How do you winterize this big orange toy

[Bill Yale]

Okay, so I bought my 74 O'day 20 last May and have had a blast with it. Living at 6200 feet above sea level, we tend to get a little snow (Translation my sedan gets buried regularly). I keep the boat on the side of my house and am curious how other owners in snow areas winterize their boats. My plan is to drain and remove the water tank, put the battery on a trickle charger, winterize the Honda per their instructions and my thought was to tie the mast to the pulpit, and balnce the other end on a 2 x 4 frame off the stern. I would then use the mast to support a large tarp draped over the boat securing it to the trailer. My concerns are about the spreaders and about the interior of the boat. Also, Do I completly enclose it off as airtight as possible or leave parts of it open. Any thoughts, methods, ideas? Thanks

 

[Ben Bishop]

Yup, you got it.

Sounds like the right plan. My mast is on the bow pulpit with simple lumber supports aft in two places, one on the cabin top and one about 5' in the cockpit. Then go to walmart and buy two or thee of their bungee assortments and a couple of tarps which will wear out fast. Pad the rough areas on the mast to prevent chafing. Then put the tarps on tight. You can try to make it weather tight on the ends with bits of canvas if you want. I don't cause I like to go on the boat to work on it so I leave aft open...Have funBB

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Winterizing

Bill -You're on the right track. I would removed the spreaders from the sockets to protect them. You should be able to do that pretty easily once the mast it down.You should definitely figure out a way to vent the boat or it will get very wet and moldy inside. If you are able cover the boat effectively with the tarp, you should be able to leave some openings cracked.Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Dave]

almost there

the only other thing i would do is build a rib cage from 1" pvc running on top of the mast then down the sides to the outward edge of the boat then drap the tarp over thatb and secure each end. also, pull the tires off trailor and cover disks in taped plastic