Staying afloat - or not?

[AntarcticPilot]

I would check with others at kip. I know it's frozen in there in the past due to freshwater from the river flowing in. I think I would be introducing some anti freeze into the cooling system fresh water side.

The fresh water that floats on the surface freezes; the salt water under it doesn't. I've been aboard while emulating Shackleton's Endeavour at Kip, and have first-hand experience of the conditions (I did suggest that Duncan and Heath should get the office kettle out and melt the ice for me ). There's no danger to raw water cooling, and because the majority of the hull is below the surface layer, in fact the internal temperature is unlikely to drop significantly below zero. If you have fresh-water cooling, I'd imagine you already have sufficient additives in the "fresh-water" side to cope with any likely temperatures.

In fact, there's more danger to fresh-water systems if you're hauled out than there is if you remain afloat. The only time I've had problems with freezing in the water system on Capricious was when she was ashore.

 

[laika]

I'm impressed you can get away with once every two years! Only about eight months after launch, we are noticing a drop in power and inspection with an underwater camera shows that the prop is caked!

Like pvb, I've found that a couple of decent coats of Micron Extra is good for at least 2 years but as you say, doesn't stop slime on the hull and fouling on the prop. You can probably find a smaller yard that will do a deal in summer to haul, pressure wash, leave you in slings for a tide or two and put you back. Long enough to check/change anodes and polish the prop. Removal of a year's worth of slime invariably good for another knot.

 

[dunedin]

You should get some great sailing over the winter from Kip, so make the most of it. And mid winter in scotland is a very bad time to do maintenance - but surprisingly often get cold but sunny days which are perfect for a day sail (get proper base layer, proper Gore windproof fleece etc and by choosing the weather will rarely need oilskins for winter sailing)

Our winter routine (just down at Largs) is
- greenhouse heaters on board on thermostat switch
- depressure domestic water when leave boat - ie just run tap with pump off
- tend to remove cushions Decemeber to Feb as rarely do weekend sails - and a B&B in Tarbert is ideal if the weather suits
- old sails on for winter - no real need, but prefer to keep the newer sails clean and dry
- lift and hold overnight to anti foul in March or April time

 

[Ariadne]

The construction of your boat is designed to carry all the loads while afloat and not ashore, I've not seen a boat yet with designed stress/load points for being held up by props, etc.

Having your boat in the water v's your boat out of the water? Think logically about it was designed to do in the first place; your call...

 

[rhumlady]

I was on J pontoon in the corner away from the entrance for a couple of years and had some good sailing in colb but sunny and dry conditions. I even had to act as an icebreaker one time as the fresh water had frozen over but only a couple of mm and then only in the corner were we were moored.

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

I would check with others at kip. I know it's frozen in there in the past due to freshwater from the river flowing in. I think I would be introducing some anti freeze into the cooling system fresh water side.

I checked the anti freeze the other day it is fine. The oil is still clean from last year's service - we did not use the engine too much last season because the weather was so much better and we no longer had the slog from the Cloch back to Rosneath at the end of every visit. The impeller was replaced every year at the service whether we needed one or not, and the engine was running very smoothly when I gave her a burst the other day. I fitted a new hull anode last spring.

I was intending to empty the water tank - I need to fit a new electric pump anyway - but it might be that we lift her out for a short time in the early spring just to check things out and see how it goes from there.

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

I was on J pontoon in the corner away from the entrance for a couple of years and had some good sailing in colb but sunny and dry conditions. I even had to act as an icebreaker one time as the fresh water had frozen over but only a couple of mm and then only in the corner were we were moored.

How are you getting on at Dumbarton Derek?

 

[rhumlady]

Slowly, very slowly. It is coming though but this year one thing after another has go in the way. My wife has a broken ankle just now as a result of a fall while we were helping our son and his girlfriend move to Aberdeen. It is these sort of things that slow me down.
I remember when we left McGruers yard and moved to Kip, how good it was not to have that last few miles on a Sunday evening. It meant we didn't havet to leave Rothesay till after lunch or Tarbert at the crack of dawn. It did spoil us for marina living though.

 

[PeteCooper]

I reckon anyone who thinks fibreglass will dry out in UK winter weather certainly qualifies as an optimist.

Not so sure. My boat was lifted in June and had very high moisture readings - she was built in 1972 and on this occasion had been in the water for over 2 years. The readings are now significantly less than when she was lifted - and seem to be still dropping.

 

[bikerbill]

I kept my boat in the water last winter and will do the same again this winter. As mentioned before, boats are expensive to keep, so let's enjoy them. However, I did think about taking my boat out this winter to do some work, but this can be done while it's afloat. I think it's more economical to get the boat craned out when there are lots of tinkering to do, other than just anti fouling alone.

 

[pvb]

Not so sure. My boat was lifted in June and had very high moisture readings - she was built in 1972 and on this occasion had been in the water for over 2 years. The readings are now significantly less than when she was lifted - and seem to be still dropping.

I said "UK winter weather" - are you suggesting it's been winter here since June?

 

[JumbleDuck]

The construction of your boat is designed to carry all the loads while afloat and not ashore, I've not seen a boat yet with designed stress/load points for being held up by props, etc.

The props should only be providing small forces to balance wind loading and other asymmetries. It's a rare boat which is not designed to dry out on its keel.

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

Slowly, very slowly. It is coming though but this year one thing after another has go in the way. My wife has a broken ankle just now as a result of a fall while we were helping our son and his girlfriend move to Aberdeen. It is these sort of things that slow me down.
I remember when we left McGruers yard and moved to Kip, how good it was not to have that last few miles on a Sunday evening. It meant we didn't havet to leave Rothesay till after lunch or Tarbert at the crack of dawn. It did spoil us for marina living though.

In real terms Kip is just as far for us from Dumfries but the haul around the Gareloch to get to Donny's place was a real grind every time we wanted to use the boat and the haul up and down from the Cloch was wearing over time. Kip is a much better place - more expensive but in every other way it has been great for us.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

I had the boat on a swinging mooring at Rhu until last week. They quoted more money than Kip for winter afloat so boat now in Kip. Lift out beginning of January I should be able to do most jobs while still in the water and still take advantage of some of the excellent weekends that come over the winter months. One thing about the chandlery at Kip is that they are very helpful and very competitive even when compared to online prices. You are doing the right thing in keeping boat in water too many fair weather sailors about.