Why Haul out?

[tome]

Can anyone explain why it's good or even necessary to take a GRP boat out of the water each winter (apart from the obvious need to service below water line and antifoul)?

It's been suggested that this allows the boat to dry out (something to do with osmosis?) but since I prefer to stay afloat except for a brief haul in the late spring I'd like to know if and why this may not be good for the boat.

This question developed from an R2R posting which wasn't conclusive so I thought I'd ask the question here.

 

[vyv_cox]

For a non-gelshielded boat without iso-phthalic gelcoat I think it likely that six months ashore will reduce the total water content of the hull and help to keep osmosis at bay. Otherwise, there is not too much justification. Many boats stay afloat all winter in Holland and Belgium, and in Mediterranean France the concept of a winter haul-out is almost unknown. Majorca marinas are close to full in December and February, so they would seem to agree.

In the case of osmosis-prevention treatments it is doubtful if very much water vapour escapes outwards - may be more beneficial to put a dehumidifier aboard, although received wisdom is that internal timber can become excessively dried.

My boat was out last winter but otherwise afloat for the past five or so years. Six years ago January was extremely cold here, ice was something like half a metre thick. The harbourmaster tells me that none of the boats he looks after suffered any damage although the majority remained afloat, if that's the word in ice.

 

[Chris_Robb]

What happens when a wet hull sits in an icy draft of -10C. Will ice cystals form the laminate and cause delamination????

 

[Gordonmc]

When I became an owner not long ago I just accepted it was the norm to haul out for m onths at a time... and I didn't even think about it in the first year.
I suppose most people think their pride and joy will be "safer" on the hard then being bashed about on the water.
That year four boats were knocked off their cradles by wind. Since then I have left the boat in the water, both the previous GRP hull and the present woodie.
I am sure the stresses imposed by a cradle with as few as four contact points on a GRP hull do potentially more harm than the risk of osmosis.
Leaving the boat in makes all work apart from under-hull stuff a site easier than hauling up ladders.
And there's the obvious plus of being able to use the boat in some very fine conditions through the winter.

 

[extravert]

No I never really understood that either. I haul out for a few weeks normally sometime between Jauary and March, but otherwise I leave my boat in, mainly to get the most use out of it in the year. There have been plenty of posts here in the last few days where people have mentioned hauling out and winter upon us, but to me it seems as though we are in the middle of the most stable weather and sunniest period of the year so far.

I tell my insurance company than I want insurance in commission for 12 months, and it doesn't seem to cause a problem in a marina with a pontoon berth. I don't think they are too happy about boats on swinging moorings during the winter though.

I was sailing on Christmas day last year, and in between the occasional sleet shower it was a glorious sunny day. Beats grumbling relatives any day.

 

[Iota]

I think a lot of it is personal preference with no good science behind either view. I always lift out for convenience reasons. I can take my time to do the underwater jobs like antifoul etc, cleaning and polishing the hull is easier out of the water. The few times I have left her in I only used her three or four times. Ashore she is safe plugged in with heaters and dehumidifyers so if I do not manage to get down to her no problem. but really just easier for me.

 

[robp]

Boats are generally "happier" staying in the water. For a number of reasons. Being able to run the engine regularly. If in a marina, keeping power and heating on board. The hull supported as intended. No danger of blowing over etc etc. There is also, the school of thought that saving the costs of haul out, chock off and re-launch, (Near £500 in my marina), will pay for any possible osmosis treatment if it indeed occurs. It's unlikely that much drying out would be achieved in a typical UK winter anyway. Admittedly it might need to come out at some time for a period but that can be much cheaper out of "laying up" season.

 

[pandroid]

There was a long discussion around this some time ago. In addition http:// [url]www.yachtsurvey.com [/url] has some intresting reading on osmosis

http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=ym&Number=247632&page=&view=&sb=&o=&part=1&vc=1

 

[sekyd]

So you can forget about it and get on with the serious business of getting down the pub, who wants to go boating in the winter anyway..........

 

[SteveA]

When I changed my insurance to in commission for 12 months the insurance company didn't increase the premium - and I'm on a swinging mooring. (I'm with St Margarets). I did have a shock today though when I received the 'renewel invitation', the premium has increased by about 30% but I beleive this is in line with other companies - Bishop Skinner was even more expensive, and wanted a new survey!

 

[FlyingSpud]

I suspect the real reason for a haul out isbased on tradition from the wooden boat days.
The other point is that most boats used to be on swing moorings, bringing her ashore gave you the chance to use mains power and so on and protect the boat from breaking free in a winter storm.
I have always hauled out each winter, but I have also begun to wonder if, in a marina it makes sense. having said that I'm going back to normal life and leaving the marina behind for a fore and aft set up, so I suppose I'll still have to do it.

 

[david_e]

Someone who leaves their boat in, apart from routine maintenance, feels that the damage from frost is greater on land. The sea rarely freezes around the UK but residual moisture in the hull could freeze on the hard and cause damage to the gelcoat.

 

[Guest]

I think that hauling out for winter is a particular thing yotties do. Probably more to do with inclement sailing weather than anything else. After all you only have to look at the numbers of commercial fishing boats (GRP) which are rarely hauled. Dried out, yes, but only hauled for a few days every year. Providing your happy with whats going on under the waterline then I don't see the need for hauling out for 5 months of the year.

 

[tome]

Thanks to all for your learned opinions. Since posting this thread I see there's a similiar one on the MB chat forum, and conclusions generally concur.

It's a few years since I kept a wooden boat in a miserable mudberth rafted two out on a rickety walkway which was submerged at any decent HW, and a pontoon afloat is an altogether different experience during the winter months. Visiting the boat is now a pleasure rather than a chore.

I agree that a boat afloat is better supported in her natural environment, and can't find fault with posters who, like me, enjoy the occasional winter sail. The idea of escaping the family traumas of Christmas appeals, and some of you might have read my brief account of our sail last New Years eve, spending a great evening at Cowes and returning on a hoary 1 Jan morning in glorious sunshine.

I may live to regret this post as winter sailing in the Solent is magical and peaceful, and I don't want to spoil it by encouraging others onto the water! But, what the hell, there's room for all of us out there and you'll never fail to get a wave from the few other boats, be they fishermen, stinkpots, or raggies.

So Lay up ashore if you must - I'm staying in the water and ready to go when the magical highs of the winter months provide us with sunshine and breezes. And, yes, I've got an Eberspacher thanks.

 

[alanporter]

My Westerly Renown has been in the water for 26 years. Hauled out for one week every two years, and dried out alongside for just a few hours each intervening year. A few gelcoat blisters have appeared over the past six years but otherwise no problem. Being in the water all year allows me to run the engine every week, and to go out for a sail when the weather is reasonable.

Alan Porter

 

[Pelican]

I keep my 32 year old Benateau afloat all year around except for approx one week ashore per year for underwater maintenance. I am in fresh water which can and does freeze in winter. I am on a swinging moorings and with a Bengco heater I have no problems. I am happy that many people haul out in winter for it means there are less idiots about on the water in winter. If the weather is very cold I have a remote control to my Autohelm and an Astrodome fitted on top of the hatch so can sail or motor from the warmt of the cabin. Ditto if it is raining for I also have a bimini top which not only keeps the sun off in summer but the rain/snow in winter!
Happy winter sailing!

Pelican