Winter Sailing

[puddock]

After gazing out to sea for most of last winter (while climbing the steps up to Rosally) I have decided I am going to keep her in the water most of this winter ( Dry out awhile I am working abroad for 4 weeks, work on her a month, dry her out another 4 weeks and splash0 3 months out.
Sound OK to the experienced guys on the forum?

[Shuggy]

Having a wooden boat, I keep her in all year round anyway. Leads to some great late and early year trips. Some not to be repeated, mind! But if I had a fibreglass boat I would also be tempted.

[Silkie]

I usually try to extend my season as much as possible with the current maximum being 8 months, out from December to March. However November at Dunstaffnage has always resulted in some damage to the good ship Silkie. It's not as sheltered as could be desired, particularly from the north and although the prevailing winds are SW the big winter storms are often northerly.

Merry Monster has spent a couple of winters afloat at Dunstaffnage but he lives aboard and so is always available to tend his warps.

A mooring is better than a pontoon in bad weather but if you do stay alongside, moor Rosally in the middle of 2 fingers with lots of nice stretchy warps to as many cleats as you can.

[claymore]

Silkie
Will global warming not mean that much of what you said no longer applies?

[Silkie]

Hope springs eternal...

[So_Sage_of_Lorne]

I have previously kept my boats in the water taking them out every third year for the winter and for a week in May/June the other years. We had a little damage to a toe rail three years ago otherwise everything has been fine. We have enjoyed early and late sails but, the end of December to mid March is usually a right off.

Having said that, now the boat is in Croabh I am concerned about what will happen although, as I am just over the hill I will be keeping a closer eye on her than previously.

[MrMcP]

Having said that, now the boat is in Croabh I am concerned about what will happen although, as I am just over the hill I will be keeping a closer eye on her than previously.

Any particular reason to worry about Croabh? We are there for the winter and planning to lift out late and re-launch early so would be interested to hear.....

[Falkirkdan]

I keep my boat in the water all year in Kip and use her throughout the winter as either a floating cottage and for the occasional trip to Rothesay and day sail. Watching the weather is the main thing.

As you know Bob the gust than done your damage was well above the norm and largly caused by the stage of the construction of the houses at Kip causing a funneling effect. Pontoon fingers coming adrift are a major cause of trouble and also neighbouring boat using old washing lines for mooring warps. A few years back some boats came adrift due to the state of the warps being used. When the problems were reported to the owners and the poor state of warps mentioned one replied "I like to keep my good warps for the summer" Doh! So moral is check your neighbours warps and if not happy with them get marina to get them sorted out.

Numers of years back moored in Port Edgar for a season and they stipulated min size and type of mooring warp for your boat size, they also had written into berthing contract , as a main item, that if your warps did not meet their standard they would fit approriate warps and charge you. Maybe other marinas should enforce this

[So_Sage_of_Lorne]

Any particular reason to worry about Croabh? We are there for the winter and planning to lift out late and re-launch early so would be interested to hear.....

Only in that it is more exposed than Kip was, I understand that there will be fewer boats in the winter months and we will be able to move to one of the more sheltered berths.

[puddock]

I noticed during last winter that most boats are out of the water, leaving complete double berths free. Hopefully I can wangle a deal with Tim to get Rosally a double space.
I will certainly be investing in some "winter" warps.
This year I launched Rosally early (beginning of March) due to the fact that I was working in Africa through April. Thanks to Tim (Marina) and David Banks of Alba Sailing, she was well cared for and I returned to find her sitting pretty in the middle of a double berth - although obviously I wouldn't take these actions for granted, as it is not their responsibility.
I spoke to David at Alba, who mentioned that I could use one of their berths, as their charter boats will be out of the water then. Their berths are in a pretty good position, so "walk about" pontoons hopefully won't be an issue.

I will probably have some sleepless nights while I am working away from home but I worry in the summer too, so nothing new there.
As I said earlier, I will be working on a month away/ month home rotation again, so I will be looking at taking her out for the first month away, work on her a month home and keep her out the second month I am away, so depending on timing, she should be out Dec, Jan & Feb.

