Sailboats in Long Island/NY area winter time

sailormanmiami · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2010

greetings

I'm from Florida.....but looking at a boat up north that is around this area and is in saltwater on a mooring....

can a sailboat be left on a mooring in the winter time in this area of the country? we were looking to try to get north to head south to Florida in mid to late Nov via the ICW (and maybe blue water it at least part of the ways if there is good weather and the newbie crew doesn't chicken out on me)

so question is.....how do sailboats do in saltwater during the winter? can they be left in the water or must they be hauled out and dry stored?

any remarks on travelling the ICW would be interesting to hear also
this is a 45ft ketch...blue water designed

thanks in advance and hello to everyone

tommays · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2010

Its done BUT if your not there ALL the time to check it can be pretty harsh as we are back to real winters

CrazyRu · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailormanmiami

greetings

I'm from Florida.....but looking at a boat up north that is around this area and is in saltwater on a mooring....

can a sailboat be left on a mooring in the winter time in this area of the country?

Water may freeze up for short period of time in protected bays. However I have never seen it happened before February. I normally haul out after Thanksgiving.

There are a few boats staying on a ball throughout winter at my mooring field and many marinas have in water winter storage.

Trip will be very-very cold. Make sure you have a heat on the boat or plan to stop at marinas every night to plug in electric heater. Most marinas north of Chesapeake will be closed, by the way. Make sure to check winter bridge's schedule on ICWW in northern part of the trip. I had to trace my steps 60 miles back in NJ when I couldn't get out of inlet due to bridge closed for construction in winter.

Good luck.

sailormanmiami · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2010

hi there tommays and crazyru

thanks for the info -- this is a boat i am wanting to buy and she needs to be brought down....it won't be happening til mid or 3rd week of the month of nov...its over near SAG harbor area........you think the boat would be safe? what about freezing of hardware and water and all that? coolant lines/blocks...any risk?? i presume the surf temp doesn't get all that low since its salt water... i don't know squat about the cold weather when it comes to boats (or much about living in cold weather though i've been north in the winter a few times)..so pardon my ignorance.....thanks again for the awesome photos and info from both!

tommays · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010

The boat should be OK ? but i am surprised its allowed on a mooring that late

The issue will be enough good weather to get south that late and the safety equipment and help you have to move the boat

BarryL · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010

Hello,

November won't be a problem. The water stays warm enough so that you don't need to worry about freezing until late december.

The problem will be moving the boat south. There are frequent storms in the winter, with cold temperatures, high winds, and precipitation (sometimes wet, sometimes dry - but real cold) to deal with. Then again there are 50-60 degree days in december. As long as you are patient and can afford to wait out storms here and there you should be OK.

I bought my current boat in Newport RI and needed to move it to my home port near Port Jefferson. We moved the boat the first weekend in December. We got very lucky with the weather - high 50's the first day and no wind, low 50's the second with very favorable winds. I left the boat in the water that winter, tied to a dock, and it was fine.

Good luck,
Barry

sailormanmiami · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2010

thanks everyone, sounds like we better figure on 3 weeks rather than two and consider doing a whole lot of ICW puttering along I think

I am so used to the warmer weather here (s.fla) I hadn't thought too much about the cold weather safety gear that we might need to procure. Anyone want to make some recommendations from the 'been there done that angle' or general knowledge you have?

here's to wishing for great weather in november!

WanderingStar · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2010

Warm clothes should be sufficient. Even on mild days (50's) you'll find that to spend the day outdoors you'll want long underwear, wool socks, gloves and hat. I don't use wet or drysuits, I avoid swimming.

tommays · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2010

Well

We do what they call CAT A races and if we leave the LI sound then a liferaft is required and i would not go without one as the races go in most any weather

http://www.yralis.org/2010/2010-p-031-033.pdf

http://www.yra.org/OYRA/docs/OYRA-2006-minequipment.pdf

This a list of saftey gear required on and A,B,C level of risk

Bene505 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2010

Wanderingstar has good advice about wool. Avoid cotton (a.k.a. "killer cotten" to winter sports enthusiasts) since it loses 98% of it's insulation when it's wet -- when you really need it, it becomes almost useless. Spun polyester (a.k.a. fleece) and wool are best. If you get splashed a bit on the foredeck it will matter a whole lot less.

I like to be tied onto the boat, whenever I'm outside of swimming distance of land. If that's what you do, remember that you simply can't swim as far in cold water.

A thermos of hot liquid is a real pleasure on a cold day.

Have a great trip. Post pictures later!

[Edit: Didn't see Tom's post before I got this one posted. He'll probably have some great advice.]

Regards,
Brad