living on searay in winter

W

wetpaint

Active Member
Nov 2, 2007
2,370
Cape Cod/Caribbean
Boat Info
41 Lipari Catamaran
Engines
2 x Volvo 30hp
does anyone leave their boat in the water and stay on it in the northeast on weekends? how do you heat it? What do you winterize?
 
Have done in water winters in the past.
Heated with portable electric type fans.
Its totally winterized so no running water.
Onced its shrink wrapped, its not so much fun anymore.

There is a boater in my marina that is full time live aboard.
He lives on a 31ft express. Single guy.
He uses electric heaters and marina bathrooms.
So it can be done..
 
The biggest questions I would have would be:

- Who will shovel the snow from the docks
- Slipping on ice and falling into the drink with no one around
- Water kept in water jugs
- Cabin Fever

I guess you could do it in a pinch, but you'd have to really want to do it.
 
Hwillcockson said:
The biggest questions I would have would be:

- Who will shovel the snow from the docks
- Slipping on ice and falling into the drink with no one around
- Water kept in water jugs
- Cabin Fever

I guess you could do it in a pinch, but you'd have to really want to do it.
Click to expand...

I WOULD....:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
I kept mine in last winter, may do it again this winter... We had 5' of snow last winter, caught me by surprise, since we only had a total of 5" in the 5 previous winters... I put hose connections on all my RW intakes. I blow out the water and AC with compressed air, I attach a container with anti-freeze to engines and genny and put some anti-freeze int the tanks, head, drains, and the blige... I use a dehumidifier in the cabin, and that's it.... I just kept the cockpit cover on... It is too windy my be for a tarp... I priced out shrink wrap, but did not get around to doing that... I also bubble my dock with an under water fan, to keep the ice away from the boat...
18680_1333832313150_1451331199_907264_536598_n.jpg
 
rcknecht said:
I kept mine in last winter, may do it again this winter... We had 5' of snow last winter, caught me by surprise, since we only had a total of 5" in the 5 previous winters... I put hose connections on all my RW intakes. I blow out the water and AC with compressed air, I attach a container with anti-freeze to engines and genny and put some anti-freeze int the tanks, head, drains, and the blige... I use a dehumidifier in the cabin, and that's it.... I just kept the cockpit cover on... It is too windy my be for a tarp... I priced out shrink wrap, but did not get around to doing that... I also bubble my dock with an under water fan, to keep the ice away from the boat...
18680_1333832313150_1451331199_907264_536598_n.jpg
Click to expand...

I LIKE THAT COOL:smt038
 
I'm in all year round and we're at the boat nearly every weekend (lot's to do where we are even over the winter) our marina is full and 1/4 of the people live aboard - the docs are always clear (even with more snow than usual this past year) our harbor rarely gets below 38 degrees and we have not needed a bubbler. As for the boat the engines are winterized and I cap off the city water inlet, the transom shower, and the cockpit sink. I seal off the engine room vents and use a bilge heater - I also leave the hot water heater on. The ac/heat gets wnterized and I use electric heat for the cabin. We have hoses run under water to fill our tank from a source on shore and the pump out boat is available weekly. I do not shrinkwrap - I do remove my camper canvas and install the factory aft curtain. I have not had any problems with the water/drains/head freezing - I do pour a little pink down the head/drains when leaving durring the really cold snaps incase we lose power. On my boat it was necessary to convert to sea cocks as I did not trust not being able to "turn off" the water comming into the boat. My biggest dilemma has been time to service the boat - I had a diver clean the bottom and install new zincs after 6 mos and I just hauled it to do the annual drive service, bottom paint, and hull buff. I'm very happy as my season starts early and ends late and the time between is fun too - I do not regret my decision and my boat has not suffered either. PM me if you want/need more info - BTW I met your buddy (Triple Diamond) at my marina a couple weeks ago.....
 
Great stuff....I bet you are still talking about Mark!!!! I hope you did not bring up Obama or the GOVT...I might come to Newport over labor day weekend....Was going to come this weekend, but the boys wanted to do the vineyard....I told them sex is just as good in Newport as in the Vineyard......KIDDING ! ! !
 
Stop by if you make it in - Mark knows where I am......I think there is a slip or two left in our marina - if not west wind, newport onshore, or the yachting center should have space
 
Very interesting info. I boat and live in Maryland on the Cheseapeake Bay. Some of the boats stay in the water year round and only pulled for cleaning etc.
What is the negative to the hull? Can it cause blisters to the hull? What other issues can arise from it?
Thanks,
 
Had a friend ,school teachert divorced ,that lived on his 34 wellcraft in winter just south of detroit.It was on the hard though and the bath house had to be heated anyway so he was kinda a security guard also.kept his clothes in a closet at his ex's place.
 
Searaybio270 said:
Very interesting info. I boat and live in Maryland on the Cheseapeake Bay. Some of the boats stay in the water year round and only pulled for cleaning etc.
What is the negative to the hull? Can it cause blisters to the hull? What other issues can arise from it?
Thanks,
Click to expand...

I was told that one of the few advantages of boat is salt or brackish water is that you are less likely to get blisters. Also, on my 340 my hull is solid so blistering is unlikely. The downside is if the electric goes out, and the water freezes your hull could crack from the pressure of the ice. Also if you bilge pump freezes, or your batteries die, your boat could sink from rain water or a leak. On the plus side the hull is better supported in the water, you can use the boat longer, it can be less expensive (if you don't heat the boat), and can be the first boat out in the spring. :thumbsup:
 
Not as far north as some of you folks.....but going on my 7th year living aboard....5th on this boat....I have never "winterized" as I use the boat during the winter as well.....if the water does not freeze solid, IMHO you don't need to winterize.....as the underside of the boat will only get as cold as the water itself......even if it's 10 below out.....
I do use dock house showers, but....fill my water tank and use it all winter.....
also weathered 4 Nor'Easters on her and Isabel....although the cat didn't appreciate it to much lol
I also do not shrink wrap......
To date....wouldn't change it at all.....
Cheers
 
my friend after his divorce bought a 40ft carver to live on. he told me how cold it it is!!!!
there is no installation on the boat. all window leak cold air. he has to stay in motels when its really cold or boat comes out for repairs. no lawn to cut!!!! thats his line
 
We had the boat in a different marina a half-dozen years ago. Near my slip was a houseboat with a live-aboard. He stayed aboard year round. One extremely cold winter day, after a recent snowstorm, I went down to check the shrinkwrap on Just Ducky.

I was surprised to see a lot of police activity in the marina near my slip. Found out that the fellow who lived aboard the houseboat had a few too many to drink (error 1), tripped over his shore power cord when he entered the boat causing his power, and heating, to fail (error 2). Then he apparently passed out in the cabin (error 3). He froze to death overnight when the temperatures dropped into the single digits (dangerous complicating situation 4).

I suppose it can be done, but it only takes a few mistakes to build into an error cascade (1 to 4 above) that results in something that could be harsh. Boats aren't designed and built for really cold weather. You can work around the inherent problem areas, but each work-around increases the probability of an error happening... and there's not much safety margin.
 
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WOW! Very sad indeed. you never know.....:smt009
 
wetpaint said:
Great stuff....I bet you are still talking about Mark!!!! I hope you did not bring up Obama or the GOVT...I might come to Newport over labor day weekend....Was going to come this weekend, but the boys wanted to do the vineyard....I told them sex is just as good in Newport as in the Vineyard......KIDDING ! ! !
Click to expand...

Let me know if you come, I am moving my youngest son into URI on Sunday, then will be around. And yes the s*x can be spectacular this time of year in Newport.
 
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