What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Climate

Mark48

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Mar 1, 2008
166
Hunter 34 Milwaukee
Just curious as to what people leave on board while on the hard in norther climates. I have bagged my dishes, and some paper supplies and keep my tools on board. Wondering about bagging blankets, towels, life jackets etc. I do remove my cushions.
 
Jan 12, 2011
930
Hunter 410 full time cruiser
Re: What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Cli

I bring all food and drinks home. Sheets, pillow cases, towels and light blankets come home to get washed. Comforters get vac bagged and stay. Everything else stays.

There has to be a good reason to bring any home home that I will just have to store and take back.
 
Feb 10, 2004
4,154
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Re: What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Cli

Bring Home:

All food items. All bedding (blankets, comforters, sheets, pillow cases) that have been used. Any clean sheets or other bedding that has not been used gets bagged and stored on-board. All liquids that can freeze- eg. distilled water, any cleaners or chemicals that specify not to allow freezing. All rechargeable electronics with their corresponding chargers. All of the manuals in binders for reference over the winter. Ship's log and maintenance logs as well as documentation papers. Dinghy, fenders, BBQ, and dock lines and any other detachable lines that saw salt water service come home for cleaning. Compass, binoculars, all canvas and sails come home.

Stored on-board:

All interior cushions are propped up to allow air circulation. I set out 7 pails of calcium chloride pellets throughout the boat to absorb moisture to eliminate mildew. Cockpit cushions are stored inside but if they are really dirty I bring them home for cleaning. I have several containers of specialized tools and supplies for decommissioning and re-commissioning in the spring that I take to the boat in the fall and bring them home in the spring. I remove all batteries from all devices, label them as to usage and then bag all the batteries to avoid leakage damage. I leave a sleeping bag and an electric heater in case I visit during the winter. Pillows stay on-board.
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Re: What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Cli

Plus I brought most electrical tools since we loaded quite a few as we cruised for two years. Batteries in flashlights had made a mess once so we brought them home. All the rolled paper products are in plastic bags. Two trunk loads of clothes, the rest will stay aboard. Covered the bunk with a waterproof cover. Not happy about leaving stuff, but just not practical to unload.

All U Get
 
Jan 12, 2011
930
Hunter 410 full time cruiser
On the other hand - it is kind of neat what happens to olive oil if you leave on the boat to freeze for a few months :D
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,947
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
Winter...Brrr

Some, I'm sure, will be reticent over us PNW'sters where climes permit year around cruising. Yes, we have spent many a winter night on the hook during the winter months when it was snowing or storming outside. Something to be said about having a Thanksgiving dinner aboard Belle-Vie on the hook with the Wallas 40D forced air furnace keeping us cozy inside.

I keep a space heater and dehumidifiers active on the boat to keep things dry and mildew free during those unattended periods. She is always ready to go except for some fresh provisions. We have several very nice anchorages within an hour or two sail of our slip.

Perhaps this year will be our first Christmas aboard. That would be very nice. We'll see.
 
Sep 19, 2004
85
Hunter e36 Vancouver
I bring the dehumidifier on board, put the cushions in the centre and keep a small heater going. I am in Vancouver, Canada. Seldom go below freezing here.
 
Sep 11, 2011
428
Hunter 41AC Bayfield WI, Lake Superior
Re: What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Cli

I haul out in bayfield. So my experience would be similar to yours. For the last 6 seasons I leave everything on the boat except food that would freeze like cans. The boat is covered with a custom cover, and the main hatches are left open with the screens in place. The boat is always fresh and no mold, mildew or creatures have ever been found on the boat. Simple is better for me.

I have a friend that tries to make his boat air tight, and bags every thing. He gets mold every year. Let it breath is my advice.
 
Oct 25, 2011
576
Island Packet IP31 Lake St. Louis, Montreal
Re: What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Cli

We take home pretty much everything except the dishes and cutlery, including interior cushions, sails, life jackets etc.

All drawers, locker doors and storage compartments are left open for air circulation.

We do leave top hatches cracked open (ours have a position where they are locked but are open by .5"). I would not leave my hatches open more than that as some other boats have had raccoons come onboard for the winter and the mess was incredible.

Cheers

Matt
 

Scott

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Sep 24, 1997
242
Hunter 31_83-87 Middle River, Md
All of the above, but

the older I get, the less that comes home. Seems to work out with no problems so far. :D
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,715
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
"What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Climate)?"

Pretty much the engine....I remove almost everything to ensure an easy work environment and non-odorous cushions etc... Some dishes & glass ware stay on-board but everything else is moved into the barn, even the anchor and rode are removed..
 
Jun 1, 2009
1,852
Hunter 49 toronto
Here is what I do

Just curious as to what people leave on board while on the hard in norther climates. I have bagged my dishes, and some paper supplies and keep my tools on board. Wondering about bagging blankets, towels, life jackets etc. I do remove my cushions.
Every year I leave either a case of pop or a few bottles of wine on board, stowed in some nook or cranny that I was sure I checked 10 times.
It gives me lots of time in the spring to brush up on my cursing vocabulary, and use up some of my cleaning supplies.
 
Jan 22, 2008
101
Hunter 40.5 New Bern NC
Re: What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Cli

Good grief, absolutely nothing, Y'all need to come further south,.
 
Jun 28, 2014
23
Hunter Passage 456 Harrison Twp MI
I agree, less comes home every year!

the older I get, the less that comes home. Seems to work out with no problems so far. :D
Cockpit cushions go down below, all cabinet doors are left open for ventilation, batteries are taken out of remotes and stored in baggies. Food and anything I don't want to freeze comes home and grill comes home to be cleaned and stored. Sails go to be cleaned and checked or stored below. I wash area rugs and bed linens and make the beds so I'm ready to go in the spring. I just started putting things to absorb any moisture down below this year. The shrink wrap goes on and I wait... patiently... for spring.
 
Oct 1, 2011
172
Canadian Sailcraft 36T PCYC Toronto
Re: What do you leave on board over the Winter (Northern Cli

I remove most everything I can, whether necessary or not I'll never know but since I stopped using shrink wrap (did for two years) and bit the bullet and bought a custom well vented cover I have never had any type of moisture/ mildew problem that I've read about across the forums.
Maybe just lucky, but I think you get out what you put in so to speak.