Winter hauling out - how long?

kilkerr1

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Read recently that wooden boats shouldn't be out of the water for long 'cos the wood dries out too much, 'the boards do shrink' etc., while GRP boats need at least 3 months drying out to keep from getting osmotic. We were planning to keep Santa Teresa (GRP hull) sailing over most of the winter and just bring her out for a couple of weeks to do a few bits and bobs. Were looking forward to wrapping up extra warm and taking advantage of quieter/less busy waters over winter. So should we keep her out for 3 months to make sure she doesn't get a blistery, soggy bottom? What do you other folk do?

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pvb

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You don\'t have to take her out...

It's not essential to take GRP boats out over the winter. There's a school of thought which says that if a boat's going to get osmosis, it'll get it whatever you do. If your mooring is secure, leave your boat in - there are often some great sailing days in the winter.

Personally, I leave my boat in the water all year round, and just take her out for a week every 2 years in the summer for antifouling and polishing. The summer's a much nicer time to do these jobs, and most marinas have cheap deals on hauling out in the summer months.

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Aja

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Rebel will be coming out in a coupkle of weeks and wont go back in until April 2004, and she's GRP.

On a swinging mooring that can get very exposed to the SW.

My father's (wooden) boat is already our and wont go back in till May. Properly ventilated and under cover wont dry out much.... Not with the rain fall expected on the west coast of Scotland at any rate!

Donald

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MIKE_MCKIE

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I have a 30+ year old GRP sloop & recently contacted a very well known osmosis control & gel coat company on the south coast about the same thing. Their reply was, use it while you have the opportunity/inclination, don't worry about it. If you haul out for a week to clean & antifoul you will see any osmosis then, and their opinion was that it wont progress so fast that you cannot get it sorted at your convenience.
I intend to leave mine in this winter & take advantage of any half decent weather that may occur. I can still work on it, just not under the waterline.
Enjoy
Mike

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