Still nervous though.......... but I am sure the few days extra sailing will more than make up for it.

[ash]

It will be interesting to see if you do actually get more use out of her.

Mistral is in the marina at Ardlui on Loch Lomond so fresh water so no fouling, reasonable shelter and it would cost much more to have her ashore during the winter ( hoist / blocking / mast / hard standing rental ) so she remains afloat but out of commission during Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar.

Fresh water so I winterise the raw water side of the Beta with 50% antifreeze.

I run a dehumidifier off mains but even so I take home the bedding / cushions / LJs / books / etc.

I used to take home the sails, but now leave them in the cabin.

I remove the dodgers / sprayhood / boom + stackpack / sheets / halyards.

My current insurance doesn't cover me to be in commission for 12 months but I could get the cover if I wanted.

The crew likes the distinct sailing / non sailing seasons as there are lots of other things she wants to do over the winter.

There are some days when you think that it would be great to be on the boat, but they're few and far between. Even at the beginning / end of the 7 month season it's cold / damp at night.

In your situation, you will still have all the expense of putting her on the hard. Would you leave the mast up in Dec, Jan, and Feb? January is a dismal month to have to work on the boat. Does 3 months ashore in the Scottish winter have any benefit on a hull?

With your work rota, I would be tempted to leave her afloat all winter, probably stripped of all canvas and soft materials but able to be used as day sailed mobo and bring her ashore for an intensive month of work, leaving the mast up, during your month at home during better weather ( April / May ).

Ash

[puddock]

Thanks for the replies guys, also Ash - you brought up a few points I hadn't previously considered.

January is a dismal month to have to work on the boat - I worked Derriks for 5 years in the North Sea, so I'm not too bothered about that side of things. (@ 85ft Drilling Draught + 85ft RKB-> Monkeyboard = 170ft above sea level, blowin' a hooly most of the time). Mind you, I was a bit younger then.....

I used to take home the sails, but now leave them in the cabin. - I was thinking of changing out the Genoa for a smaller Jib for winter use; also looking at having the sails laundered (whilst she's out) and serviced, as Alba did annually when they owned her.


There are some days when you think that it would be great to be on the boat, but they're few and far between. - EVERY day would be great to be on the boat when you are working in Africa and surrounded by .......


I run a dehumidifier off mains but even so I take home the bedding / cushions / LJs / books / etc. - Likewise, we have a dehumidifier and a "tube heater".

With your work rota, I would be tempted to leave her afloat all winter - I am also tempted........ but there are a few jobs on my LIST that would be much easier on the hard.

The crew likes the distinct sailing / non sailing seasons as there are lots of other things she wants to do over the winter - Mine is just grateful that we don't do the Winter Climbing anymore; a weekend snow holing was great fun but not too good for the old sex-life! And we both got the wet patch !!!

[Telo]

We kept Shard in the water for a couple of times over the winter when she was based on the Clyde. The second year was very poor in the weather department, so we didn't bother again. The first year though was pretty good, some quite high pressure with cold easterlies. We had ice and snow lying on the decks occasionally. Getting out of the companionway could be quite tricky at times:

[puddock]

We kept Shard in the water for a couple of times over the winter when she was based on the Clyde. The second year was very poor in the weather department, so we didn't bother again. The first year though was pretty good, some quite high pressure with cold easterlies. We had ice and snow lying on the decks occasionally. Getting out of the companionway could be quite tricky at times:

Now, that's a nice pic.

[Pete Cooper]

We kept Shard in the water for a couple of times over the winter when she was based on the Clyde. The second year was very poor in the weather department, so we didn't bother again. The first year though was pretty good, some quite high pressure with cold easterlies. We had ice and snow lying on the decks occasionally. Getting out of the companionway could be quite tricky at times:

Now, that's a nice pic.

Surely you mean an ice pick?