Winter Cover Removal, Chicago

[helmfam]

This is our first recommissioning after winter in the Chicago area (31st St Harbor). When do other Chicago area sailors plan to remove their winter covers this year in preparation for launch? We live out of state and have to plan ahead. Ours is a custom cover, not shrink wrap. The harbor wants to try to start launching on 4/6/15 but this seems very aggressive to me. Furthermore, last year when our boat was delivered, the fuel and pump out dock was not even operational until after May 15.

 

[dparilla]

The yard goals in Chicago are to have all the boats in the water in the first week in May. Usually fuel and pump outs coincide with that time frame. In order to do that they start scheduling launches in early April (as soon as they feel confident that the fairways are going to remain navigable.) April 6 is perhaps early this year, but it is a good start date. You may be bringing jerry cans of fuel for the first couple of weeks, or head to another marina that has commissioned their fuel dock already. I would call your marina and see what you can work out. Pull the cover a few days prior to install, inspect and ready your systems, and then enjoy the early sailing while other are still shrink wrapped.

 

[higgs]

When I lived out that way, I would uncover my boat on Good Friday, but recommissioning, for me, took several weekends of work. Generally, April is not a good month for sailing as it is still cold, so your boat will probably just sit there for most the month. I used to like to launch mine at the end of April.

 

[Dalliance]

If you are at 31st Street Harbor, and (I am surmising here.) you stored for the winter at 31st St, then I think your boat is on the hard in the harbor parking lot. I believe the official opening date for Chicago Harbors is May 1st, but 31st Street needs the parking lot back for cars by then, so your required launch date is pushed up. You get to start your sailing season earlier (April is still too cold IMO.), but you don't have much time for spring maintenance work between winter and and launch date. If you store elsewhere, you can choose a later launch date.

As for when to take the cover off, that's your call. I usually launch a week or two before Memorial Day weekend and keep the cover on as late as work I need to do on the boat permits. It's usually off by mid-April. We might have some 80 degree days then or we could still get snow. Might get both in the same week. The only thing you can count on is it will usually be much cooler by the lake in the spring and early summer.

 

[helmfam]

Thanks Dalliance, that's what I wanted to know, i.e. do you worry about taking the cover off too soon only to get dumped on by snow, city dirt, etc. We are on the hard at 31st. Again the problem we had last year was after getting to the marina at the end of April, the marina was "open", but the infrastructure was sorely lacking: NO FRESH WATER until around May 15.

 

[Dalliance]

April snow doesn't usually stay around more than a few days. Dirt is unavoidable, city or country. I shrink wrap and find that with proper vents to prevent condensation, the deck and cabin top get quite dusty over the winter. I try to keep the shrink wrap on as long as I can just to keep the teak out of the weather and allow me to work in the cabin and cockpit on rainy days. On cold but sunny days, it's warmer under the shrink wrap too.

You might give the Harbor Master a call about the water service. I really don't know if the water not being on until two weeks after the official opening date last year was normal practice or not. We did have a very late spring last year, so they may have just been behind schedule. Though in April, it would not surprise me that they would keep the dock water service off as there is still a good chance of freezing temperatures, especially overnight. Was there at least water service available in the storage area / parking lot to wash your deck and top sides when you pulled the cover off?

 

[helmfam]

The boat was delivered from Crowleys last year. This is our first year putting her away and bringing her back. The problem we had from the marina at the end of last April was: "Yes, we are open. (Never mind that there is no pump out or fuel or water.)" We were never informed. So now there is this big push to get the boats on the water early but when we are in town, the boat is our home. So not having the pump out or water is a big hassle. We are trying to figure out when to come out, pull the cover, get her ready, then perhaps launch at a later time...when everything is up and running at 31st. Would not be a big deal if we lived locally of course.

 

[Dalliance]

Oh, now I understand your situation. All you can do this year is push your launch date as late as 31st Street will allow and try to get more specific answers from them about the operational state of the harbor. Longer term, not being local, 31st Street is probably not the ideal place to store your boat for the winter. Almost any of the other yacht yards in the city would give you the launch date flexibility you need.

From the yards along the Calumet River you have only two bridges to deal with and I think you can launch pretty much whenever you want. From the yards on the Chicago River (south branch), if you go mast up, you will deal with 24 to 26 draw bridges and are restricted to groups of 10-20 boats on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, reserved in advance, from early April to mid June. Mast down, you can pretty much chose any day, though they sometimes prefer you avoid Wednesday or Saturday. There are mast stepping services at Burnham Park Yacht Club and Columbia Yacht Club. Something to think about over the summer.