Why pull boat in winter versus leave in water ?

[deltaten]

I stayed in last Winter. North East , MD. The marina had huge bubblers/pumps. Still had a bit of ice covering nearbthe. boat in late February.
This year, I'm pulling out come November. While the fees are pinching; there's a bunch work I need to do. It was the mast R&R fees that I found most onerous. $200 each way! So, gonna DIY and have it down before the move..

 

[tootalltony]

Re: in or out ?

Marblehead Harbor is great---I haven't sailed in there for years. The last I knew there were 3 yacht clubs there and none of the launches would pick me up since I wash't a member of any yacht club. Snobby stuff!

 

[Ross]

We had summer slip fees, winter storage in the water w/bubblers for another fee or storage on the hard with power wash and spring launch for a package fee.

 

[Bob S]

I'm curious how one deals with pump outs? If the water is frozen around your hull and you're forced to use a bubbler how do you manage adding water to your boat (frozen hoses) or pumping out your sewerage?

 

[thinwater]

I'm curious how one deals with pump outs? If the water is frozen around your hull and you're forced to use a bubbler how do you manage adding water to your boat (frozen hoses) or pumping out your sewerage?

For live aboards there are different answers, but for most sailors...

Pump-outs. If the boat isn't sailing, there is no sewage. As soon as the water is soft, the pump-outs are open. The key is to pump-out just as it gets cold, and to flush with a weak glycol mix as need be. I've never actually filled up.

Most liveaboards in this area use marina sanitation as much as practical in the winter.

Freshwater. Empty hoses don't freeze. Just roll them up or use jerry cans. freeze-proof faucets work all year. Easy enough.

Most years we get only light snow, though there are clearly exceptions. Shoveling a dock is a simple matter of pushing it off; it is not going to drift or build banks. However, I've never bothered. Certainly, even for the liveaboard, it would be far less than a driveway! As for decks, there is no point and it adds insulation. It's quiet too. Winter is when it is extra nice to have a hard top and enclosure; keeps the door clear.

----

Yup, depending on where on the Chesapeake you are, 0-6 weeks may be lost to sailing. It's more a matter of salt/fresh and tidal warming than air temperature.

 

[tommays]

Plenty of boats go both ways here BUT with 10 day power outages NOT OUT of the question the ice eater thing can go real bad

 

[Chris Patterson]

I would faint if I found that in my cockpit floor..

 

[thinwater]

I would faint if I found that in my cockpit floor..

My cockpit (hard top) and dingy (fitted cover on davits) are prevented from filling with snow. Yes, this is a problem the wise guarded against.

 

[JanS48]

What about winter on a mooring?

Hi all, newbie here.
I live in Newport RI, and have a mooring in a very sheltered cove - Brenton cove to be exact. Newport winters can get some snow but the bay seldom freezes although I have seen parts turn to slush on occasion. I've a Seafarer 22, if I remove the mast and cover the cockpit appropriately to keep the snow out - is it safe to leave in the water? I will be able to get out to it on the 'good' days.
Sorry to answer a question with a question - anyone else keep their boat on a mooring in the NE for the winter?
I like the idea of only taking it out every other year or so.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Hi all, newbie here.
I live in Newport RI, and have a mooring in a very sheltered cove - Brenton cove to be exact. Newport winters can get some snow but the bay seldom freezes although I have seen parts turn to slush on occasion. I've a Seafarer 22, if I remove the mast and cover the cockpit appropriately to keep the snow out - is it safe to leave in the water? I will be able to get out to it on the 'good' days.
Sorry to answer a question with a question - anyone else keep their boat on a mooring in the NE for the winter?
I like the idea of only taking it out every other year or so.

We used to live there. The thing that concerned me most was not the temperature but the wind and specifically, the integrity of the mooring. The YC moorings there are good but it never hurts to verify when yours was last checked.

 

[NGoyette]

I live in Tiverton RI across from Brewers and I have a mooring (with a winter stick) in front of my house, last winter there was more ice on the bay then usual and I was glad my boat was not on it.
I do keep it in the water at a marina in the winter, there is a lot of movement and it did not freeze.

 

[jimmcgee]

For me it's about peace of mind. I'm an hour drive away from the boat (Jersey Shore). The two winters we kept it in the water it seemed like I was constantly driving down to check on the boat because of winter storms. I can remember waking up to a howling snow storm one night and not being able to get back to sleep because I was worried about how the boat was doing and how bad the storm was on the coast (nor' easter).

I'll store on the hard with a good quality boat cover (not a tarp). I know she's safe, the cockpit won't fill with snow, and there's a big zippered flap that makes it easy to get on and off through the open transom.

Of course the real solution would be to relocate to the Florida Keys

 

[jimmcgee]

The reason to leave boat in water....it was designed and built for the keel to "hang". Pushing up on keel while on land is not the way the stress level upward was intended.

Mike, I wouldn't worry about this. It's common practice to store boats on the hard, so yacht designers are going to take these loads into account when designing the hull. Any sailboat will be designed to sit on her keel for long periods without damage to the hull.

The exception might be lightweight daysailers with thin hulls that can "oilcan" when on the hard vs. being supported by trailer bunks.

 

[Dad21fjggh]

We are buying in the next few weeks, a boat in maine and moving it down on the hudson river to live on over the winter.......have heard from the marina that it doesn't ice up and they do have bubblers available in case........I'm from newfoundland so I know what cold winters are like......Am hoping we are not making a mistake and should store it on the hard every winter.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Are staying in Lincoln Harbor? If so, there is a fair amount of traffic thru there throughout the winter, so I'm sure ice will never be a problem. The ferries are also running back and forth across the river from Weehawken all winter. Every once in a while the ice freezes to the point where service is interrupted for a few days. Lincoln Harbor is protected between 2 long piers with large buildings so ice floe into the harbor is never a problem (I think) and with all the boats in the water all winter, I'm sure they have all contingencies covered for keeping the harbor ice-free.

You may find it pretty roll-y in there ... the floating piers don't really calm the swells coming in from the river. But overall it is a pretty nice facility with easy access to Manhattan. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is right there ... can't beat that!

Liberty Marina in Jersey City is a calm-water marina because it is isolated from the river by the Morris Canal Basin. It will also be ice-free all winter and live-aboard facilities are available. Either location is convenient to all the city life you can desire, but Liberty is far more expensive, I think, probably due to the calm conditions.

 

[Dad21fjggh]

Yeah, we are staying in lincoln harbor. Didn't have alot of choice for liveaboards in NJ that were year round. I've had good repoire with the marina and dockmaster, so can't complain. As far as I know, the ferries don't run late night, so atleast there's a chance to get some sleep......and of course we have a great view of the cruise ships etc.......the breakaway and gem etc......love NCL.

first winter will be the deciding factor as to whether we head down south or not. The other half still has to work this winter, so she'll be doing part on the boat and part at the office.

Are staying in Lincoln Harbor? If so, there is a fair amount of traffic thru there throughout the winter, so I'm sure ice will never be a problem. The ferries are also running back and forth across the river from Weehawken all winter. Every once in a while the ice freezes to the point where service is interrupted for a few days. Lincoln Harbor is protected between 2 long piers with large buildings so ice floe into the harbor is never a problem (I think) and with all the boats in the water all winter, I'm sure they have all contingencies covered for keeping the harbor ice-free.

You may find it pretty roll-y in there ... the floating piers don't really calm the swells coming in from the river. But overall it is a pretty nice facility with easy access to Manhattan. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is right there ... can't beat that!

Liberty Marina in Jersey City is a calm-water marina because it is isolated from the river by the Morris Canal Basin. It will also be ice-free all winter and live-aboard facilities are available. Either location is convenient to all the city life you can desire, but Liberty is far more expensive, I think, probably due to the calm conditions.