Winterizing alternative

[Richard Carlisle]

Maybe not this year because it’s a new to me boat and I have a list of winter repairs, but thinking maybe next winter run the boat south instead of winterizing. How far south do you need to go to be safe? We base in Crisfield, MD and live in DE. Would it be feasible to winter the boat no more than a days drive away? Without mapping it, I’m guessing that would be around Bellhaven, NC….or in that general vicinity.

 

[SeaNile]

Are you currently at a marina, have AC power, bubblers? Lots of boat at my marina stay in year round with a decent amount of live aboards. Many don't winterize at all and with the recent mild winters it's been fine.

I'm on the very Upper Chesapeake and last winter the only bad cold spell was right before Thanksgiving and it only lasted 3 days. I winterized everything that week but found myself dewinterizing everything and went for a nice ride on Jan 1.

Marina has bubblers, I have block heaters and also use 3 additional heaters, two in the cabin and 1 extra in the bilge. I'm at the boat fairly weekly and only 40 min away should the weather get really bad or the marina loses power.

There are so many friends and connections at our marina and specifically our dock that should anything happened we are all aware and help each other out.

Guess what I'm saying is I think you are plenty far south enough to leave the boat in year round without having to winterize absolutely every system and stress about it.

On a total side note if you ever come up north I'd love to check out your boat. The 42/44 DB is such an incredible boat but I can't quite convince the wife to sell out DA and get the DB.

 

[Little Ducky]

If you are going to go anywhere, come on down to Chattanooga. You can get away with minimum winterization and then heat your engine and interior. I do winterize the fresh water system and waste tank but heat everything else. I love getting out on the water on those sunny cold days.

 

[Richard Carlisle]

TN would be a month long trip at least. We are hauling out in Lewis, DE in about a month. Will be heading up the Chesapeake, through the C&D and down to Lewis.

 

[techmitch]

TN would be a month long trip at least. We are hauling out in Lewis, DE in about a month. Will be heading up the Chesapeake, through the C&D and down to Lewis.

Let us know when you are coming through. @SeaNile and I will meet you in Chesapeake city or there abouts for a cold one.

 

[BlueYonder]

Look at your insurance requirements. Many require proper winterization in order to have freeze coverage. All the bubblers and space heaters (probably prohibited by the marina) won't help if there are power outages caused a winter storm in conjunction with extremely low temperatures. I would, as a minimum, winterize the fresh water system unless you are in a no freeze area.

 

[SeaNile]

Could just stop at Summit North Marina on the C&D and stay in the water there for the winter with us. Probably 75-100 boats that stay in throughout the winter. If the sun is out and it's 40 or more the marina is actually full of life. We were there pretty much every weekend all winter long.

 

[rlynch03]

TN would be a month long trip at least. We are hauling out in Lewis, DE in about a month. Will be heading up the Chesapeake, through the C&D and down to Lewis.

We are on the Chesepeake (Annapolis area) and use engine block heaters, blow out the fresh water systems and keep the boat heat on as long as I can and then switch to an oil based heater to keep the interior warm.

We also plan to be in Crisfield around Oct 20th for the first leg of a trip.

 

[Richard Carlisle]

Could just stop at Summit North Marina on the C&D and stay in the water there for the winter with us. Probably 75-100 boats that stay in throughout the winter. If the sun is out and it's 40 or more the marina is actually full of life. We were there pretty much every weekend all winter long.

We live in Lewes and the boat needs to be hauled this winter. Once I get ahead of the deferred maintenance, winter in the water will be an option. Might even winter on n Hilton Head next year.

 

[SeaNile]

We live in Lewes and the boat needs to be hauled this winter. Once I get ahead of the deferred maintenance, winter in the water will be an option. Might even winter on n Hilton Head next year.

Lewes is such a great town. Spent many many summers fishing out of Indian River Inlet. I'm at Beebe fairly often for work.

There are also a lot of boats that stay in the water right there in Lewes on the canal.

 

[Skybolt]

I am in the Annapolis area, kent narrows about on par with Lewis. I winterize fully, anti freeze through the raw water side on all engines and blow air back through the thru-hulls and close. I run block heaters (wolverine pads) and most of the engine room stays at 50d. I also have a bilge heater that runs when that area drops below 40d. The cabin has oil heaters to keep it at ~50 and a remote govee heater I run when I am going to the boat that day. The water system is blown out with air. I keep bottled water in the sink and the beer cooler stays on. I usually am on the boat every weekend doing something. Yes this may be over kill for some, but I am from LI NY where it can get supper cold for long periods of time and this is what I do.

The Virginia area and south, also Norfolk and along the James doesn't winterize at all. Some don't even blow out the water lines and just run block heaters and oil heaters in the cabin. I also have friends here that do the same, except blow out the water lines.

 

[Alex F]

...How far south do you need to go to be safe? We base in Crisfield, MD and live in DE. Would it be feasible to winter the boat no more than a days drive away? Without mapping it, I’m guessing that would be around Bellhaven, NC….or in that general vicinity.

My definition of "south safe enough" is where the palm trees naturally grow year round. That means no further north than SC. But of course it depends on what you're looking for as the overall experience. Years ago, we spent a winter in Charleston and loved it.

 

[GypsmJim]

Pull a couple plugs and let the water drain. Then pour in some AF. Easy peasy, what's the problem?

OR, get rid of that problematic inboard and switch to OBs.

My winterization used to take hours, now just mere 20 minutes.

Better performance, fuel economy, etc,....wholly crap, why didn't I think of this before.