Winter layup

[LordJohn]

I have always taken my boat out for about 4 months over the winter months. Is this really necessary with current boats with better osmosis resistance? A boat in the water is actually in a warmer environment than on the hard. Clearly there is work that has to be completed out of the water such as anti fouling and changing of anodes etc but this could be achieved in a matter of days.

 

[gibbowolfie]

My surveyor recommended 3 months out each year on GRP hulls to dry out. I have no idea if that is over kill or sensible. Would beb interesting to know. The boat had been in the water for 12 months with no worrying moisture levels detected.

 

[whisper]

Leave her in and enjoy her on those relatively frequent cold but calm Winter days. We've kept ours in for the past 3 yrs and enjoyed the empty local harbours and marinas.
No obvious signs of osmosis as yet /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Perhaps we'll give her a Winter break in another 2 years time.

 

[jcmmarine]

Every alternate year is enough. In the past 15 years I have alwways worked on 18 months in and 6 months out without problem. However, the future, I will be lifting less frequently and have re-gelled and copperbotted in preparation.

 

[hlb]

Mines been in for the last seven years. Maybe more. No intention of taking it out.

 

[Stoaty]

Most of the boats I have owned have been fishing boats and I never take them out the water. If anything needs doing underneath like antifoul or anodes it's done between tides. I come from a background of always being around commercial boats and they never come out to 'dry'. I have never seen osmosis on any of them. I just find it all a bit of nonsense.

 

[Nautorius]

I would say you need 3 months out on alternate years as a max.

Most modern boats can cope with being left in. However, if you are not sure when they were last kept out, I would err on the side of caution and have her lifted Dec-March.

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif