Winter storage

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   I live in Westchester County NY and typically take my boat out of the water around November 1. Am exploring leaving the boat in the water for the winter and wondering about pros and cons. The boat would be in a well protected marina where the water does not freeze.

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tlivac87 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 04 July 2022 Location: New Rochelle Status: Offline Points: 83	Post Options Post Reply Quote tlivac87 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Winter storage Posted: 16 October 2023 at 21:28
	I live in Westchester County NY and typically take my boat out of the water around November 1. Am exploring leaving the boat in the water for the winter and wondering about pros and cons. The boat would be in a well protected marina where the water does not freeze.

H8jer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 14 September 2010 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1503	Post Options Post Reply Quote H8jer Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 October 2023 at 09:53
	Hi I unstep the mast and take my 370 on shore every season. But the first season when I brought the boat in 2017 we sailed it from Holland to our marina in Denmark and due to it being November the travellift was in storage. So what did I experiance staying in the water during an icy winter? I removed all sails, but kept Sprayhood and the tent. I did flush the seawater cooling system with engine coolant like I do on shore. But did not know to blow air through all thruhulls to avoid still sitting water. I dont think it is enough just to close the intakes/truhulls. Another problem is thin ice, which did rub the antifouling off the boat at the waterline. It also did wear on the thichness of the primer. I have since removed all primer and installed new. (Huge work 8 layers of primer https://www.myhanse.com/hull-area-square-meters_topic11886_post97788_SID2058-1dacz4f72a2691d4f1fd4099305556.html#97788 ) I monitor the long term weather forecast for the Skiing season to know if el-nijo and la-nina will provide icy conditions. If no ice in sight then I would consider to stay in the water. Edited by H8jer - 17 October 2023 at 10:11
	Hanse 370#487 30HP 3-cabin

SimonGH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 08 September 2021 Location: CT Status: Offline Points: 124	Post Options Post Reply Quote SimonGH Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 October 2023 at 01:27
	I'm leaving mine in for the winter this year - i'm in Westbrook CT. You still need to do the typical winterization - drain / anti-freeze in the engine, drain / blow out / anti-freeze the fresh water system. I blow out the AC lines as well (if you have AC). Sails will come out, bimini is dropped because I have a boom-tent winter cover that I will install. I have solar that I put on the cover to keep the batteries topped up, as I don't plug in over the winter. The other cheap insurance is a big zinc that is tied to the ground - throw it over the side to save your prop/drive/hull zincs... I had a total of 4 coats of Petit Unepoxy on the bottom by the start of this summer, so i think i'm good on bottom paint for another season!

High Time Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vice Admiral Joined: 04 September 2012 Location: Portsmouth UK Status: Offline Points: 819	Post Options Post Reply Quote High Time Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 October 2023 at 20:48
	High Time has spent every winter since purchase (2012) in the water without problem. However, this is in a locked and secure marina in the south of England where the water never freezes, but air temperatures can regularly drop to -5C in Jan and Feb and (very) occasionally as low as -10C. Firstly, the diesel tank is filled to mitigate condensation. The only internal winterising is to drain the fresh water system and particularly make sure the hand shower in the transom is clear - these have been known to crack if they get frozen. The engine has antifreeze in all year round so no problem. Ditto the (wet) cabin heating system. To combat the possibility of the engine seawater freezing I leave a 40W tube heater under the sump - costs about 30p a day. I also run a dehumidifier, continuously draining into the (covered) sink with the RH set to 60%. With all the doors open, this keeps the interior fresh with no mould or other damp issues. High Time is a very dry boat, though - only dust in the bilges! I should add that the shore power is not connected to the boat system but directly to the tube heater and dehumidifier. This avoids continuously charging the batteries and any stray current issues. Externally, the sails come off for valeting and the sprayhood and tent are left erected. Finally I try to visit the boat every 2 or 3 weeks to run the engine, check/charge (if necessary) the batteries, test the bow thruster, instruments and radar and maybe run the cabin heater for half an hour if really cold. So far, I have had no problems and the boat comes out of hibernation in mid March when the new rally season starts. Lift out and bottom paint etc, is usually deferred until May when you don't need gloves and scarves! Edited by High Time - 18 October 2023 at 20:54
	Roger High Time (415 #038)



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