I have a friend in my marina that keeps his boat in the water all winter and does not winterize his engine. He puts a engine compartment heater next to his engine and a ceramic heater in his cabin. He runs his heaters on shore power all winter and if he has a nice day in the middle of the winter he can take the boat out. Sounds great especially the part about taking your boat out in the warm winter days. Last winter I was so irritated that my boat was in dry storage and we had some 60 degree days in December and January. Has anyone done this and does anyone have in suggestions in this regard. My boat will be located in Solomons Island, Maryland this winter on the Patuxent River. My friend uses the argument that it is actually better for the boat because the boat isn't constantly freezing and thawing. Thanks, Tom
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Winter sailing
What you describe is quite common here in NC. I usually winterize my freshwater system in late november and set up a ceramic heater in the engine compartment. However I always go ahead and winterize the engine around mid December, just in case the power goes off.
What you describe is quite common here in NC. I usually winterize my freshwater system in late november and set up a ceramic heater in the engine compartment. However I always go ahead and winterize the engine around mid December, just in case the power goes off.
Just remember...
...that you'll have to winterize your engine each time you come back. No big deal once you get into the rhythm of it, namely pouring antifreeze into the raw water intake for a minute each time.
...that you'll have to winterize your engine each time you come back. No big deal once you get into the rhythm of it, namely pouring antifreeze into the raw water intake for a minute each time.
Electricity Failure
I would always winterize the engine in case the electricty goes out and there is no heat. It does not take much to put antifeeze back in the engine if you go for a winter outing.
I would always winterize the engine in case the electricty goes out and there is no heat. It does not take much to put antifeeze back in the engine if you go for a winter outing.
What about sails?
Our boat uis staying in the water this year. Winterized. But we might want to go out on the occasional nice day. What about leaving the sails on the spars all winter? Bad idea? Neutral idea? What can happen?
Our boat uis staying in the water this year. Winterized. But we might want to go out on the occasional nice day. What about leaving the sails on the spars all winter? Bad idea? Neutral idea? What can happen?
winter and sails
Peter-I don't keep me boat in the water year round however there are lots of people who do just north of you (Connecticut)There does not appear to be a rule of thumb on what to do (at least in our yard) I would suggest that leaving the sails on would subject them to the winter rains snow and ice,also more uv sun exposure to the sail cover and protective strip on jib. I would suggest it is a lot of work to remove and replace sails for one day of sailing! If you want to go sailing in the winter,leave them on and enjoy the nice winter days! You may shorten the overall life of the sails I can't think it would be a that much to worry about! Think about a Christmas Day sail,would make it all worth while!
Peter-I don't keep me boat in the water year round however there are lots of people who do just north of you (Connecticut)There does not appear to be a rule of thumb on what to do (at least in our yard) I would suggest that leaving the sails on would subject them to the winter rains snow and ice,also more uv sun exposure to the sail cover and protective strip on jib. I would suggest it is a lot of work to remove and replace sails for one day of sailing! If you want to go sailing in the winter,leave them on and enjoy the nice winter days! You may shorten the overall life of the sails I can't think it would be a that much to worry about! Think about a Christmas Day sail,would make it all worth while!
Peter, Can you use the engine if it has been winterized? That was the idea behind getting a engine heater. If I winterized the engines I want to be able to start the motor once a week even if it is too cold to go out to charge the batteries. Thanks, Tom
But a moment's effort
to unwinterize the engine. I assume that when you winterize it is a simple matter of closing the raw water seacock, disconnecting the hose and running the engine long enough to suck antifreeze from the container into the raw water side of the engine. To unwinterize, just reconnect the hose and open the seacock, then rewinterize. Don't use expensive glycol antifreeze mixture at about $8 a gallon. Use the same stuff you put in the water tanks. Other winterizing chores, like changing the oil and filter, topping off the fuel tank and adding store'n'start, should not be affected. A bigger problem may well be getting the engine to run at all. Diesels really prefer to hybernate in cold weather and can be awfully hard to wake up. You may be recharging the batteries only to the extent that trying to start the engine has run them down. As for the sails, I have sent a query to my sailmaker and will do as he suggests. I will report back here.
