37C: Winter haulout or bubbler?

[Brazil]

This question mainly regards assessing risk of water intake at engine exhaust. I have a 1980 Hunter 37C in a slip in NJ, a new location for the boat; first time bubbler and staying in the water over winter has been a option. Also have a canvas cover that could be used on hard or afloat. A, to me, major uncertainty Is the risk of a heavy snow load pushing the engine exhaust below waterline and flooding. The exhaust is barely an inch above waterline normally; when motoring at full speed, water commonly sputters up the starboard scupper. Anyone have experience with this issue?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

you just described the exhaust location of every boat that ‘stays in’. A lot depends on the reliability of the bubbler system power at your marina - I’d check with your dock mates who stay in but having said that, just make sure the exhaust connections are good. Ice expansion isn’t problematic unless in a confined space where there is no place for it to expand. Been there, done that.

 

[SycloneDriver]

I used to pull my San Juan 7.7m out every fall. I had a trailer with pads and bunks that could be lowered for painting. I added a crane to assist with stepping the mast. Having the boat out of the water gave me full access to the bottom for maintenance. An added benefit that I think is often overlooked is that having the boat on the hard allows you to drain any water from the rudder, my SJ7.7m always had water in the rudder, and allows the hull to dry for months. This drying should reduce blistering and prolong the life of the bottom of the boat.

Now I have a bigger boat and no trailer. At my current location putting the boat on the hard for the winter isn't really an option, I wish it was. I could take it to a different marina, but they will not allow boat owners to do any of their own work. The marinas around here are geared towards power boaters.

 

[Tally Ho]

A proper cover should shed most snow…are you going to be able to check on the boat weekly? Monthly? That would put me much more at ease.

If you wont be able to check on the boat (frequently during snowy weather at least), then I would recommend hauling it out. Then you can sort of “set it and forget it”.

Greg

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

A, to me, major uncertainty Is the risk of a heavy snow load pushing the engine exhaust below waterline and flooding.

I may not be following you correctly, but if I understand this, you are concerned about the engine being loaded down until the waterline is above the engine exhaust level.

Your boat should have an internal exhaust loop which reaches up as high as possible to avoid such situations.