When do you lift out?

Sgeir

Sgeir

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 Nov 2004
Messages
14,792
Location
Stirling
s14.photobucket.com
I usually put it off as long as possible to somewhere between October and early/mid December in the hope of some pleasant autumn sailing, but, it's just not really happened in the last few years. Either the weather's been grim, or we've had other family or work commitments.

Anyway, this year, we're out early as we need to have some work done on her before the bad weather closes in.

No regrets, so far, with F8 in today's forecast.....
 
Insurance company says end of October, so it is the nearest spring tide so I can get up the river.
 
I often stay in! I'm hoping I don't need to haul out this year, if I can do the necessary jobs at scrubbing posts. That''s clean and polish the hull, pressure wash below the waterline and replace the anode if necessary. It will be an opportunity to see how the Coppercoat is doing, but from above it seems to be OK.
 
Not at all if we can help it - just a quick lift-and-hold to clean off the coppercoat, antifoul the leg and prop, and check or change the anodes. The boat's happier and safer in the water.

In the past the boat's been out-of-commission afloat while I did major works to the electrics, plumbing, etc. So the sails would be unbent, washed, and stored in my parents' garage. As of last year, the plan is to stay in commission year-round, with smaller jobs being done without immobilising the whole boat. We had a nice family sail last Boxing Day.

Pete
 
In the past when I have lifted early it has preceded an Indian summer of blue skies, balmy breezes and resentment. The corollary, unfortunately, has held true that staying in has been met with gales, snow storms, boat damage but still resentment. I trust your early séchage presages fine weather for the rest of the year.

To answer your question, I intend to move from my mooring to the shelter of a marina at the end of this month and postpone the lift until the end of the year, or until I crack and can't stand the weather any more, whichever comes first.
 
I could have said exactly the same words as Sandy except 'River Blackwater'. My insurance company has always agreed a few days in November to get the next Springs. This year, out on 20th October because the sea lock (we lift in the Basin other side of the sea lock) will be out of commission for works from 1st November.
 
At the end of September, normally the week after Millport fireworks. This year I have already booked it for Monday 26th, followed by immediate removal of my 1GM10 so I can try to flog it at the Irvine Boat Jumble.

I live two hours and a Calmac crossing from the boat, so spontaneous oh-its-a-nice-day winter sails aren't really practicable. The Drascombe will stay on Loch Ken, ten minutes from home, until the end of October, I expect, to cater for such urges.

Next year I plan to winter in Milford Haven marina.
 
I only lift out for a few days every second summer, to antifoul and polish. It's a more pleasant job in the summer, and the marina does a cheaper lift-out deal.
 
My policy has been one winter out and the next two in, but the last few years have seen the weather getting worse and my sensitivity to the cold increasing. We spent last winter out, to have the bottom blasted off, but I may come out again in October and give myself plenty of time to take advantage of any decent weather in the spring to fit out in a leisurely manner.
 
JumbleDuck said:
At the end of September, normally the week after Millport fireworks. This year I have already booked it for Monday 26th, followed by immediate removal of my 1GM10 so I can try to flog it at the Irvine Boat Jumble.
Click to expand...

Advertise it now while it is still running in the boat and you will have sold it before you lift it out. Far easier to sell a running engine than humping it to a muddy field where only a limited number of people can see it.

Boats and Outboards will get you phone calls within hours of posting.
 
Tranona said:
Advertise it now while it is still running in the boat and you will have sold it before you lift it out. Far easier to sell a running engine than humping it to a muddy field where only a limited number of people can see it.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to advertise it until it's out, but then yes, it will be listed asap. I'm hoping to do what I have seen others so and have it on a wooden frame with battery, fuel tank and water tank so that anyone who wants to see it running can. That might be over-optimistic, so I'll certainly have some videos of it running and starting in situ.
 
We used to stay in year round.
We got in the occasional day sail in Winter, but not many.
Made me wonder if it was really worth it.

This year we migrated the boat to Brittany, so the occasional day sail is out of the question.
Hauling out and laying up mid-October, aim to relaunch around Easter time.
 
Lift out - stay in??
Every year, the same dilemma!
Do I 'need' to come out, or 'can' I stay in?
What should I do, what do others recommend?
I want access to the boat - sailing - as much as possible, especially in view of the marina berthing costs.
As it stands I plan to come out for about a month - October/November and her have her back in prior to any frosty weather. The thought of the boat sat high with the opportunity of the relentless cold icy weather, seeking to freeze and cause damage, gives me nightmares. Rather get her back into the relatively warmer sheltered waters of her berth, with the odd chance of getting out for a sail or even just to sit on and enjoy a cup of tea, watching the world around listening to the fan heater. Afloat that is!
Seriously though SHOULD I get the boat out for five months a year? Is this something that I SHOULD do - allowing the boat to 'dry'. Boat's fourteen years old and a plastic AWB, does she need time out of the water?
No one has offered a definitive answer to this. What do you reckon?
 
Pyramid said:
Seriously though SHOULD I get the boat out for five months a year? Is this something that I SHOULD do - allowing the boat to 'dry'. Boat's fourteen years old and a plastic AWB, does she need time out of the water?
No one has offered a definitive answer to this. What do you reckon?
Click to expand...

Anyone who thinks a boat is going to dry out to any extent in a British winter is rather optimistic!
 
Sandy said:
Insurance company says end of October, so it is the nearest spring tide so I can get up the river.
Click to expand...

My insurance says that they are happy for me to stay on a swinging mooring at Kames for 12 months of the year..... oh dear, oh dear.

Donald
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top