Winterizing on Puget Sound

[Dean Strong]

Hay Puget Sound Sailors, what do you do, if anything, to winterize your boats?I've been following the winterizing postings with interest. Most seem to be aimed at colder areas where boats are hauled out for the winter, and harbors freeze. What about on Puget Sound, where temperatures seldom drop below freezing? I am planning on sailing my Hunter 30 all winter. I already have the appropriate antifreeze solution in the engine cooling system. What about the seawater intake? The head? The drinking water system? What do people do?

 

[Leigh Fenneman]

Puget Sound Winterizing

I keep mine in the water year round. I do haul it in the spring to do hull maintenance. I put some diesel fuel additive in the tank to keep the gremlins out. I make sure that the holding tank is emptied each time after a sail; and put some anit-freeze in it - not much - maybe a quart. I have drained the water tank. I take water with me when I go out; unless I am out for the weekend, then I fill the tank and empty it when I return. I leave all the faucets open too.I keep an electric heater with a thermostat and overload protector going when I am not on board. Someone told me that a couple of 100 watt light bulbs work pretty well too.I also ensure that my winches and blocks are kept covered. I have them pretty well coated with silicon/graphite spray from West Marine.The lines get pretty green; most of it wipes off, and in the spring I wash them in cool water, mild detergent. Put them in a mesh bag and throw them in the washing machine. Good Luck.

 

[Bill]

Thru Hauls

About the biggest problem you can have is the thru hauls freezing if the power goes out. The thru hauls break but don't flood the boat until they thaw out. Every year a few boats in Everett are lost this way.

 

[Gary Wyngarden]

Winter on the Puget Sound

Dean,The boats are surrounded by 50 degree water so the probability of a hard freeze is pretty low in my opinion. That said I keep two small electric heaters running (for redundancy), each at half speed as the combination trips my AC breakers. I also keep my thru hulls closed when I'm off the boat and run my engine every couple of weeks. I consider it an offense if I can't sail every month all winter!!!Gary WyngardenS/V ShibumiH335

 

[John]

midwestern winter

I to sail all winter. I drain my water system. RV anifreeze the stool, and Close all thurhulls.The raw water intake I have a tee to fit a garden hose and draw antifreeze up with the thruhull closed after ever use during the winter. Other people at the club loop the raw water intake to the exhust and create a loop flow of antifreeze for the winter. This works ok for just motering in an out of the cove for sailing but would not allow for long hall motering. Good sailing this winter

 

["Minstrel"]

In the water in Tacoma

I leave mine in year round... sail weekly ... with the boat in the water the hull and interior will be pretty close to the water temp. ... the biggest challenge is the water condensation during the winter months... you may consider several of the air dryer items on the market.... I also leave water in my fresh water system and keep the water heater on ... I keep the water tank compartment open which also acts as a room heater that is fairly safe... I would not want to leave a "heater" on the boat ... that would concern me as far as fire hazard.... hope that helps.