Winter approaching .... so time for hints and tips

Evadne

Evadne

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Re: Winter approaching .... so time for hints and

You weren't expecting sensible answers on a Friday afternoon after a pub lunch surely?

If you need a cockpit cover, Halfords are selling tents at £25 a throw that will fit over the cockpit of most sub-35' older boats (or most sub 25' modern boats).



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R

Rohorn

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Hi```we just pulled Cool Cat out yesterday on Paros, and they gave us a spot right next to the fence where she's exposed to the full force of the winter northerlies. Roped off the Aerogen (I did'nt get rid of it and it's worked well this year) and had the guys tilt the boat a little backwards so the rainwater flows out of the bailers. Left the props on, cos taking them off and greasing the shafts then covering with plastic means finding the plastic gone and the grease stiff with red Paros dust in the spring. Left the solars connected thro the Aerogen 2-bank controller, but they'll dust up soon so there'll be a nice trickle charge thro the winter. Strung the halliards out to the guard rails so they wont beat on the mast...they move around but slowly, and survive better. Left the hatches a smidgen open, preferring the little dust ingress to things getting mouldy. Left the fridge dry and open, and tried to detach the cooker hob burners, but the screws are seized solid, so sprayed with penetrol to seep in through the winter....maybe they'll come off in the spring. I didn't change the engines oil or filters cos the motors have only 16 hours since new and they'd better get used to not being pampered. Wiped any weed or algae off the hulls just as she came out cos it's easy then, but a lot of work when it's baked on.
Then I left the yard guys a couple of bottles of wine and half the money and just walked away.......
It's hard...there's things I've forgotten, and she's on her own for the next seven months. Let's hope there's nothing serious.....
Cheers....R

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D

dralex

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The best thing I find is to leave all of the work until the coldest, wettest, darkest time of year, and even then, only go down to the boat when the windchill exceeds -10 degC. It makes you feel like you really deserve all the alcohol you drink in the evenings to while away those long nights.

More to the point, try to get a sheltered spot ashore- makes loads of difference to doing jobs in the winter. My other tip is always use marigolds unless you want your hands to drop off.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif
 
tim3057

tim3057

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Re: Winter approaching .... so time for hints and

Tell me more - were you serious about the tents? Where do you put the tent pegs in?

<hr width=100% size=1>Wayfarer Woodie done, now I need a new fix..
 
Evadne

Evadne

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Re: Winter approaching .... so time for hints and

Yes, I was serious. I have some photos I can scan in this weekend if you want to pm me an email address, I don't have a website of my own. Our boat has a cockpit about 7' long and 6' wide at the widest. I found that a standard modern tent with two crossing grp poles covers this.

The poles go outside the coaming and lodge onto the deck behind the toerail. Because they are bendy there is a lot of latitiude in the size of tent vs size of cockpit. The various ropes and guys are tied together under the boat with a bit of spare rope, in our case under the stern overhang and the keel, holding the tent down on the deck. The guys on the doorway were extended and lead to the mast step, at hte rear they can be tied to the pushpit. I needed to cut a hole in the groundsheet, then I could untie the door guys and step into the cockpit. I can open the main hatch without taking the tent down, and it even has a back door for access to the after deck. The big advantage over a boom cover is it doesn't need the mast left up.

It has done 2 winters, although last year a gale flattened it and splintered a tent pole in February so we have had to sew on a patch and replace the pole this year (£1.75 from pointnorth.co.uk). Otherwise £25 for something coming into its 3rd winter is pretty good value IMO.

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tim3057

tim3057

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Re: Winter approaching .... so time for hints and

V. interesting idea for winter protection but I guess not as practical as a sprayhood /cockpit cover. But then for that price.. I'm thinking about it!

<hr width=100% size=1>Wayfarer Woodie done, now I need a new fix..
 
W

willothewisp

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No hints from me I'm afraid - I intend to fill the tank to the brim, change the oil and filters, and --- use those lovely clear days to take her out.... Put some antifreeze in the usual places of course - Should temperatures drop dramatically below zero I can always run up and make provisions. Best way to preserve the boat/motor i.m.h.o is to use it. Don't you just love those clear skies in January when there's nobody else about? ( Must admit, I do have a doghouse for shelter).

Coby



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G

Guest

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warm and cosy ...

Grennhouse / Loft electric bar heaters about 50W ...... very low electric consumption and allied to timer can provide a warming solution prior to arrival at boat ..... eeven if a problem with timer - 50W is not going to kill that bank account.

Condensation ..... What condensation ? DON'T have anything touching deckheads such as sleeping bags rolled up and stuffed fwd etc. Keep vents open enough to allow air flow ......

Make sure that gas supply is adequate / easily available for cooker to be able to brew up !!!!

One point that is often overlooked ...... try to provide means that stop leaves etc. blocking cockpit overboards ... AND make sure boat is blocked off with a STERN TRIM to make sure water runs off .........

Finally OPEN ALL seacocks etc. to drain whatever you can ..... if necessary a Car tyre compressor fitted with 'bung' can provide sufficient air blow to 'blow through' systems etc. ........

If afloat ...... completely different ball-game ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/
 
R

roger

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Full length cover?

Last time I had my boat in the open for the winter I had the mast down and mounted on the boat (on sheerlegs at the stern so the hatch could be opened). I covered the boat wih a Monotex CLEAR cover and roped it down well. Even better are 1 gallon bottles full of water.
The point is that I was very surprised how much solar gain I got which made conditions in the boat warmer and dryer than expected. Second surprise was that the clear version gave a lot of light and a pleasant light at that. The previous tarpaulin was green and very depressing to wok under.
The full length tarpaulin meant the deck staye pretty dry so I could work anywhere.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger
 
A

A_7

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Lob a couple of disposable nappies into the bilges for a couple of hours. Gets up that last little bit.

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J

jorinda

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Had Jorinda out in the summer! and am hoping to get in some nice winter sailing around an uncluttered Solent.

<hr width=100% size=1>Done swindlering, back to sailing, fishing & photography.
 
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