or what the disadvantages of leaving it on the trailer would be for the club so wondered whether any of you folks might be able to shed some light.

 

[sarabande]

if you keep it on a trailer, there might be odd chinks of angle iron sticking near adjacent boats and walkways.


Also, to prevent the boat 'walking' the trailer, you will need to jack up the trailer so that no weight is taken on the springs/elastomer insert.

 

[Fantasie 19]

We recently moved to a swinging mooring and the insurance insists on either a marina or coming ashore for the winter. I doubt we will use the boat much over winter judging from last year so storage ashore it is. Although I have a trailer and good quality strapping to secure the boat to it the club prefers we lift it onto the hard and shore it up with wooden bits and bobs. I cant get to the bottom of why a bilge keel boat that is perfectly stable on mud needs shoring up while on land or what the disadvantages of leaving it on the trailer would be for the club so wondered whether any of you folks might be able to shed some light.

Winsbury - I think we share the same club.... in fact, I think your swing mooring is directly in front of me but either way, irrespective of that, there are three or four boats stored on trailers every winter - I used to keep my old boat on a trailer over winter but don't have one for the current boat... as per Sarabande's response I did use to jack the trailer on to blocks of wood just to take the strain off the tyres, I then used straps to tie boat down to trailer - after that it was secure as any boat sittling on the ground or balanced on railway sleepers... no one ever told me I shouldn't do this b.t.w so I reckon you should do what you want.... I used to like being on the trailer it because it gave me the opportunity to launch early or late and I was no longer reliant on club lift in dates - it also made it easier to get under the boat!

 

[Lakesailor]

Without wishing to be rude about your club, there can be some clueless knobs who get into a position of authority in volunteer organisations. Probably his grandma told him boats on the hard standing are safer. I know someone who can argue that point from experience.
As suggested the boat lashed to a trailer supported on blocks (or timber) will be perfectly secure. If it has a trailer it's obviously not an enormous boat. I take it it's a Pegasus 700. The chocks need to be as far outboard as you can manage.

 

[winsbury]

I believe we are indeed neighbours, so howdy. Its good to hear there are others there that use a trailer although it makes perfect sense to jack it up. Thanks everyone.