On the hard - How often?

Warren Milberg · Mar 14, 2012

You'll get a lot of differing responses to your post about how often to have your boat hauled. I like to get my aging H28.5 (born in 1986) out of the water here on the Chesapeake Bay annually in order to inspect a lot of under water stuff (i.e, rudder, prop and shaft, zincs, thru-hulls, iron keel, and the general condition of the bottom prior to annual bottom painting). While we've had a very warm winter with no snow and ice, I'm not comfortable leaving the boat in the drink over the winters here. Haul out is good for me and good for the boat. So, the answer is, it all depends....

Gary_H · Mar 14, 2012

It's expensive so I only pull when I have a specific problem that requires it or every couple of years when I have the bottom repainted. I'm a diver so I routinely clean and inspect the hull and running gear while it's in the water.

Sailm8 · Mar 14, 2012

In our warm Florida waters and varied salinity levels, I rely on my divers regular inspection. I also inspect when I can swim under the boat and look myself. Not very scientific but it seems to work.

As an aside, when I had a boat on a fresh water lake, I never really understood why everyone did their bottom coats every year. All we ever had was slime and the bottom coat did nothing to stop that.

Alex Dare · Mar 14, 2012

It's a good idea to haul if not every winter then every other. Several months out of the water allows the hull to dry out and reduces you chance of developing blisters. That's my 2 cents anyway.

MSN-Travelers · Mar 14, 2012

Every November before the marina waters get kinda hard.

rpell1@msn.com · Mar 14, 2012

With this past winter being an extreme exception, I normally haul out every other year, just to do the bottom and change zincs. If I have or suspect a problem, then of course it would be again that year.

Last year I had to repair 17 blisters on the hull and rudder and I wasn't looking forward to doing it again. So, she stayed in this year.

I'm taking her out today for a "shakedown" so that I can start cleaning her up for the season. With temperatures predicted in the 70's and light breezes, it might take awhile on the water to make sure all is okay.

Happy Sailing....

Ken Cross said:
The engine vibration post got me thinking (Oops that's costly.)
How often do you pull your boat out of the water?

We moor in cold water and so swimming under is out of the question for me.
I have no indication that we need to pull the boat out. I can see nothing from above to indicate a problem but I haven't had it out of the water since October 2009. I will likely cost over $1000 for the week by the time I pull it clean and re-coat the bottom. and that's doing the work myself.

It's a SanJuan 28.

wetass · Mar 14, 2012

Hi Ken,

Im in your neck of the woods (Im at Shilshole) and haul out for a week Annually. I could probably do it every other and use a diver in between, but over the years I have become a bit of a cynic and need to do it myself. I tried diving on it myself, but its not the same as being able to look at things on dry land. Generally my list of items includes changing the Zincs & repainting then bottom, polishing the topsides, and then checking the rudder, prop, shaft, moisture level of the hull, thru hulls, keel, etc.

That said, the haul-out and bottom prep (I use Seaview and they don't allow you to prep your own bottom anymore) isn't that bad for my 36'. They charge $14/foot for 2-way haul, pressure wash, and bottom sanding/prep. I can generally get out of there in a week for around $800 and my labor is really just rolling the paint and throwing on some zincs and whatever else I elect to do. I would think a 28 could do it for under $600 - significantly less if you time it right and work fast. Still a good bit of money, but also a good deal of piece of mind - at least for me. Other yards around the Sound are more or less expensive - I've just learned to trust Seaview and they are really convenient for me.

Johnb · Mar 14, 2012

By paying a diver $100 every 3 months to clean the bottom and replace zincs I can get 3+ years between haul outs. Once or twice a year I take her up into the San Joauquin River and dive on her myself in the fresh, warm water. I figure that also delivers a pretty good shock to the sea water growth.

I have been using the same diver for 8 years and consider him to be excellant.

Steve Dion · Mar 14, 2012

Ken:

We only pay about $1200 (36 foot) for a new coat of bottom paint at the yard. They do the entire process.

Johnb:

We use the reverse process. We take the boat to the bay for a salt water shock. Down the mighty Sacramento River to the Bay. All the slime is gone in about 2-3 days.

kenn · Mar 14, 2012

Sailm8 said:
, when I had a boat on a fresh water lake, I never really understood why everyone did their bottom coats every year. All we ever had was slime and the bottom coat did nothing to stop that.

In the Great Lakes, there's still enough wee beasties - eg zebra-mussels - that like hulls, to justify bottom-coating. it also seems to cuts down a bit on slime.

Stu Jackson · Mar 14, 2012

Johnb said:
By paying a diver $100 every 3 months to clean the bottom and replace zincs I can get 3+ years between haul outs. Once or twice a year I take her up into the San Joauquin River and dive on her myself in the fresh, warm water. I figure that also delivers a pretty good shock to the sea water growth.

I have been using the same diver for 8 years and consider him to be excellant.

Ditto. My diver for 13 years. I used to think every other year for a bottom job, but I've gone more than four 'cuz of my ski accident. So I'm gonna stretch it out this time around. Diver comes quarterly, around $100 a pop.

Ray Bowles · Mar 14, 2012

Ken, You didn't say how long since your last haul but unless you have a diver checking your zinc's then I'd advise doing that. Ask your dock mates how often they replace zinc's and paint their bottoms and follow suit.
Ray

gpd955 · Mar 15, 2012

Every other year. Unless there's an issue that needs to be addressed. Our marina has bubblers so the boat is good. I just winterize the systems. We try to spend a few weekends on board during the winter.

We always plan on using the boat but it usually never works out....80 and 75 on Tues and Wed here, planned on sailing today with a mid-60s forecast but it's noon and still 48. That's ok though.... I had to change out the joker valve anyway. Woo hoo.

Cool Beans · Mar 15, 2012

Sorry, lol. . .

$11 a foot 2 way haul, cleaning, and blocking. . .and $10 on the hard.

A week on the hard is pretty reasonable. I'm stretching it to 18 months this year so I haul in the fall. . .but for the cost, I'm thinking I'll haul once a year. I don't see any reason not too. . .

pogo2 · Mar 17, 2012

October 8 th

Being on the Great Lakes our season runs from May to November, some times. My boat is hauled out every October 8th, gives me time to wash & wax the hull before I put the cover on. The mast is dropped about every 3 years, to do maintenance etc. Another factor is my boat insurance states I have to be on the hard by Nov. 1st. til April 1st

On the hard - How often?

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