In the water or out ??

[moparlvr4406]

I see differing opinions both ways
FOR MY CLIMATE ZONE...
which would be better for the boat and wallet ??
FYI..all of the standard winterization practices will be followed...bilge heater installed
and the marina has ice eaters and my slip is covered (and she is tucked way back in facing south).
Opinions ??

 

[moparlvr4406]

other facts...
1 I have a bow cover and cockpit cover for under roof...would shrinkwrap if left outside on the hard

2 been told in water is better because the water will keep the hull and bilge warmer than the air would :huh:

3 there would be no shore power plug in on dry storage outdoors so bilge heater would be worthless

4 plug would be out of the bilge on hard so bilge would be dry but in slip the shaft seals would continue to drip..even this minor amount could cause a freeze in the bilge pump :huh:

5 dockmaster walks the docks daily to keep check on things...not so much on the hard .

6 there should be no to little snowload in the slip unless it comes blowing in hard(near sideways) from the south.

7 docks are secure with electronic gate key as opposed to open parking lot.

8 rarely see any below zero temps..maybe in February if it's a real bad cold front.

9 marina manager swears that the area under the covered main docks has NEVER frozen no matter how cold the air temp.

any advise or preference to which way YOU would go ?? I am really torn on the matter.

 

[mwph]

How long is your typical winterization for?
Are any other members staying in?
Any interior projects you would do over the winter while in the slip?

Perhaps a factor that you may not have thought of is this... Would you use the boat for a relaxing 24 hour getaway if it were in the slip? My wife has been known to drive up there, spend an hour cleaning on the boat and two hours napping! Are you paying for cable tv? Do either of you do any fishing? We make a lot of trips where she will be out in the cold, walking the docks with a fishing rod while I am tinkering, cleaning, talking and Oh yeah, and shuttling her hot coffee.

I guess what I'm saying is this ... Figure the cost difference between the hard or the slip & see if you can or even want to justify staying in.

 

[firecadet613]

FWIW my friend who slipped at Monroe would leave his '06 340 in the water over the winter. I wouldn't do it, but then again mine is in a locked barn for the winter.

 

[moparlvr4406]

I have many projects I can do
I am just a little paranoid leaving my baby 1.5hrs from home in freezing weather
(had nightmares for the first 3 weeks I owned her ...I walk to the slip and only find 6 lines and 2 antennas where the boat WAS)
Our "winter" here is generally early Dec to mid to late March...gas dock closes October 31st unless weather makes it go either way
I usually winterize engines on or before Dec 1st for my trailer boats.
another question though...does the heater in the boats a/c system require any water flow...not used it yet...or can I use it after the A/C is winterized ?

 

[Quint4]

I am leaving mine in this year. Currently fabricating a winter cover. I do my own winterizing (just did all the fluids yesterday). There are bubblers at my dock.

 

[CRUZ'N]

...........another question though...does the heater in the boats a/c system require any water flow...not used it yet...or can I use it after the A/C is winterized ?[/QUOTE]

Jim, it does require sea water to extract heat. If the sea water gets below 40F* you'll get a a Low Press fault and it will shut down. Furthermore, potential condenser damage due to freezing may occur. Tim

 

[sdarc]

Heater requires warm water. If leaving in put a small quartz heater. Biggest worry is if power is lost at dock.

 

[Pyrojodge]

Tough choice. And yes you need water for the ac/heat.

 

[Woody]

I'd pull it.

 

[Ten Years Gone]

It's one thing to leave it in the water when you know you are going to see the boat every weekend. I would have continuing nightmares about it all alone for weeks/perhaps months at a time. Do you really intend to go visit the marina every week through winter? If not, I say pull it!

 

[techmitch]

I see differing opinions both ways
FOR MY CLIMATE ZONE...
which would be better for the boat and wallet ??
FYI..all of the standard winterization practices will be followed...bilge heater installed
and the marina has ice eaters and my slip is covered (and she is tucked way back in facing south).
Opinions ??

other facts...
1 I have a bow cover and cockpit cover for under roof...would shrinkwrap if left outside on the hard

2 been told in water is better because the water will keep the hull and bilge warmer than the air would :huh:

3 there would be no shore power plug in on dry storage outdoors so bilge heater would be worthless

4 plug would be out of the bilge on hard so bilge would be dry but in slip the shaft seals would continue to drip..even this minor amount could cause a freeze in the bilge pump :huh:

5 dockmaster walks the docks daily to keep check on things...not so much on the hard .

