Leaving boat on Mooring in Severn River for Winter?

RichardM · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

I have the opportunity to leave my prospective new boat, a Cal 33, on a mooring for the winter in the Severn River. Assuming a secure mooring, proper winterization, and insurance, is this advisable? Any thoughts on this would be very much appreciated.

theartfuldodger · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

Is that reaaly possilde there as to my knowledge, not a very safe thing in those waters, if you did daily checking we be a must, you do mean the severn river in Ontario Canada.

northbay · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

I'm sorry to jump in on this thread but how does
one start a new thread. Sorry for the disconnect.

Bob

mccary · #4 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

I personally know of 3 and I am sure there are more (UK, CA and MD). I sail the Central Chesapeake Bay and keep my boat in the water year around. There have been years with ice but the boat, in a slip, did not freeze solid. BUT, I remember several years ago ice skating on the Severn and even some ice boating near Round Bay. A mooring, I would think, is much more risky. You have no way to get out to help and if there is a freeze and we get significant wind your boat could take a battering.

RichardM · #5 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

Sorry for the lack of clarity. Severn river, near Annapolis, Md.

WanderingStar · #6 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

It's a good point. I keep my boats in year round on LI, but always at a dock. Those that winter on moorings end up on the marsh in years with bad ice. Mine is ok at the dock, even when I can walk around her. Then too, the ice can be too thin to walk on, but too thick to row through. Then you can't go aboard.

chucklesR · #7 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

Severn does ice over, I'd not advise it. There are plenty of places with room still for hauling out.

dealweb · #8 (**permalink**) 11-15-2008

The previous owners of my sailboat keep the sailboat on a mooring off of Forked Creek in the Severn during the winter. Their longest run was 6 years. Now that I'm the owner the sailboat is on the hard at Smith's Marina for the winter. The Captain of the ASA 101 I recently took said that keeping the boat in the water for the winter is a roll of the dice. A light winter and you are okay and harsh winter and things can get bad.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 11-16-2008

Bad idea... the chances of your mooring pendant chafing through are pretty good..

Ice is also a problem, as is any leak, since you will be depending on batteries to keep the bilge dry. Your batteries are also going to suffer from doing so, since they can't be properly recharged on a mooring.

Haul out the boat and winterize it... I've never seen a boat on dryland sink... I've seen plenty on winter moorings sink.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardM

I have the opportunity to leave my prospective new boat, a Cal 33, on a mooring for the winter in the Severn River. Assuming a secure mooring, proper winterization, and insurance, is this advisable? Any thoughts on this would be very much appreciated.

JohnRPollard · #10 (**permalink**) 11-16-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardM

Sorry for the lack of clarity. Severn river, near Annapolis, Md.

During the sailing season, we keep our boat on a mooring a few rivers south of the Severn.

I would not leave our boat on the mooring for the winter.

Bad things happen in the winter -- gales, snowstorms, etc. If it's in the water, you really need to be able to access the boat to check on it. If the mooring gets frozen in -- very probable -- you won't be able to get to the boat at the very time when it needs to be checked most.

Even if it's not iced in, taking the dinghy out to a moored boat in winter is always a risky proposition.

Haul it or find a winter slip -- they're relatively cheap.