To haul out or not to haul out??

[Bradley Cavedo]

We have just finished our fourth season on a P 42. Before that we had the 37C for 17 years. We have never hauled either boat out during the winter. We are on the mid Chesapeak Bay. The water does not freeze, usually. With the new boat, we talked about hauling every 3 years, but last year was the third year and we didn't do it.What are the advantages/disadvantages or winter haulout?? Do you have to have the propeller shaft alligned in the spring after the boat is put back in? Do you still have to put anti freeze in the sea water cooling lines and air conditioning lines or does it just run out with the boat is lifted?Are we huring the boat by letting it live its entire life in the water??I would sure like to see a good discussion about these questions. Thanks.

 

[Mickey Goodman]

Haul Out Yes or No

I have always hauled the boat out at the end of the season. Here in New England, only the real hearty soles sale during the winter. I would expect that the primary reason you would want to haul the boat out periodically is for you to expect and repair anything needed to the bottom.Don't you paint the bottom periodically? What about zincs on the drive shaft? Any crustation buildup in thru-hulls?As far as winterizing the air conditioning and engine I would expect that you would do the same regardless if the boat is in or out of the water. There is no question about the winterizing in New England what is common practice in Virginia I don't know. Ask at your marina.

 

[Douglas]

Haul every two

years is what I have been told. I am a little farther South of you on Kerr Lake. The problem here is there are no haul out facilities and it is a major undertaking to have a trailer come and put the boat on the hard. The reasoning for every two years is to allow the hull to dry out and hopefully slow down the blistering process.If you did haul your boat it wouuld probably still be wise to run pink antifreeze throught the raw water system of the engine. No need to take a chance and it is easy to do.

 

[Pete]

haul out

I would recomed a haul out every two or three years to let the hull dry out and do what ever bottom work is needed (paint, zinc etc.) you will need to winterize all the water systems or risk a freeze up, I know that it may not get extremly cold in your area but why risk it! Don't you winterize systems for in water winter storage? Use this opertunity to do any mast work (new halyards,windex,etc.) and unstep the mast to check for corrosion .

 

[Bradley Cavedo]

We DO haul out, but only for 4-5 days

We pull the P42 out in March and have it professionally scraped and painted, zincs, and hull waxed, ect. We also run pink antifreeze through everything in late Nov. But know all that, why should we haul out for the entire winter?? I have heard about "letting the hull dry out," but why? What is the advantage of that? Our 37C was in the water for 17 years and was in great shape, as far as we know. And what obout prop alignment in the spring, is that necessary?