Winter ashore or in the water?

[Sans Bateau]

Galadriel was put in the water in spring 2005, since then the longest time ashore has been a week during the summer. The hull is epoxied.

This winter there are a few jobs I need to get done, some I can do whilst afloat, but some need to be taken care of when ashore.

Question is, if I come ashore, yes the hull will dry out, but is this true with an epoxy covering? Is the benefit of coming ashore worth the risk of having the mast taken down (I wouldn't leave it up under any circumstances) and leaving the boat exposed to winter gales.

The work that needs to be done ashore could be done on a one week summer discount lift.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Galadriel was put in the water in spring 2005, since then the longest time ashore has been a week during the summer. The hull is epoxied.

This winter there are a few jobs I need to get done, some I can do whilst afloat, but some need to be taken care of when ashore.

Question is, if I come ashore, yes the hull will dry out, but is this true with an epoxy covering? Is the benefit of coming ashore worth the risk of having the mast taken down (I wouldn't leave it up under any circumstances) and leaving the boat exposed to winter gales.

The work that needs to be done ashore could be done on a one week summer discount lift.

I suppose Stephen, the question is "when did the mast last come down for inspection?" Are you in a marina with shore power? If so what are the advantages of coming out, if you have no need to check the mast over.

I will be spending my first winter on a mooring (not me but the boat) and I am more concerned about dampness in the cushions and electrics.

 

[bedouin]

I am a little skeptical as to how much a hull will dry out in 3 months ashore in a typical British winter. Just look at the efforts they need to go to to dry out hulls prior to treatment.

I haven't taken Bedouin out over winter for several years; sometimes I haul out for a couple of weeks in early spring or other times for a week in Summer.

 

[AIDY]

I've come to the conclusion that there is no benefit really coming out in the winter, the hull doesn't dry very well much better to do it in the summer for 1-2 week period. And the boat is safer in the water. I had our's out for 5 month last winter and struggled to do anything due to the weather.

I've just don a quick sea lift for a clean and anode change in prep for some lovely winter sailing.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

"since then the longest time ashore has been a week during the summer."

which summer?

Have you scrubbed off, checked/refitted anodes and reantifouled since 2005?
If not I would think it would be well worth taking her out just to do that and for a general inspection.

Agreed though that most of the work could usually be done on a summers 'one week discount lift'.

I'm not sure of the 'drying out' theory either. However, my boat is usually on land sealed up most days from mid Nov to mid April, with a dehumidifier inside. That tends to 'pull out' several pints of water each week.
It is this time of the year that I sometimes notice that things may be a little damp and I don't have heating to combat that whilst afloat. However, I've just bought a generator. so I may just take the fan heater out to warm things up and dry things when needed.

 

[Pete7]

I've come to the conclusion that there is no benefit really coming out in the winter, the hull doesn't dry very well much better to do it in the summer for 1-2 week period. And the boat is safer in the water. I had our's out for 5 month last winter and struggled to do anything due to the weather.

Same here, not convinced that lifting out achieves much so stay in during the winter, Then lift out for a May bank holiday to do the antifouling and annodes etc. Much easier trying to paint late May rather than Feb / Mar. It also means fresh antifouling just as everything warms up and the weed starts growing.

Pete

 

[SimbaDog]

I'm staying in (marina), just been out for antifoul, anodes & engine service, now looking forward to some nice winter sailing

 

[Sans Bateau]

Have you scrubbed off, checked/refitted anodes and reantifouled since 2005?
If not I would think it would be well worth taking her out just to do that and for a general inspection.

Should clarify, sorry, boat is also Coppercoated, so no antifouling, boat comes out once a year for anodes, a scrub and quick inspection.

And Chris, the mast was off two years ago, but the boat didnt come out, mast and rig was inspected by rigging bloke.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Should clarify, sorry, boat is also Coppercoated, so no antifouling, boat comes out once a year for anodes, a scrub and quick inspection.

And Chris, the mast was off two years ago, but the boat didnt come out, mast and rig was inspected by rigging bloke.

Well - I don't think there is much point in coming out then! You might even get a winter sail.

 

[Fergus]

I wish I had a choice! I am not allowed to stay on my mooring between Nov - Mar. Storage charges are like another mortgage over the winter so I convince myself that it's an essential guard against the dreaded pox!

 

[oldsaltoz]

Lifting out in winter in your climate must be a major pain in the butt. Too cold to work, too wet to paint and miserable.

An epoxy coated hull will not dry in summer so winter is out for drying.

Any chance the work you are lifting out for can be done on drying poles?

We never come out for winter, or anode changes or antifouling, one of the advantages of being able to beach at low tide.

Only been lifted out once in the last 10 years and made some modifications to the rudders, downsized them.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I wish I had a choice! I am not allowed to stay on my mooring between Nov - Mar. Storage charges are like another mortgage over the winter so I convince myself that it's an essential guard against the dreaded pox!

Have you considered moving to another mooring for the winter?
There are lots of empty moorings at Wicormarine/Portchester in the winter if that's what takes your fancy.

 

[Chris_Robb]

I wish I had a choice! I am not allowed to stay on my mooring between Nov - Mar. Storage charges are like another mortgage over the winter so I convince myself that it's an essential guard against the dreaded pox!

Our moorings are at Gosport Boatyard Hardway - Insurance companies are quite happy for them to be used for 12 months of the year. This saves some £1,700 shore storage - less the costs of a lift out an 2 weeks ashore which I will need to do in the March

 

[Ubergeekian]

I will be spending my first winter on a mooring (not me but the boat) and I am more concerned about dampness in the cushions and electrics.

My boat is about to start her third consecutive winter afloat. Previously she did six in a row at Crinan. Never had the slightest problem with damp. Just make sure there is reasonable ventilation.

Further good news: cold winter water removes most fouling!

 

[DJE]

Leave her in. That weedy bottom is a very handy excuse!




> Grabs flak jacket and runs for cover....

 

[fireball]

Oh its perfectly possible to paint/varnish etc during the winter - its quite nice when you've got the mast down as the ridge pole and a translucent cover over the whole boat ....
We're another one of these that can't stay on the mooring between Nov and March ... so we either pay for marina or come out - it's about the same price so we're coming out this year so I can inspect the bottom and change the standing rigging.

 

[Sans Bateau]

You'll be checking you still have a keel I expect, as well!

 

[Sans Bateau]

Leave her in. That weedy bottom is a very handy excuse!




> Grabs flak jacket and runs for cover....

Grrrrr!

 

[Fergus]

Have you considered moving to another mooring for the winter?
There are lots of empty moorings at Wicormarine/Portchester in the winter if that's what takes your fancy.

At £1300 for the winter I think I'll keep it on shore..

 

[bedouin]

Incidentally Chantereyne is offering a very competitive 5 month rate over winter - about 600 Euros IIRC (of course that is not as competitive as it was a year ago )