6 there should be no to little snowload in the slip unless it comes blowing in hard(near sideways) from the south.

7 docks are secure with electronic gate key as opposed to open parking lot.

8 rarely see any below zero temps..maybe in February if it's a real bad cold front.

9 marina manager swears that the area under the covered main docks has NEVER frozen no matter how cold the air temp.

any advise or preference to which way YOU would go ?? I am really torn on the matter.

I have many projects I can do
I am just a little paranoid leaving my baby 1.5hrs from home in freezing weather
(had nightmares for the first 3 weeks I owned her ...I walk to the slip and only find 6 lines and 2 antennas where the boat WAS)
Our "winter" here is generally early Dec to mid to late March...gas dock closes October 31st unless weather makes it go either way
I usually winterize engines on or before Dec 1st for my trailer boats.
another question though...does the heater in the boats a/c system require any water flow...not used it yet...or can I use it after the A/C is winterized ?

Jim, reread your post, you know you want to keep Her in and you know how to do it!
I Would.


If all else fails you can always go this route; http://www.harborfreight.com/4000-W...dium=email&utm_campaign=4013a&utm_source=1010

You guy's were talking about winter Right? LOL

 

[MrHappy]

As long as you have insurance and believe that you will be compensated for your loss. One never knows what happens in Indiana. Rain one day, snow the next. This site will take you to the 2009 Fourwinds Lake Monroe Dock Collapse. Our slip was on J dock, which did collapse. No, our boat was not in the water. At that time only a few boats on the west side of J Dock stayed in the water year round.

This may have been a once in a Century event. The question is, do you want to bet on that? Do you want to be out on the hard for some or all of the season? Will the insurance company put you back in the water with the same boat or one comparable?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattroth/sets/72157613160731959/show/

 

[AMFM3]

I read that you had nightmares the first 3 weeks you owned her. You'll drive yourself and Kathy nuts if you leave the new boat in the water.

I've done both, but prefer to have AMFM on the hard for winter. It rarely gets overly cold here, but I just feel better.

Mark

 

[Gofirstclass]

Mine stays in the water and I did the same with my 330's.

If you're worried about freezing, hook up one of those pumps that you hang beneath the boat that keeps the water moving. Or build a bubbler system that brings water up from about 5' beneath the surface and sends it out through PVC pipe that you hang along the sides of the dock. Drill 1/4" holes about every 18" along the pipe so it squirts the warmer water out from the dock toward the boat. That keeps the warmer water flowing and will keep the slip ice free.

I did that for my 330 and it worked great. I have lots of pics and drawings if you're interested. Then all you have to do is put a couple of 1500W heaters inside the boat set at a very low setting.

 

[Searaybio270]

GFC - I read that before about using some kind of a pump, might have been a sump pump, to bring the water up from below. Our marina depth is about 7 to 9foot deep. Do you think that will work. I am planning to leave my boat in the water this year. I do have some questions though.
Winterize it or just go with the 1500W heaters? If I go with the heaters are you talking for the engine compartment or the cabin?
I plan to either Shrinkwrap or tarp my boat. But I alos would like to use it which is why I am thinking tarp.
Anything else you or others can think of please chime in.
We do have several people that leave their boats in year round.
Joe

Mine stays in the water and I did the same with my 330's.

If you're worried about freezing, hook up one of those pumps that you hang beneath the boat that keeps the water moving. Or build a bubbler system that brings water up from about 5' beneath the surface and sends it out through PVC pipe that you hang along the sides of the dock. Drill 1/4" holes about every 18" along the pipe so it squirts the warmer water out from the dock toward the boat. That keeps the warmer water flowing and will keep the slip ice free.

I did that for my 330 and it worked great. I have lots of pics and drawings if you're interested. Then all you have to do is put a couple of 1500W heaters inside the boat set at a very low setting.