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What do you do when you visit your boat on the hard?
I first check the stands for tightness and plumb, then tarp tie downs, then cockpit scuppers, then inside for mold, drips or anything out of place. Then spend a few minutes thinking about what needs to be done when it gets a bit warmer.
If there is a project you can take home to fix, or make at home. If I were going to re-do my table in the cabin, I would take that home. When I refinished my coaming boards, I just took them home. If you need to do work on the head, winter is a great time to do that. Much less yucky. You may need a heater to bend stiff hoses. Otherwise, I try to get away from the boat for a little while.
I think I know where you're going with this. For us, winter is spruce up time. Our boat was a jewel in 1975. 42 years later some of the luster has left, but a little at at time we're turning her back into the little princess she once was. Right now, as I type, my lovely bride is struggling to put the vents into the bottom of the cushions that I've been making for the past month. Are they perfect? No, but pretty good for a guy who has never made any cushions before. I'll post pics when I get further along. A couple of years ago we made a new mainsail. Other things that I've done over winter
Replace shrouds and standing rigging
Rebuilt gin pole for stepping mast.
Replace running rigging a line at at time.
rebuilt motor.
Made a new tabernacle for the mast
Made new support posts for the mast (transporting)
Practiced (and failed miserably) splicing StaSet.
Cleaned and dried all lines (gets salt out of fibers)
Trailer part upgrades.
The benefit is that Sparrow is about 12 feet from my side door. We don't go in much because it is a pain in the back to climb in under the cover and tumble into the cockpit. I do it when needed. Just yesterday, I climbed in and knocked 12" of snow off the cover to make room for the 18" we got last night, this morning and right now.
1) I do a quick check of the two solar panel controllers. One for the 12 volt house bank and the other for the 48 electric propulsion bank. I then turn on the battery chargers. Not really needed for charging but, I like to make sure the four 8A4D AGM batteries that make up the 48 volt propulsion bank are in balance and charging at the same rates.
2) Then I check the bilge and remove any water from it using a wet/dry vacuum. The boat is pretty tight but, even condensation over the winter can find it's way into the bilge. After I remove the water I splash some antifreeze back into it. I do this to keep any water from freezing until the next visit.
As I have gotten older like others have mentioned working on board over the winter has lost it's appeal. I wait for warmer temperatures of Spring to tackle most on board projects. Meanwhile at home I wash lines, work on boat sewing projects, work on items that are easily removed from the boat and think about what projects I might want to do when things warm up.
I have been visiting my boat most weekends, no matter how cold it has been. Sometimes, it take a while for the space heater to get going when I arrive, but once warm enough, I am able to do a few things. Not too long ago, I installed new batteries, and a battery charger. This allowed me to keep the Airhead fan going for ventilation.
When I arrive, I connect the extension cord, get the space heater going, then pretty much go back to whatever project I'm working on. Last winter, I had the engine removed, took it to the house for part of a rebuild. Another boaty project could be redoing the interior cushions if needed. If you're looking to install a "composting head" now would be a good time as the cold will keep the smell from the old system from getting too bad when you remove everything. Changing lighting to LEDs is simple enough... if not expensive bulbs, then maybe some LED strips for additional/accent lighting. Pre-Season commissioning items, like changing out whatever filters on board.
I should add, also, that there are some projects that can not be done in cold weather. Painting and varnishing require a certain minimum temperature. However, some of the prep work can (theoretically) be done before the temp gets high enough to paint. The year we painted our deck, we took all of the woodwork and deck fittings off while the cover was still on the boat. As soon as it was reasonable to take the cover off we started sanding. By the time we got done sanding it was warm enough to paint. By the time we got the toe rail back on, it was the middle of the summer, but, that is a story for another time!
John usually naps. When the boat is in the water he does like one or two days to go down by himself and "commune" with the boat shortly after it's launched. I suspect lots of napping is involved.
When we go down in March (it will still be in the yard) while I attend a diesel workshop at a nearby marina I have a list of small things for him to do:
Install new fresh water hoses
Measure the V-berth for new cushions and upholstery
Install new cockpit locker hinges
Change the zinc
Install a new light in the head
That should keep him busy until it's time to pick me up for lunch. Then he can nap after lunch. He climbs hundreds of feet up and down factory stacks for his day job so climbing in and out of the boat isn't an issue for him.
He prefers to bring the batteries home and rotate them on and off a charger in the garage so that isn't on the list.
John usually naps. When the boat is in the water he does like one or two days to go down by himself and "commune" with the boat shortly after it's launched. I suspect lots of napping is involved.
Loving these answers - especially doing as little as possible and checking for frozen beer
I'll go down this week and if nothing else, admire the boat and get some fresh air inside.
