If you do your sailing in the summer, how do you determine when to pack it in for the winter? Do you go by the calendar, the temperature, when school starts, football season, or perhaps opportunity? What makes you break out the shrink wrap and drain the oil? Tell use about your winter routine then vote in the Quick Quiz on the home page.
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Unfortunately
It's when my marina got too shallow for me to make it out to lake ontario..pulling her out was quite a chore (involved dumping as much weight as i could just to get out to lake ontario to find a better ramp!) - I didnt realize the lake lost water so fast! I trailer-sail once in a while now, but for me the season is essentially over
The good news - (new marina to me) dockmaster held up on his "guarantee" i'd have enough depth..that is to say...my slip rent was pro-rated
It's when my marina got too shallow for me to make it out to lake ontario..pulling her out was quite a chore (involved dumping as much weight as i could just to get out to lake ontario to find a better ramp!) - I didnt realize the lake lost water so fast! I trailer-sail once in a while now, but for me the season is essentially over
The good news - (new marina to me) dockmaster held up on his "guarantee" i'd have enough depth..that is to say...my slip rent was pro-rated
Usually sail well into December
I'm ok sailing with a low air temp of 60F during the day. Below that it gets a bit uncomfortable in the cockpit.
I'm ok sailing with a low air temp of 60F during the day. Below that it gets a bit uncomfortable in the cockpit.
No choice
Yacht club closes beginning of Oct, docks are hauled out, moorings have to be winterized, sunk to low tide level, otherwise there is a good chance the ice will take the buoy away. I lost mine last year as the cheapskate who put it down for me fastened the shackle below the buoy with a 25c cotter pin! I now use someone else! On the bright side, there might be a chance for some more fibre-glassing as we have a long Fall here in NS. Barry
Yacht club closes beginning of Oct, docks are hauled out, moorings have to be winterized, sunk to low tide level, otherwise there is a good chance the ice will take the buoy away. I lost mine last year as the cheapskate who put it down for me fastened the shackle below the buoy with a 25c cotter pin! I now use someone else! On the bright side, there might be a chance for some more fibre-glassing as we have a long Fall here in NS. Barry
New England haul out
I usualy haul my boat out the third week of Oct. The daylight hours are shortening for sailing after work and the yard I am moored at wants everyone out by Oct. 31 . so this gives me one weekend extra if the weather is bad ......Smitroe
I usualy haul my boat out the third week of Oct. The daylight hours are shortening for sailing after work and the yard I am moored at wants everyone out by Oct. 31 . so this gives me one weekend extra if the weather is bad ......Smitroe
On The Great Lakes
We have to pull out now as water levels in the fall are too low and harbour mouths are getting clogged with sand. I have been on the hard now for a week.
We have to pull out now as water levels in the fall are too low and harbour mouths are getting clogged with sand. I have been on the hard now for a week.
We are asked to have our boats ready to pull
by mid October. But we talk to the manager and he agrees to pull us last. He only pulls on a high tide so we can usually stay in until eary December. That is good if we don't freeze up early.
by mid October. But we talk to the manager and he agrees to pull us last. He only pulls on a high tide so we can usually stay in until eary December. That is good if we don't freeze up early.
Out by November 1st
Our marina "closes" on November 1st. The electricity and water are shut off - and the card-keys no longer work. So - we have to be on the haul-out list by October 1st. I'm having a new metal cradle made - so it will be a tight schedule this year. Bill on STARGAZER
Our marina "closes" on November 1st. The electricity and water are shut off - and the card-keys no longer work. So - we have to be on the haul-out list by October 1st. I'm having a new metal cradle made - so it will be a tight schedule this year. Bill on STARGAZER
December 1 on Kentucky Lake
I am usually the last one winterized at Lighthouse Landing. I only haul out every other year and this year I will stay in. I sail through November. I have a full enclosure that gives me March and November as extra sailing in relative comfort. The winds are good in both months and if the sun is out, the 40 degree weather outside is a relatively comforatable 60 inside the enclosure. Based on how hot it has been this year, this winter could be a real bear! We haven't had a bad winter in several years here - the averages are bound to catch up soon!
I am usually the last one winterized at Lighthouse Landing. I only haul out every other year and this year I will stay in. I sail through November. I have a full enclosure that gives me March and November as extra sailing in relative comfort. The winds are good in both months and if the sun is out, the 40 degree weather outside is a relatively comforatable 60 inside the enclosure. Based on how hot it has been this year, this winter could be a real bear! We haven't had a bad winter in several years here - the averages are bound to catch up soon!
The best is yet to come!!!!
When I was farther north I pulled out before Christmas but the last couple of years I didn't pull out at all. The old outboard was harder to start and I had to chip ice out of the cockpit but I was worth it!!!! The strangest thing that happened was a whiteout. We were sailing along and it started snowing so hard that I couldn't see the shore. But it only lasted a little while and it was a small lake (South Holston in Eastern Tennessee). Now we are farther south and the best is yet to come. The weather is starting a fall pattern with cooler nights and more wind. This past weekend was great sailing with shore to shore whitecaps yesterday and good wind on Saturday. We are planning a cruise October 6-3. Maybe another around thanksgiving.
