Sailing today - Solomons Island, Chesapeake Bay

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garylinger

garylinger

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May 2, 2008
254
S2 9.2C 1980 St. Leonard (Chesapeake Bay), MD
After my wife, grandson and I checked on the boat we drove to Solomons Island, MD (the central Chesapeake Bay) and saw close to a dozen boats with sails up in the Patuxent River. It made me want to rush back to mine and get 'er goin'. My concern is when do I know that is safe to de-winterize. There are no hard freezes in the 10 day forecast but there are a couple of 31 degree nights listed. I guess I will have to be patient and see how things go. I'm ready!
 
Mike B

Mike B

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Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
We ran down to Annapolis today to drop the dinghy off for some minor repairs. While there weren't many boats out there were a few taking advantage of nice weather and a good breeze. We'll be in the water within 10 days and are definately looking forward to it.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
less than a week ago we had single digit temperatures at night up at this end of the bay. I will wait a couple of weeks yet.
 
Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
garylinger said:
After my wife, grandson and I checked on the boat we drove to Solomons Island, MD (the central Chesapeake Bay)
Click to expand
Did you see my latest research vessel tied to the dock down at the far end of the island?

 
garylinger

garylinger

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May 2, 2008
254
S2 9.2C 1980 St. Leonard (Chesapeake Bay), MD
We didn't go that far down - we stayed along the boardwalk. If it is going to be there for a while I will make a trip down to see it since I only live about 10 miles away.
 
catsailor

catsailor

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Jan 10, 2009
590
PDQ 32 Deale, MD
Wonderful sailing on the Bay! 15 knots steady, 60F air...

but 35F water. It was SO nice to have wind in the hair without the winter bite. Actually had to open a window in the cabin.

I have always sailed all year. It is a mater of know how to winterize flexibly:

* Twin outboards. They drain. nothing to do there, if you are going to start them with some regularity. I can't speak for inboards, but there are some boats with inboards out all year.
* Head. Flush with a very weak glycol solution. Perhaps 15%. Keep the seacock closed and sealed.
* Other plumbing. Blow it out or circulate glycol and don't use it till spring.
* Think you might have missed something? run a small heater turned down to "frost watch."
* Ice around the boat. I use a bubbler if it really cold, but our harbor gets a good dose of salt so that is not most years.
* Fridge. Works great!

Deale, MD
 
ITMaster

ITMaster

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Jun 19, 2004
512
Catalina 387 Hull # 24 Port Charlotte, Florida
Like catsailor

WE go all year. Keep a couple heaters placed strategically with the freeze stat guards. My water manifolds are about as low in the boat as you can get, I close off the valves for the hoses to the aft shower, and disconnect both ends. They pick up siphon pretty much automatically drain fairly dry. It doesn't get as cold on this end of the bay as you all see up there, this year we had no ice on the water around the boat.

Early yesterday morning, we were able to get me up to the top side for a little maintenance and when the winds picked up later on, did some sailing. What a blessed weekend we had.
 

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Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
Know some sailors that went out, they are ready to winterize again if need be.
 
Warren Milberg

Warren Milberg

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Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
Good question re when to de-winterize on the Chesapeake. Being an optimist, I think that the days of long, hard freezes are over here until next Dec or so. If my boat were ready now, I would not hesitate to put her back into the water and go sailing on wonderful days like we had last Sunday and Monday. But...since a cold front, long and low enough to endanger my inboard diesel, is not likely to sneak up on you without warning, I'd also be prepared to run down to the boat (50 min away) to run another jug of $10 anti-freeze into the raw water side if need be. Cheap insurance. And wouldn't you pay $10 bucks for a sail right about now?
 
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Cpt. Jon

Cpt. Jon

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Dec 9, 2008
426
1980 Hunter 30 "Denali" Seaford, VA
I have no problem with re-winterizing if need be. Was a great weekend!
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I am tempted to break mine out of hybernation, partly. I don't want to do the fresh water system yet but I may do the diesel. One more nice weekend and I won't be able to stand it anymore. I have a few gallons of Antifreeze sitting around so I might be okay.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Thomas Point Light water temp

I watch the water temp at the TPL station. The Bay is a BIG flywheel temperature wise and the temp gives a good gage of the actual average temp of the air. When it gets to 40 F it is time to get back in the water.
BTW it hit 40 today.
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=tplm2
then click on water temp.

See you on the waters.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Up at the Top of the Bay...

there was still snow on the shady side of my deck on Saturday! I think I'll wait until the average temp gets above 50 so caulking and paint will stick! :)
 
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