Sealed with a bow (and a stern, too)

[Phil Herring]

How do you prep your boat for winter?

While this varies depending on your latitude, it's a great opportunity for owners in the south to jab at their northern cousins... and vice-versa in the summer.

Are you a stands-and-shrinkwrap guy, or is draining fluids and hoping for the best good enough?

Share your winterizing process here. Then find your shovel for either snow or beach sand... depending on your latitude, of course.

 

[FastOlson]

Here at about 46 North, in the NW, some folks sail all winter, and a larger number put their boat away. Since we do not choose to use our boat much when it's 37 and rainy, we drain the fresh water system, put antifreeze into the raw water side of the engine plumbing, and bring home all of the "soft goods" inside. Cushions and bedding, for instance. Head sail is off and main sail either off or protected with its "winter" sail cover. High winds are a regular threat... matter of fact today a frontal system is moving thru western Oregon with winds to 40 mph. We do get at least one weekly storm each winter with 25 degree temps and sustained winds over 30.

Double up the bow and stern lines, add chafing gear. Sometimes - extra fenders.

About late March we will wake up the boat again. I do check the bilge once a week, just because......

 

[jon hansen]

rig down, boat stripped, on a steel cradle, inside heated storage, 50 degrees, rig on a rack inside. visqueen covered to keep dust off.
northern wisconsin.
does it cost more up front? yepper
but it saves way more money in the long run. just like keeping your car in the garage - heated verses out in the yard. we've had the boat for 48 seasons. the boat is 56 years old.
a 56 year old car kept in a garage looks totally different than a 56 year old car kept in a field. same with boats.

rebuilds are very costly! huge money, huge. up here on the lakes it is cheaper to keep the old alden in the barn for the off season.

out of the sun, rain, snow, freezing, ........ you know, the stuff the postman goes through.

all my other boats are stored inside without heat. they too are old now and still in good shape.

aeolus is the oldest seniority at the yard. the boat has been there longer than any of the employees. space may be hard to get. i would not know. i have my spot reserved forever, well, my forever

p.s. i pass out cases of beer to the boys that work on aeolus each and every year. donuts in the break room too.

 

[DougM]

I’m at about 45degN, haulout just after labor day, never to be in the water again until Memorial day.
I had a trusted marina and let them do the winterizing. They would be liable if something froze and broke, but never had an issue in 17 years. Batteries fully charged and completely disconnected, but remained in the boat. Still held charge all winter.
The boat stored outdoors, mast up, on its own cradle, with a custom canvas cover for the first 12 years, then shrink wrapped after that because I couldn’t get on a canvas shop schedule that would work.
With mixed feelings, I’m done with that program. Sold the boat in September…

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Mast down with indoor heated storage and beer in the cockpit for the yard crew. The few hundred extra dollars for the indoor storage is well worth not having to winterize everything nor rush to get things taken care of. Plus, I can actually work on the boat in reasonable comfort

 

[jssailem]

My boat is all tucked in at her Marina slip for the start of winter.

This year, because I may not get the chance to go out til after the New Year, the sails came down and were carried to the loft for inspection. The spreader chafe cover on the Genoa needed to be extended.

I believe, if you plan to leave your boat in a slip during the winter, it would be informative to spend a night on the boat during a gale. You might think twice about tying the boat to the slip with a couple old tiny lines. You might decide that brining the genoa down from the furler and stowing it inside the boat is not that much work. I watched several boats shred their sails as the sail partially unwound from the furler one night. Nothing anyone could do.

I take the linens and soft goods off the boat. Empty the refrig and all the food cupboards. Set up the dehumidifier and the heater to "Do Not Freeze" setting. Open the engine hatches so all kept above freezing. Empty the water lines and assure the all the lines are doubled. If the Marina warns that the power is being shut down, then I or a friend stops by to see if all is ok.

