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ShaunJ · 19-11-2011, 17:02

I would like to start a Poll...
Can you sail all 12 months or
Do you have to winterize at some point?

To start it off, I have to winterize. I am on the Chesapeake Bay and it gets cold enough to freeze, however I keep my boat in the water all year so I could sail if the Sassafrass River is not frozen.

Kettlewell · 19-11-2011, 17:18

Right now I keep my boat in Massachusetts so I have to winterize. It can drop below zero. I have in the past kept my boat in the water and kept electric heat onboard, and it is possible to occasionally go out on a nice day in the winter.

ShaunJ · 19-11-2011, 18:22

Any Help From the Mod's in setting up a Poll?
I am not sure how to set up a poll.

Lancerbye · 19-11-2011, 18:30

I liveaboard by Vancouver Island. We can sail all seasons. Winterizing for me is double glazing my widows with clear poly to provide a bit more insulation. Got down to minus 4 deg. Celius yesterday.

ShaunJ · 19-11-2011, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

I liveaboard by Vancouver Island. We can sail all seasons. Winterizing for me is double glazing my widows with clear poly to provide a bit more insulation. Got down to minus 4 deg. Celius yesterday.

I guess you keep a heater on all winter, do you keep water in your tanks?
What do you do with all those thru hulls?

Lancerbye · 19-11-2011, 20:37

Watertank is in a heated area (under the forward berth). Thru hulls are not a problem. Those below the waterline are in salt water that doesn't freeze. The ones above are bilge drains. It never really gets that cold here. And yes the heaters are normally on. The water is kept on at the docks here most of the time. The diesel fired hydronic system is only used when it gets really cold.

thinwater · 19-11-2011, 21:15

... since I too sail all year.

Sail Delmarva: Winter Sailing

That said, for reasons I don't understand, my insurance requires the boat to be "laid-up" for 2 weeks each year (Dec 1 to 15), though it is allowed to remain in the water. It simply must not "be available for use" during that time. Odd. So I log my annual winterizing exersize and do some maintenance during that period that leaves the boat out 0f service.

I only hauled 2 winters out of 25, and one of those I got snow damage (poorly blocked by the yard). I've never had damage in the water.

Shiner · 19-11-2011, 21:40

I guess this post was meant for colder climates.
"Winterising" for me is putting on warmer clothing.
Regards. Shiner

webejammin · 19-11-2011, 22:05

I hope to winterize our catamaran tomorrow. That is to put Christmas lights on the boat and get it ready for our Lighted Boat Paraid in a couple of weeks. Yes were running heaters last night and it snowed about 2 inches today, next week it is forcast to be in the 50's F

SteveT · 20-11-2011, 01:07

We sail all year round, just wear more clothes and if needed use a paraffin lamp and a solid fuel heater for warmth. Of course on the western coast of the UK it rarely gets colder than about -5 Celsius. It can get a bit brisk in the cockpit too, to say nothing of wet but such is life. I have no problems with my insurance either. Obviously if you live somewhere semi-Arctic then you will have to do something, but I've no idea what.

**nigel1** · 20-11-2011, 01:48

West coast UK as well, Liverpool. Boat sailed year round, dont really do anything special about winterising, although this year I have blown the FW lines through with air while I am away at work.
Coldest its been was -15C about 2 years ago, but no problems experienced

limejucer · 20-11-2011, 02:02

West coast uk cardiff.
Mimimum winterizing is to drain down raw water cooling from engine.
better to drain down all systems an antifreeze.

Had to replace core plugs on engine after hard freeze last year and wet cooling.

SteveT · 20-11-2011, 02:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by limejucer

West coast uk cardiff.
Mimimum winterizing is to drain down raw water cooling from engine.
better to drain down all systems an antifreeze.

Had to replace core plugs on engine after hard freeze last year and wet cooling.

Presumably you are on the hard as when staying afloat year round I've never had a problem, not even last year when the dock (briefly) froze?