Winter Liveaboard Tips and Tricks

[Buzzman]

It may be "correct", but it doesn't actually answer the question posed....

What is the alternative to a black flag at the crosstrees?

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

It may be "correct", but it doesn't actually answer the question posed....

What is the alternative to a black flag at the crosstrees?

The Cruisers Forum "charlie foxtrot" burgee, of course.

Cruisers & Sailing Forums - Cruisers Forum Burgee

[Delancey]

Winter cover. Broken 470 mast for a strong back. Three-ply plastic sheeting with a polyester twine scrim from builder's supply 20' x 100' for $180. Shrink wrap tape. Grommets. Zipper door. A days worth of messing about.

Keeps the side decks free so it is easy to tend to the dock lines. Less windage than one that goes over the lifelines. Like a greeenhouse on sunny days, quite warm inside.

Last years version stood up to 50kts without worry but was made from an inferior product, got burned buying something on the internets that wasn't what I thought. Make sure the scrim is an actual fiber as opposed to strips of colored plastic sheeting.

People around here pay about $900 to shrink wrap a forty footer, then in the spring they throw all that money in the landfill along with their shrink-wrap plastic. I just don't get it. The current version should last me two to three seasons at least.

[Tim R.]

$100 worth of shrink film per year and I recycle it properly in the spring. Frame($60) is reusable. Completely protects the deck and leaves plenty of room to do work. Tight enough to have breakfast in PJs on 20°F sunny morning but enough gap at toerail to provide ventilation. Proper door to get in and out.

[The Other Gary]

I have lived aboard 12 years now and have it down to a fine art.
4 fan heaters set on low wattage keep it warm and air moving.
A heated water line from the boat to a submerged city water line
at the dock gives me running water all winter.
A ceramic plate heater in the head 400 watts keeps the head warm
and toasty for showers without going to the shower house.
Weekly pumpout
Cable
It beats camping out.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by Tim R.

...Frame($60) is reusable....

What is the frame made from? It looks a bit..almost...Studebaker Conestoga wagon-ish...but very cool..

The bows appear separate to the lifeline stanchions, so how are the held in place?

[Sam Plan B]

I sleep under an electric blanket inside a sleeping bag. Also, I use a Solis dehumidifier in tandem with a small electric space heater. The two keep the boat warm-ish and dry.

[Hudson Force]

Adjust your thermostat or your latitude.............

[Tim R.]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

What is the frame made from? It looks a bit..almost...Studebaker Conestoga wagon-ish...but very cool.. The bows appear separate to the lifeline stanchions, so how are the held in place?

Center ridge and vertical supports are 2x4s. Ribs are 3/4" PVC conduit. Bases sit on rub rail and wire tied to toe rail. Stringers in photo were 1/2" PVC conduit but it turned out to be too flimsy so this year I used 1x2 wood furring strips that are much better. Door frame is 2x4 tied bacteria to ridge with two 2x4s. Door is 2x3 with diagonal bracing.

The ridge is tied down to the hand rails with strapping. The PVC bows actually create a lifting force on the whole frame. The entire structure is very stable even in high winds.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by Tim R.

The PVC bows actually create a lifting force on the whole frame..

OK, so what type of PVC tubeing did you use? Water pipe? Conduit? Diameter, wall thickness? Grade or type??

[Tim R.]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

OK, so what type of PVC tubeing did you use? Water pipe? Conduit? Diameter, wall thickness? Grade or type??

Did you read my post?

[Reward]

Use clear shrinkwrap for that "greenhouse effect"!
It provides a great deal of heat on a cold but sunny day.

[The Other Gary]

I wish I could obtain clear but have not been able to source the size I need locally.
I make do with white and add some clear windows so I have a view.

[Abrain]

We use a wood stove and so far a quarter cord of solid wood. fans keep humidity down and we are partially insulted - in fact looking at different insulation's to finish off the V birth project. The wood stove works good but temperatures are below 20F lately and so sweaters and long underwear are being employed by the crew.

We are sick of this weather so soon we are moving south :P

[Tim R.]

Originally Posted by The Other Gary

I wish I could obtain clear but have not been able to source the size I need locally.
I make do with white and add some clear windows so I have a view.

Knowing we would be living aboard for 4-5 winters before we set off cruising I purchased a roll at Dr. Shrink and had it shipped truck freight. The prices have really gone up since 2010. I paid about $400 for 32x200. Although that was also wholesale pricing.