Who has wintered over at anchor?

[Renegde_Sailor]

Originally Posted by Chotu

And yes. I think you are right. People with cats tend to have a lot of money to burn. At least people who did not build them themselves ha ha. I fall into that latter category.


But thank you very much for your thoughtful posts. They helped me remember a lot of the details.

It has to have been 10 years since I have wintered over. Maybe longer. I have been doing the Florida thing every winter.

I am fixing to do the Mexico thing this year, might even head over to the Caribbean or down to Peru, we will see.

I am sick of winter! 🤣

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Renegde_Sailor

I am fixing to do the Mexico thing this year, might even head over to the Caribbean or down to Peru, we will see.

I am sick of winter! 🤣

I can understand that. We all need a change.

Several years ago after living on boats forever, I got this craving for mountains. The Rockies.

So I went and did that for a little while.

I’m sure you’ll have a great time heading south.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by GILow

Electric blanket.

Salvation.

Got one last winter. Started a thread on it. God do I love my electric blanket. Doesn’t matter how cold it is in the boat. The bed/berth is always nice and even the couch/settee.

I found a really powerful combination. Have you ever heard of a Sherpa blanket? They are these really thick blankets that are soft on one side and thick wool polyester on the other side. If you put that over your electric blanket you could survive interstellar space I think. Lol

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Renegde_Sailor

I am fixing to do the Mexico thing this year, might even head over to the Caribbean or down to Peru, we will see.

I am sick of winter! 🤣

I would avoid Peru - even Peruvians avoid Peru.

Back on topic - I have spent more than a few winters out and about in southern Patagonia.
A mix of 4 and 6mm closed cell foam against the hull/deckhead.
Eberspacher heater - run in the evening and for maybe an hour in the morning.
Icebreaker 100% merino thermals
Possum wool gloves for down below, bonnet that keeps your ears warm.
Rum,
and I have been given to understand that Swedish mattress improvers work quite well.

My biggest issue with a cat would be the windows. Best solution is double glazing of some sort.
On my boat the issue isn't so much the 'glass' as the alloy frames.
Solved with clingfiim, double sided tape and draft excluder tape.

[Renegde_Sailor]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

I would avoid Peru - even Peruvians avoid Peru.

Why is that I am curious?

[bergius]

Originally Posted by Takitimu

It's all fun till the diesel heater dies at 2 am on a Friday night and it's 10° outside.

What I learned last winter is that you buy diesel heaters in pairs. One to run, and the other as a spare. When my second heater failed, it took only 20min until the spare was installed and up and running. After that you can debug the failed heater with good time. In this case, the answer was warranty replacement.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by bergius

What I learned last winter is that you buy diesel heaters in pairs. One to run, and the other as a spare. When my second heater failed, it took only 20min until the spare was installed and up and running. After that you can debug the failed heater with good time. In this case, the answer was warranty replacement.

The trick is to do the work before your fingers go numb.

[Kd9truck]

Hi Chotu,
Definitely go for the dingy upgrade also might be a good idea to work on a snow tent for the rib so any snow just sheets off.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Kd9truck

Hi Chotu,
Definitely go for the dingy upgrade also might be a good idea to work on a snow tent for the rib so any snow just sheets off.

Good idea!

[ggray]

For entertainment and an extreme example you must read this book:

https://www.amazon.com/North-Night-S.../dp/076790446X

The author wintered over at anchor as far north as he could safely go. About 73 degrees N.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Renegde_Sailor

Why is that I am curious?

Corruption, thievery, very high costs in Callao.

Work your way through this boat's experience

https://www.sailblogs.com/member/sequitur/132313

[JPA Cate]

@ Chotu:

We hoist our dinghy on a slant, with the bow higher than the stern, so that it can drain, and we leave the plug out. Where it snows, the cover that RS mentions would make a whole lot of difference, to convenience of dinghy access. Now, hoisting the dinghy requires the mast be up, but it also makes it harder for thieves to get at it, limits biofouling, and it can't get frozen in. The least expensive cover would be made from slippery tarp material, if you zig-zag the zips in, you'll have an easy time removing them if/when you decide to modify the design.

The electric blanket is a great solution if you have adequate electricity. Way cheaper than goose down comforters, plus it warms the bed for you. And you don't have to worry about moisture and the down losing its loft.

Ann

[singlespeed]

Not too many 80° days in winter in Northern Florida. Just don't go as far south, although after my wife slipped on an ice covered dock in Charleston, one cold Thanksgiving, I would stay further south.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by singlespeed

Not too many 80° days in winter in Northern Florida. Just don't go as far south, although after my wife slipped on an ice covered dock in Charleston, one cold Thanksgiving, I would stay further south.

yeah. It breaks 100° in northern Florida all the time. It’s hotter there than it is in Miami. I don’t think you are used to Florida. That’s not how the weather works there.

Northern Florida is cold in the winter. Nice actually. In the summer it breaks 100° all the time. Whereas Miami stays pretty much the same except for when some cold fronts come through. And then the change happens at Vero Beach.

[singlespeed]

The temps you are taking out a summer temps in Florida, not winter temps. Years of working in the citrus industry saw the citrus groves north of Orlando routinely freezing and the growers selling out to developers and moving south to warmer locales. The big question is how much fuel will you need to keep the boat warm in winter and is your wardrobe adequate or will you need to purchase and have more clothes and shoes to carry around and store, ie, can you recoup the additional expenses by anchoring out?