Will definitely check bilge, check battery and see what improvements do need to be made when gloves are no longer needed.
I did buy a semi-flex solar panel - but do want to set it up at home to make sure the damn thing works before applying it to the boat.
We've had a lot of snow and -15-20 weather lately. So, fist thing is check snow load and that the jackstands are all good.
Then I go aboard and light the kerosene lamps, then I light the alcohol space heater/stove. Then I put tea on. By the time my tea is done, the alcohol heater has taken enough of the chill out of the air that I can start my project, which is usually some kind of cleaning or minor project.
I love how the cabin of a boat feels mid winter with the heat on and some tea or hot soup. Sometimes I just sit and enjoy.
that reminds me that I need to do some cleaning of the alcohol burners to make sure stove is working correctly.
Will also have my new fire blanket and extinguisher at the ready.
I keep a list on my phone of off-season boat projects and divide the list into tasks I can do over the winter and those that I need milder temps for (e.g. anything requiring painting, epoxying, etc). some things I remove form the boat and do at home, such as winch maintenance, some interior wood refinishing. Other winter tasks I schedule for days when it's tolerable and work until my fingers go numb or the coffee gets cold. This way, when the weather warms up, my spring commissioning list is more manageable. I'm rewiring my engine gauges now and next will be installing some red LED strip lighting in the cabin to preserve my night vision.
Winter is when most of our projects get done. Who wants to waste good sailing time. We have projects everybody winter. We took the manual Hyspeed windlass off and I've reconditioned it at home. . Donnas finished the dodger and we just have to put the snaps in.
Next year I am replacing the teak and holly floor as after 32 years it's seen it's day. Perfect winter project as it will require lots of prep in a controlled temperature environment.
Having grown up my entire life in a part of the country where we get snow I have come to a conclusion from many of the comments I've had read on here from the sailors who live north:
"I cleaned 16 inches of snow off to prepare for the next 18 that we are due to have."
"I plug in the space heater when I first arrive and by the time I make a cup of tea the chill has been taken from inside the boat."
"I light all the kerosene lamps and fire up the alcohol stove and by the time I have coffee ready the boat is warm enough to do some work."
"I crawl under the boat cover and remove some parts that I can take home and work on when it's too cold to work on the boat."
"I remove my batteries and take them home so they don't freeze and split open on the boat."
"I put antifreeze in my bilge."
"I found a frozen six pack of beer that I forgot on my boat. I'm glad it didn't burst and spray all over the place."
"I work on my holding tank because it doesn't smell so bad when the temperature is 10 degrees."
After a lifetime of having to do this type of stuff with my cars, my lawn mower and my motorcycle, I've decided that I have to hurry up and retire and buy a boat in the Virgin Islands! I do not want to own a boat anywhere where I have to put antifreeze in the bilge or fire up space heaters and stoves so that my hands get enough dexterity back that I can hold wrenches.
......I've decided that I have to hurry up and retire and buy a boat in the Virgin Islands! I do not want to own a boat anywhere where I have to put antifreeze in the bilge or fire up space heaters and stoves so that my hands get enough dexterity back that I can hold wrenches.
Nice plan. You are, however, going to trade the frozen temps for hurricanes, mold under your bunk and aggressive growth on the hull. Everywhere has it's pros and cons. Still, I totally get the trade.
I hope to snow bird one day, six in the islands and six in New England. Best of both worlds. However, the passage is very likely to get old after a while (not to mention the skipper), so I'm not sure how many of those are realistic.
Standard routine
Grab yard ladder so I can reach my terrifyingly rickety swim ladder.
Haul up whatever I brought to the boat
Turn on the heater(Thank god the boat came with an old Webasto <3 )
Check cushions for mold, which is already a problem since PO backed the bottoms with an absorbent type of material
Roll up a joint
Sand ****
On the really cold days, the Heater Buddy running for about 15 minutes gets the boat to a point that the two electric heaters can take over and I can shut it off. (yes, I'm well ventilated and have 3 co detectors on board because I have an Atomic 4 engine) After about 30 minutes the jacket has to come off and it is comfortable to do what I need to do. Not nearly as productive as when the hatch is open and the weather is warm but still take care of checklist items. This year I added/upgraded the plumbing in the head, added an accumulator tank for the fresh water system, added a galvanic isolator (although that was in the cockpit lazarette on a warmer day), replaced an interior dome light with a new LED light, replaced aging battery cables, painted the motor, fixed a table base that had come loose, and organized and cataloged my spare parts. Left on the list for inside is to install the upgraded fume sniffer. The balance of my winter/spring projects are all exterior. We're wintering in the water this year so the boom tent will come off early March and I'll bend my late fall/winter/early spring suit of sails back on so when we get the unseasonably warm days we're ready to go!