When I was farther north I pulled out before Christmas but the last couple of years I didn't pull out at all. The old outboard was harder to start and I had to chip ice out of the cockpit but I was worth it!!!! The strangest thing that happened was a whiteout. We were sailing along and it started snowing so hard that I couldn't see the shore. But it only lasted a little while and it was a small lake (South Holston in Eastern Tennessee). Now we are farther south and the best is yet to come. The weather is starting a fall pattern with cooler nights and more wind. This past weekend was great sailing with shore to shore whitecaps yesterday and good wind on Saturday. We are planning a cruise October 6-3. Maybe another around thanksgiving.
Sorry
It's good to live in Southern California. We can get some really big seas in the winter so must check the forcasts, but we only haul out for bottom painting or repairs.
It's good to live in Southern California. We can get some really big seas in the winter so must check the forcasts, but we only haul out for bottom painting or repairs.
winter?
I live in Long Beach, So. Cal. by choice. We sail, in the ocean, all year long. We have the best day-sailing on the entire Left Coast, (Bay Area sailors may disagree) but there's no snow or ice, but we could use some more rain, tho.
I live in Long Beach, So. Cal. by choice. We sail, in the ocean, all year long. We have the best day-sailing on the entire Left Coast, (Bay Area sailors may disagree) but there's no snow or ice, but we could use some more rain, tho.
Low water
I sail on Fern Ridge Lake in Eugene and have to pull my Wavelength 24 when the water level drops to zero clearance for getting it on the trailer....usually about the end of September.
I sail on Fern Ridge Lake in Eugene and have to pull my Wavelength 24 when the water level drops to zero clearance for getting it on the trailer....usually about the end of September.
Too Soon!
WE always have to make the decision too soon for us. Our lake here in central Jersey starts being gradually drained each year(though they tell us other wise) by MID AUGUST! Some of the more shallow draft boats can still launch and recover using areas away from the docks(which didn't reach the water by several feet yesterday!), some boats have a problem with that. Not only is my current trailer too short and difficult to use in normal circumstances, clambering aboard a beached boat is something that the first mate has trouble with and will not do in front of onlookers. Last year I came in mid september to singlehand a day of sailing and found a similar situation(didn't stop me but annoyed the #@%** out of me). THIS, however was the summer that the entire state and our lake area in particular was declared a disaster area due to torrential rains! Our boat is already in our backyard, in the nicest weeks of the year, awaitng a few mods and next year's sailing!
WE always have to make the decision too soon for us. Our lake here in central Jersey starts being gradually drained each year(though they tell us other wise) by MID AUGUST! Some of the more shallow draft boats can still launch and recover using areas away from the docks(which didn't reach the water by several feet yesterday!), some boats have a problem with that. Not only is my current trailer too short and difficult to use in normal circumstances, clambering aboard a beached boat is something that the first mate has trouble with and will not do in front of onlookers. Last year I came in mid september to singlehand a day of sailing and found a similar situation(didn't stop me but annoyed the #@%** out of me). THIS, however was the summer that the entire state and our lake area in particular was declared a disaster area due to torrential rains! Our boat is already in our backyard, in the nicest weeks of the year, awaitng a few mods and next year's sailing!
We are LUCKY
We are lucky enough to sail year-round in Mobile Bay. There are not too many others out with us, but as long as there is enough water to get out of the slip, the winds in the winter are pretty good and steady. It rarely gets cold enough that a sweater or wind-breaker won't handle, as long as we stay dry, which normally is not a problem. In the heat of the summer, the cabin is usually too steamy to sleep in anyway. One of our favorite things to do in the fall is to sail on Saturday afternoons and listen to college football on the radio; the sun, the wind, the waves, the cheering, it doesn't get any better!
We are lucky enough to sail year-round in Mobile Bay. There are not too many others out with us, but as long as there is enough water to get out of the slip, the winds in the winter are pretty good and steady. It rarely gets cold enough that a sweater or wind-breaker won't handle, as long as we stay dry, which normally is not a problem. In the heat of the summer, the cabin is usually too steamy to sleep in anyway. One of our favorite things to do in the fall is to sail on Saturday afternoons and listen to college football on the radio; the sun, the wind, the waves, the cheering, it doesn't get any better!
We sail year round in SC
In central SC, we sail year round, just wear warmer clothing. My 28 foot S-2 is in year round, only haul for painting,or repairs. A scuba diver scrubs the bottom for me, and I have a guy wax the hull at my dock. The water does not go below 50 degrees, and the boat does not have to have much done to it. Quite a change from living in NJ. Lake Murray is 50,000 acres, 600 miles of shore line. Jim
In central SC, we sail year round, just wear warmer clothing. My 28 foot S-2 is in year round, only haul for painting,or repairs. A scuba diver scrubs the bottom for me, and I have a guy wax the hull at my dock. The water does not go below 50 degrees, and the boat does not have to have much done to it. Quite a change from living in NJ. Lake Murray is 50,000 acres, 600 miles of shore line. Jim
Pulling out 11/ 15 or so
Many stay in thru December but with holidays etc i like to be done by mid Nov. I usually have the house ready for winter before the boat! t
Many stay in thru December but with holidays etc i like to be done by mid Nov. I usually have the house ready for winter before the boat! t
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