Winter afloat on a swinging mooring Portsmouth Harbour

[onenyala]

Had the boat for twenty years and have always wintered ashore however this winter I have decided to leave it afloat.
There seem to be mostly advantages rather than disadvantages: should get some sailing,no packing up and unpacking the dinghy to take home, sails stay on, no need to winterise the engine etc. I am confident the mooring is OK as it has held fast during plenty of equinoctial storms.
The engine has done about 70 hrs since the last oil change. A diesel in commission in a road vehicle usually does say 25000 miles between oil changes which at 45mph average makes 555 hrs running.
Insurance is no problem only an increase in the excess
What are the disadvantages ?

 

[Poignard]

Had the boat for twenty years and have always wintered ashore however this winter I have decided to leave it afloat.
There seem to be mostly advantages rather than disadvantages: should get some sailing,no packing up and unpacking the dinghy to take home, sails stay on, no need to winterise the engine etc. I am confident the mooring is OK as it has held fast during plenty of equinoctial storms.
The engine has done about 70 hrs since the last oil change. A diesel in commission in a road vehicle usually does say 25000 miles between oil changes which at 45mph average makes 555 hrs running.
Insurance is no problem only an increase in the excess
What are the disadvantages ?

I can't think of any.

 

[rickym]

Where in the harbour are you? Some moorings are very exposed. Most on the Gosport side are fairly well sheltered. If you are using the tender to get out to the mooring it can be a wet and bumpy ride on a strong easterly. My only negative is that you may need some heating to keep the boat dry. We only come out on alternative years and then more often than not only after Xmas for a couple of months. Insurance is perfectly happy and we get some excellent winter sailing, nothing like a Boxing day sail to clear the cobwebs!

 

[rickym]

I can't think of any.

Your mates are jealous as they are already in the car park!!

 

[rickym]

Make sure the sail covers are good we see many flapping and torn UV strips/unfurling genoas.

 

[MontyMariner]

What are the disadvantages ?

Only the level of fouling you acquire and that you will still have to lift or dry out to scrub and A/F

 

[Seajet]

Possible snags;

if GRP, skipping the usual chance for the hull to dry out ( is she gel-shielded ? )

The chance to check over the rig top to bottom is largely missed.

Skin fitting, prop & anode maintenance

As mentioned the upholstery, sails & general kit may well get and stay damp; unless the sails are truly unweildy I'd take them off, ideally storing at home and just bending on if a good sail looks likely, both for dryness and avoiding windage & potentially getting loose in stronger true winter storms.

Well, you asked !

 

[rodpage]

What are the disadvantages ?

Cleaning snow and ice off the decks and out of the cockpit.
Finding enough sailing days, particularly if you are restricted to weekends.
Staying warm and dry.
Sleeping on an unheated boat!

In theory I guess fresh water pipes could freeze, and water could freeze in the upper parts of the cockpit drains after it's snowed. The engine cooling etc. should be ok unless it's extremely cold.

I stayed out at Wicor last year and as you say the moorings should be strong enough, the gales can be just as bad in August as in November. I got to use the boat maybe once a week but that did include weekdays, you do need to pick any opportunity you get. Only time when I couldn't use her was when we had the snow in February. There are some fantastic sailing days when its bright and clear and crisp. You don't have to fight your way across the Solent and to find moorings in the marinas, many of which have cheaper visitors rates during the winter.

Pretty boat by the way, I admire her every time I go past.

Rod

 

[pappaecho]

Sneaky barnies and their seaweed friends tend to party a bit unless your antifoul is very good

 

[Colvic Watson]

Sneaky barnies and their seaweed friends tend to party a bit unless your antifoul is very good

In the winter, with lower sea temps and a lot less sunlight?

 

[sailorman]

Possible snags;

if GRP, skipping the usual chance for the hull to dry out ( is she gel-shielded ? )

The chance to check over the rig top to bottom is largely missed.

Skin fitting, prop & anode maintenance

As mentioned the upholstery, sails & general kit may well get and stay damp; unless the sails are truly unweildy I'd take them off, ideally storing at home and just bending on if a good sail looks likely, both for dryness and avoiding windage & potentially getting loose in stronger true winter storms.