to unwinterize the engine. I assume that when you winterize it is a simple matter of closing the raw water seacock, disconnecting the hose and running the engine long enough to suck antifreeze from the container into the raw water side of the engine. To unwinterize, just reconnect the hose and open the seacock, then rewinterize. Don't use expensive glycol antifreeze mixture at about $8 a gallon. Use the same stuff you put in the water tanks. Other winterizing chores, like changing the oil and filter, topping off the fuel tank and adding store'n'start, should not be affected. A bigger problem may well be getting the engine to run at all. Diesels really prefer to hybernate in cold weather and can be awfully hard to wake up. You may be recharging the batteries only to the extent that trying to start the engine has run them down. As for the sails, I have sent a query to my sailmaker and will do as he suggests. I will report back here.
not winterizing
I never winterize and just go sailing as usual all winter . A ceramic heater in the cabin and one in the engine room . I also use an electric wire from home depot that prevent pipes from freezing ' Wrap the wire around the engine's block to keep it warm . connect the wire to an inverter as a security in case of electrical failure . I leave the sail on under sail cover and never notice any specific problem
I never winterize and just go sailing as usual all winter . A ceramic heater in the cabin and one in the engine room . I also use an electric wire from home depot that prevent pipes from freezing ' Wrap the wire around the engine's block to keep it warm . connect the wire to an inverter as a security in case of electrical failure . I leave the sail on under sail cover and never notice any specific problem
leave them on
I have seen dealers leave the sails on boats all winter in R.I. and virginia and they were out of the water they were not going sailing on the hard.
I have seen dealers leave the sails on boats all winter in R.I. and virginia and they were out of the water they were not going sailing on the hard.
Winterizing the engine.
Spoke with an old salt at West Marine and told me how he does it. Follow the cooling line from the seacock to the strainer. Splice a ball valve in line with a fitting that will accept a hose. When you want to winterize your boat, close the seacock, attach the hose and put it in a bucket with winterizing solution, open the ball valve and run the engin untill the exhaust is pink. For what its worth. RRegge
Spoke with an old salt at West Marine and told me how he does it. Follow the cooling line from the seacock to the strainer. Splice a ball valve in line with a fitting that will accept a hose. When you want to winterize your boat, close the seacock, attach the hose and put it in a bucket with winterizing solution, open the ball valve and run the engin untill the exhaust is pink. For what its worth. RRegge
Here's the word
from my sailmaker: "Sails should not be a problem. Mainsail covered, genoa furled. However, I would take a webbing strop and run it through the headsail clew and very tightly wrap the genoa a few times and tie the webbing off very securly. This will give you some added 'unfurling' protection should we have some nasty weather. "The mainsail will be fine inside the cover...but it to (sic) should be firmly tied to the boom with ties...just in case." Best Regards, Bob Pattison Neil Pryde Sails Int. bp@neilprydesails.com -----Original Message----- From: PJB [mailto
jb@bway.net] Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 9:01 AM To: bp@neilprydesails.com Subject: Leaving sails on Bob, Missed seeing you at the Annapolis show. Lousy weather didn't seem to keep people away. We are keeping the boat in the water at her slip this year. Winterized, of course, but still available on a nice day to go out. With that in mind, I was thinking of leaving the sails on over the winter. Is that a good idea or a rotten one and if the latter, why? Cheers, Peter Brennan
from my sailmaker: "Sails should not be a problem. Mainsail covered, genoa furled. However, I would take a webbing strop and run it through the headsail clew and very tightly wrap the genoa a few times and tie the webbing off very securly. This will give you some added 'unfurling' protection should we have some nasty weather. "The mainsail will be fine inside the cover...but it to (sic) should be firmly tied to the boom with ties...just in case." Best Regards, Bob Pattison Neil Pryde Sails Int. bp@neilprydesails.com -----Original Message----- From: PJB [mailto
jb@bway.net] Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 9:01 AM To: bp@neilprydesails.com Subject: Leaving sails on Bob, Missed seeing you at the Annapolis show. Lousy weather didn't seem to keep people away. We are keeping the boat in the water at her slip this year. Winterized, of course, but still available on a nice day to go out. With that in mind, I was thinking of leaving the sails on over the winter. Is that a good idea or a rotten one and if the latter, why? Cheers, Peter Brennan- Status