Winter on a boat can be invigorating. It is especially nice to fire up the diesel heater and sit toasty warm with a glass of good rum, reading a book about sailing open waters.

 

[TomY]

My daughter helped me put the cover on yesterday, and it looks just like this in the off season (this was taken in 2020): All hatches open, air moving through, rain and snow kept out. But I live just a short walk from the boat so I can keep an eye on the cover and frame.

We do some things backwards, I was thinking today. I was headed to the newly covered boat when my partner handed me a pile of clean bath towels, dishtowels and a 60's vintage plastic bowl. "Could you put these back on the boat if you're going down".

We're often doing that; bringing stuff to the boat in the fall. Most everything stays on board over the winter as it's nice, dry storage. Except for the sails and most perishables, it stays onboard. Batteries fully charged and turned off, engine winterized but raw water hose re-connected, oil and filter changed, it's ready to go into the water again (after spring tasks), including nearly everything we need except food and clothing.

Oh and then she stopped me to say, "There is a good bottle of red wine in the wine locker. Don't forget that".

I'm glad she told me that. I'd rather see a church burn than to find that wine label sitting on a pile of glass in the spring.

 

[Pagan Baby]

On the Chesapeake at 39N. Boat left in slip.
Top off fuel tank and add biocide/lubricant

Drain and vacuumed fresh water tanks, blow out lines to pump and run pink antifreeze through pump to faucets. Run pink antifreeze through wash down pump and in all drains.
Change oil and filter, run red antifreeze through cooling system. Flush engine side of cooling system every other year with descaler and renew antifreeze.
Take down sails and canvas, remove cushions and bedding, clean out fridge and galley. Remove dinghy, set up cover frame and cover boat.
It usually takes me several weeks to get everything done doing a little at a time.
Come spring I’ll haul the boat for a week or so to do the topsides and bottom.

Next winter I’ve resolved to change my winterization plan to a one step: point the bow south and go!

 

[dLj]

On the Chesapeake at 39N. Boat left in slip.
Top off fuel tank and add biocide/lubricant

Drain and vacuumed fresh water tanks, blow out lines to pump and run pink antifreeze through pump to faucets. Run pink antifreeze through wash down pump and in all drains.
Change oil and filter, run red antifreeze through cooling system. Flush engine side of cooling system every other year with descaler and renew antifreeze.
Take down sails and canvas, remove cushions and bedding, clean out fridge and galley. Remove dinghy, set up cover frame and cover boat.
It usually takes me several weeks to get everything done doing a little at a time.
Come spring I’ll haul the boat for a week or so to do the topsides and bottom.

Next winter I’ve resolved to change my winterization plan to a one step: point the bow south and go!

Why don't you sail over the winter? Last year I was down very close to where you are and was watching a number of sailboats enjoying a super day of sailing - it was in December.

dj

 

[dLj]

I'm glad she told me that. I'd rather see a church burn than to find that wine label sitting on a pile of glass in the spring.

Now that's the right attitude!

dj

 

[DayDreamer41]

42.97N -82.43W Water get too hard to continue sailing into January, boat is hoisted out and put on (9) stands, I erect a conduit tubular frame and then cover with a (3) pc sustom canvas cover. Winterization is performed by the yard, he has looked after our Sapphire since taking ownership in 2016 and he does a great job, have never had an issue.

 

[Pagan Baby]

Why don't you sail over the winter? Last year I was down very close to where you are and was watching a number of sailboats enjoying a super day of sailing - it was in December.

dj

Good question! In my previous boat I used to do quite a bit of winter sailing. I bought my current boat about 4 years ago and have used winter to do major projects. Once it warms up I would rather be sailing then working on projects although I still find myself working on projects when I’d rather be sailing.

 

[SailingLoto]

In the water and ready to go other than the head sea cock is closed and the head is flushed with pink antifreeze.

I winterize 400+ power boats a year. The joys if year round sailing appeal to me more than speed and petrol.