Well, you asked !

insurance limitations Re- moorings

 

[jellylegs]

I had a lovely sail along the coast yesterday from my swinging mooring. Was a bit cool, but well worth it.
I am planning to come ashore for a few weeks in march to do some work. But it is possible to do an awful lot of work on the mooring, if you apply yourself.

I think the boat will keep quite dry, if I make sure not to leave anything that will go 'manky' onboard and keep the bilge dry, which seems to do that itself, never a drop in it.

I think all the cons to staying afloat is just propoganda from the boat yard owners!

 

[James W]

If the beautiful sail I had today on a quiet river with a nice steady breeze is anything to go by, leaving her in is a no brainer!

You just need an extra layer or two and a bit of luck with the tides on these short days and there's a lot of fun to be had.

Enjoy!

 

[onenyala]

Thanks for that. I think she is pretty too but I am prejudiced !

 

[bedouin]

I have done this several times - the only real disadvantage I find is that there is a strong disinclination to go down to the boat to do those small out of season tasks, tidying, varnishing...

Ashore or in a Marina (usually within staggering distance of a warm pub) a day down doing odd jobs on the boat is fun. On a mooring when the boat is cold and damp it can be a lot less inviting!

 

[jonathanhsm]

Staying in.

I always stay in over winter with fore and aft buoys in Southampton Water. Some winter sailing. Run the engine at 1800 against the buoy for an hour every month or more or go for a spin. Double mooring lines. Keep the diesel topped up. Take off all the cushions etc. Has never frozen even in last year's freeze. I have to admit I even keep the sails on! Furler well bungeed and main under cover. Seagulls give her a bit of a pasting. And she gets grubby. But at 30 quid a month rather than 3 or 4 times as much that's Ok with me. Only really bad in strong South Easterlies. And then in February/March on a scrubbing grid antifoul and a polish and so far so good. If I wanted to come out for repairs or whatever I'd probably do it in the spring when it's cheaper.

 

[wizard]

Done this for the last 10 years in Portsmouth harbour with no problems if you use a suitable mooring contractor (eg Gosport Boay Yard)

Vents to let air move through the boat, cupboard doors lockers open, stack cushions/backrests at odd angles again to let air move, antifreeze in the freshwater side of the engine. Sails well protected and thoroughly secured.

I visit every couple of weeks to stay for a few days/ mixture of small jobs and sailing. It doesnt take long to convert back to a normal boat again.

Oh and a Webasto hot air heater to make life very pleasant in the cold spells.

Another bonus is to come out of the water for antifouling etc in the warmer weather of late spring early summer - much better.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Advise engine used fairly often otherwise doesn't something nasty happen to the oil?

Damp could be a problem if the boat is not aired through satisfactorily.

Should a GRP hull be allowed to 'dry out' for a few months ideally?

Maintenance is best done on land?

My body doesn't do too well in the cold after a few hours, even in classy clothing.
So although in many ways I'm envious, I wont be joining the winter sailing brigade.

 

[Nicholas123]

Kept my boat in the water in Portsmouth Harbour all round the year for several years.Saved myself a small fortune & some of the days that you can pop down just for a cup of tea on board can be priceless.If & when I buy a new boat I shall look towards getting some sort of heating & see how it goes.
Getting to old now to let one minute pass by!

 

[Gordonmc]

I over-wintered on a swinging mooring on a Scottish sea-loch only coming ashore on the beach a couple of times in three years for anti-fouling and anode checks.
Its much kinder than wintering in a mooring with no pontoon to damage the hull... or neighbouring masts to foul rigging.
There are some precautions, however. I left sails up but used a tough mainsail cover lashed on and made sure the genoa was secure on the forestay (roller). It would take a bit longer to get the boat ready for a winter's day sail, but worth it.
Ventillation is important... I left the main saloon door open and put a tonneau over the cockpit. The front portholes were left open with flower pots jammed in to stop the shags setting up home.
The longest I stayed away from the boat in one stretch was two weeks with most weekends on board and some fine days out in the frost.