Boat In Or Out?

[PastorsDayOff]

Being very new to boat ownership I am after people’s thoughts and recommendations as to whether to take the boat out the water for the winter or leave it in. The boat was out the water for several months prior to me buying her and was antifouled then.

She has only been in the water a couple of months, but if best practice dictates taking her out I will. None of the jobs I have planned for her over the winter require this though.

Recommendations please?

[ZimbiIV]

I take ours out every 2 years, so if yours has had a long storage ashore and antifoul I would leave it for a year at least.

paul

 

[PastorsDayOff]

Thank you Paul

[Daddy Mouse]

I had the same advice and looking around at the boat yards most seem to be left in.

Sent from the Norfolk Broads Network mobile app

[Guest]

I would say out every third year for a bottom clean, dryout and antifoul is good practice but in reality most boats on the broads stay in year after year.

[ranworthbreeze]

24 minutes ago, PastorsDayOff said:

Being very new to boat ownership I am after people’s thoughts and recommendations as to whether to take the boat out the water for the winter or leave it in. The boat was out the water for several months prior to me buying her and was antifouled then.

She has only been in the water a couple of months, but if best practice dictates taking her out I will. None of the jobs I have planned for her over the winter require this though.

Recommendations please?

Hi Cliff,

Most of us take our boats out over the winter period to repack the stern glandes and check the running gear, antifoul we have done every other year or at least by the third year. It is good for glass fiber boats to dry out, it also reduced the boat weight. Wooden boats do not want to be out of the water for long periods because the planks dry out and chalking can be an issue.

I suggest that you leave it alone until the end of next years season.

Regards

Alan

[PastorsDayOff]

Thank you Alan. 

[WherryNice]

We tend to go for every other year out on a GRP job but mine is staying in an extra year because I want to winter cruise this year. My folks used to leave the Concrete Wonder(a Wind Boat) in for many years at a time until it needed a freshen up cosmetically or specific jobs needed doing as the concrete was pretty impervious to most things.

However it can be reassuring to know that your pride and joy is safely out of harms way when any really nasty weather comes calling. Each to their own n all that.

[vanessan]

We take ours out for 4 months every winter. We don't live close by so it gives us less worry when the weather is bad. If we lived close by I am sure we would use the boat during the winter months. 

[Vaughan]

If you have an older fibreglass boat with osmosis, never leave it out in winter or the frost will burst the bubbles. Osmosis is not a problem it itself but it is if the bubbles burst.

Ideally, you can't beat a wet boathouse.

[addicted]

We. for many years always had the boat lifted and stored on hard standing between  November and March.  these days recognising it is in  fact warmer in the water  than out of it during very cold spells.we leave a  tube heater on a thermostat in   the engine bay. also  an oil filled radiator in the both the saloon and aft cabin, We have her lifted during the Summer and antifouled this  usually takes a couple of days maximum. We much prefer this way of doing things.  It means if we decide to use her during clement weather we can do so.

 

 

Carole

[PastorsDayOff]

Thanks Carole. I was beginning to think upon those lines and was planning to pick up some heaters over the next few weeks, along with some dehumidifier packs. 

[ExSurveyor]

If you have shore power go for an electric dehumidifier on a timer for 6 hours during the day,  drained into a sink.  Just make sure the dehumidifier can restart from a timer,  not all can.

Currys do one in the essentials range for about a hundred pounds but I don't know if it restarts on a timer,  best to check. 

I have run heaters on plug in thermostats and a dehumidifier on a timer for the last 8 years with no problems at a cost of 50 to 60 pounds for the winter.

[JanetAnne]

Our winters also used to be much harsher. Frozen waters will nip the hull as the ice expands and could do damage. These days such things rarely happen....  when did you last see a car driving on a frozen Oulton Broad? 

[vanessan]

I meant to add that a small radiator is left on low as well. The boat is in a boatyard and is monitored so I think we are lucky to have that choice. It's been that way for 8 years now and no problems. 

[Springsong]

Ice yachting was quite popular even through to the 1980 s

see the link below courtesy of the lovely Carol, you will need to scroll down

http://www.broadlandmemories.co.uk/1900to1949gallery25.html.  

[merlin65uk]

We are taking ours out this winter, mainly because she has been afloat for the last 4 years, I was led to believe when I bought her in April this year.

It gives us a chance to 'tidy her up' and make sure all is well all over.