winterization (what a horrid word)

[Fascadale]

Hi

The boat (an MAB) is coming out of the water next week for the winter.

I think I may only see the boat once or twice over the next six months.

She is going to stand outside on the West Coast of Scotland, with the mast in. (MRC)

I plan to drain the engine and the water tank.

What is the best advice for the batteries and what other top tips do the panel have?

Thanks

Paul

 

[Aja]

I take it from your name that it is far west. A fair trek. If you have access to electricity it maybe ok to leave batteries on trickle charge.

I personally dont like batteries on charge when I'm not there, but others I know leave chargers permanently connected.

Other than that, the risk of frost where you are is minimal so as long as the engine is taken care of the only other concern is keeping the boat aired. If you are leaving anything on board, this is really important or you will come back to a mildewed mess. Dry air that is pulled through the entire boat (into lockers as well) is the best method, using vents that wont let any rain in.

Donald

 

[Evadne]

When I asked how to winterise a small diesel, after draining, I was told to remove teh air filter, lift the depressor then turn over several times while spraying WD40 into the inlet. Also spray everything else with duck oil (not WD40, its too volatile).
I also put up a tent over the cockpit, they cost about £25 in end-of-season camping shiop sales. The Invicta is very similar to the Elizabethan, so if you've any woodwork to protect, or leaks in the hatches it would be a Good Thing.

 

[Viking]

Dont forget to drain or remove your fresh water pumps (whales type)

keep it well aired

Try to remove all fabrics and paper

Spray electrics with WD40 or similar

Make sure your boats well propped

 

[vyv_cox]

Look at http://www.ybw.com/ym/pdf/laying_up.pdf Tick box checklist for complete layup advice.

 

[RTB]

Follow all the advice about draining both raw and fresh water.
Remove the engine impellor
I have left both my batteries on the boat in the past but it's best to remove them (it's not difficult after all)
Definitely remove all paper / cloth / clothes or anything else which will retain dampness.
Re the mast - it is always recommended to unstep it when laying up a boat. The reason is that it does create additional windage which I discovered to my cost last year when the boat nearly toppled in a gale - therefore ensure that the cradle / trailer is well propped up as well
btw Invicta's are great aren't they ?

 

[Bodach na mara]

As RTB suggests, remove the mast if at all possible. I have removed mine every winter since the January gale of 1998 (I think.) In that gale, there were boats in all the yards up here toppled over, with bits of cradle punched through the hulls.

I got off lucky. The fore-hatch blew open and tore off and all the running rigging was shredded. Most people who had left their running rigging in place found their masts festooned with what looked like baggywrinkle the next day. The ones who had removed running rigging only had the problem of replacing it without the mice that had torn off!

 

[Steve_N]

You should be OK with the mast up at the MRC, touch wood. Both it and it's neighbouring yard Creran Marine are very well sheltered, the latter incredibly well so in it's deep gravel pit. Certainly the majority do leave masts up, which is not normal for Scotland, especially not for the open windswept Clyde yards.

Good shelter brings other problems though, as the boats there can be short of sunshine and it's warming effect, and also tend to miss out on a good drying breeze. The climate in that area can be very wet during the winter also - last year remarkably so.. So I'd recommend getting her as dry inside as possible and leaving some vents open.

Paul - PM me if ever you'ld like me to check on her. I'm over to Isabella at least every month.