Leaving boat in water
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With all this talk about being crushed by the ice. Two different years, up here is frozen wasteland of Vermont winter. Someone decided to live of aboard over the winter. A normal winter, we get ice from December to March in the range of 3-4 feet thick. I can't be sure, but I believe they were fiberglass hull sailboats. Both time, the boats were left in the mooring field in the fall, froze in for the winter and sailed away in the spring. This was in Mallette's Bay on Lake Champlain. The last time, just a few years ago, they may have used a bubblier system, but the first time I remember someone doing this it was back in the 70's and they didn't so anything. I'm not saying I would store my boat this way, hell mine has been in the cradle since October. Just thought it was interesting.
Merry Christmas
Mike,
Merry Christmas
Mike,
I gave read that in here, so I called boat us and they said I have a yearly policy and it is fine to not lay up for the winter
Yes, it is a bit more like sailing off-shore. The winds are generally greater; sailing in a small craft advisory is normal. You must be self-sufficient.
You must not fall of the boat. A small boat caspized near my port last weekend, and one died from hypothermia. Every boat should carry a wet suit or drysuit, in case there is cause to go for a swim.
Ice can be a problem for the prop, even if quite limited. I won't go if there is any as the sound of chopping ice is disconcerting.
My boat's been in the water for seven years. It does fine, a bit of growth on the bottom, not bad. Water does not freeze, so that's no problem. I winterize the engine and water system...lots easier and cheaper than pulling it out.
Read Your Insurance Policy "Exclusions"
I'm not far from you in the West River. I sail thru December every year and winterize after Christmas. Water tanks, holding tank, head, engine, all the usual stuff. Every winter we do get a bit of ice for a few weeks and it's not thick. Myself and three others around me all have bubblers so we're OK. I do think Warren Millberg makes a good point that bubblers are only as good as the electric that runs them. If we get a bad storm and power goes out for a few days we could have a problem but it's one I'm willing to risk. I haul every year for a week or so and do the bottom, etc. My reason for this approach is mostly to save the money.
That said read your insurance policy. If you happen to have State Farm as I do the policy reads:
"We do not insure for loss to the property described in Coverage A either consisting of, or directly and immediately caused by, one or more of the following: freezing, thawing, pressure or weight of water or ice, whether driven by wind or not".
Like Stu Jackson always says "your boat, your choice".
I'm not far from you in the West River. I sail thru December every year and winterize after Christmas. Water tanks, holding tank, head, engine, all the usual stuff. Every winter we do get a bit of ice for a few weeks and it's not thick. Myself and three others around me all have bubblers so we're OK. I do think Warren Millberg makes a good point that bubblers are only as good as the electric that runs them. If we get a bad storm and power goes out for a few days we could have a problem but it's one I'm willing to risk. I haul every year for a week or so and do the bottom, etc. My reason for this approach is mostly to save the money.
That said read your insurance policy. If you happen to have State Farm as I do the policy reads:
"We do not insure for loss to the property described in Coverage A either consisting of, or directly and immediately caused by, one or more of the following: freezing, thawing, pressure or weight of water or ice, whether driven by wind or not".
Like Stu Jackson always says "your boat, your choice".
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