Last week it was -38 c with a breeze,.i walk or drive past the boats in my yard and wish I could get at what needs to be done,yesterday a friend was in the yard to appraise a moose hit p/u and said when he went ice fishing on the weekend he hit the gearbox on the auger ,44inches thick.....sigh guess it will be a while yet......on the positive side it was plus 9 c today go figure... Ralph
Ice boating is insane, whether you think that's good or bad is in the eye of the beholder. There is less drag on the blades over the ice, than on the hull through the water, the air density is higher, so more lift, etc. Often they are peddle steering and there is no standard. Some steer like a sled, where you push on the opposite side you wish to turn toward, others steer like an airplane, where you press on the same side you want to steer. Try to get used to that!
The lakes haven't always been freezing like they had been around here, so it's not as popular was when I was a kid.
Don't get me started on ice fishing. Drinking around a fire by the lake, or in a warm hut on the ice, I can get into, as long as the tip-up is just there for an excuse. Actually fishing through a hole in the ice, while the wind is howling and the air is frigid, should be a statutory criminal punishment.
There is a relatively shallow lake near my house on which I happened to see a lot of ice sailors one day last winter. The speeds they got up to seemed wild. It looked like a lot of fun. Except for the cold part.
Today its torture usually involving me alone sweating in the v berth wiring a running light or cleaning the interior in the blazing hot June sun.
When I was a kid in Brooklyn in the 1970's it was civilized.... my grandfather had a 30' wooden sloop, 1930's vintage. He was a believer in doing the boat work on warm March or early April days. My grandmother would pack us lunches and with my brother, cousins , dad,,, uncle.. we head to the yard for the entire day, scraping painting, caulking, taking naps, playing in the boat yard ( well the kids) . My grandmother would sew sails or upholstry which we would bring down and reinstall... the engine was a devil..I remember a lot of staring at the engine....It was a great day out of the apartments....The guys would work and drink coffee and hard boiled eggs, - then have beer and sandwiches for lunch. If the Mets were plaing the game would be on the radio. Afterwards, all 7 of us would pile into his old Cadillac - head home around 3 pm for dinner.
Any normal winter day in MN? Get home from working outside all day, look at the boat in the backyard, cry a little bit thinking about how long it'll be until she'll be in the water, and then promptly run inside to stuff my face and hibernate.
Today? Rode my motorcycle to Home Despot for more grinding discs, and started grinding out old plywood berths. If this keeps up us Minnesotans will have to pretend to be good at dealing with the cold. 60 F in February is crazy, never would've thought I'd have the bike or the old berths out this early.
Great pic of the falls by the way, Minnesail. Have you jumped on the fat bike bandwagon yet?
Thanks! Yeah, I was on my fat bike the day I took that pic, because there was actually snow on the ground. But it's been so warm I haven't needed it in several weeks, the regular bike has been doing fine. I do have studded tires, but even they aren't needed anymore after all this record-breaking 60ÂşF stuff.
If we actually get the foot of snow they're forecasting for Friday I'll be switching back to the fat bike for my commute.
And that's Minnesota weather this year. Record smashing temps in the sixties, followed by a foot of snow.
Last weekend by boat was actually getting warm from the heat trapped under the tarp. This weekend I'll be out pushing the snow off.
Oh, and here's a picture of a little kid ice boating in 60ÂşF weather:
Some old timers at my marina grew up with family ice boats. One old guy in particular who raced with his dad all up and down the Hudson River will regale us with talk of fast boats , crazy skippers and wrecks. Remember they didn't have all the modern entertainment we are used to and ice boats were an exciting sport.
Previous owners did a fantastic job of keeping this boat in shape. There are no big jobs to do inside!
Cleaned some hard to reach areas such as under hatch.
Scrubbed sink - I may redo caulking on a future visit.
Took off curtains that showed signs of mildew spotting. (came out great after baking soda soak at home followed by very light bleach wash)
Pumped out bilge, then bailed out bilge that pump couldn't get. Then cleaned bilge.
Admired boat.
Looked longingly at water.
Enjoyed quality time with daughter both on drive and on boat.
Previous owners did a fantastic job of keeping this boat in shape. There are no big jobs to do inside!
Cleaned some hard to reach areas such as under hatch.
Scrubbed sink - I may redo caulking on a future visit.
Took off curtains that showed signs of mildew spotting. (came out great after baking soda soak at home followed by very light bleach wash)
Pumped out bilge, then bailed out bilge that pump couldn't get. Then cleaned bilge.
Admired boat.
Looked longingly at water.
Enjoyed quality time with daughter both on drive and on boat.
Oh I so know about "looking longing at the water". I'm sure we've all done that at one time or another.
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