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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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How bad would it be if I bubbled my boat

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/25/2006 : 11:54:51

Hi All, lost my job so I can't afford to build a craddle for the boat this year, but our marina will bubble the boat for the same price as hauling and storing. The job thing is a temperary situation I am sure, but I want to save all I can so buying the materials and building a craddle is out. So beside growing a bunch of gunk over the winter, is there any serious damage that can happen? Cheers.

Dennis
No Boat
S.E. Michigan

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 12:12:25

Strip the sails and anything else that can suffer from exposure. (even the boom if you like)If you have shore power leave the battery charger running and a little heater to control the humidity. Don't kid yourself about sailing in cold weather, it is awfull.
Sorry about the job, it is scary.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 12:22:06

Thanks Frank. I knew it was coming. Enrollments are way down. I have no intention of sailing....I will be iced-in. If I want power, I have to pay for the hookup, so I will just leave the solar vent running all winter. Cheers.

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 13:21:07

Dennis
I bubbled my boat for five years on lake St. Clair when it was new and there are are a few caveats that I would pass along. First I would take every thing off the boat, including the battery and the cushions and the curtains. Double up on your dock lines and visit the boat on a regular basis to make sure the bubbler is working and that nothing has floated up against your hull and is banging against it. Also take a couple of turns off the shroud turnbuckles and cover the cockpit with a properly supported tarp to keep the snow and ice from building up and weighing down the stern of the boat. Or you could despense with the cover and plan to shovel out the cocpit after each big snow storm(A plastic or rubber dust pan makes a great shovel for this purpose.) Other than these things you should be OK. You can have the boat hauled out in the spring or summer to powerwash the bottom. And by the way when I was bubbling my boat there were always a few good sailing days in December or January; so if you want a hand on a chilly day give me a call I have long johns and will travel.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 13:30:30

Hey Larry, it is great to see you here. Me and Annie wished we could have made more cruises this past summer but work got in the way. Next summer we will be making most of them. Thanks for the advice. I think I will come over to your place to have the mast taken down so I can make a tent for the winter. I'd like to get some work done on the boat and that would help. Also, I am looking for a different marina for next year, do you have the number to your marina? The old lady that runs the place seems really nice. I will see you at Kent Sail for the Novermer meeting. Cheers.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 14:03:01

I would remove about everything from the boat. Take the Batteries and charge them at home. Your solar vent should help, I’d also consider one of the moisture absorbers (some-kinda-Calcium-stuff in a bucket…for you chemist that’s SkC2Bt) If you can handle getting the mast down I would also do that.

Double your dock lines – 2 from each corner if your slip allows. It is easier to adjust them in a good winter’s blow.

Have you considered just renting jack stands for the winter? Most places only charge about 75 bucks.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 14:37:27

Hi Duane, I priced out the materials to build a cradle and it is not much more than 75 bucks. At this point in time, every little bit helps. I am just glad I paid for my winter storage up front. The one thing I don't want to get forced into is selling the boat. I've done too much work on it and am enjoying it too much to part with. Cheers.

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Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 14:55:17

Dennis
Jenny is realy nice and her son Mark who is the yard boss is very helpful mention my name when you call. I'll send you the number via private email (I'm a stickler for security- mine and others) However if you do move there you will need a craddle before next winter because they don't bubble. To be honest I wouldn't bubble a boat for more than one or two years anyway. I can't prove it, but I think because of the porosity of gelcoat it is better to dry out the hull on a yearly basis. I know that there have been volumes wirtten, both pro and con, on the subject but that's just my personnel opinion. See you at the CRCA meeting at Kent Sail.

L.Caricchio
ZINGARA
#4222 1984 C-25
Fleet Captain Fleet #3

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 15:23:02

Thanks Larry. I'll let you know how my conversation turns out. See you at Kent. Cheers.

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 15:58:02

I must be out of it, but what the heck is bubbling?

Also, my experience with Damp Rid is that it will soak up a lot of humidity. Then the container gets full and the waves make it slosh out and it is highly corrosive if I am not mistaken. It got it on my cabin floor and into the bilge and on the keel bolts. It is very hard to clean up. Nasty Stuff! So if you use it make sure you have an adequate container.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 16:31:12

A bubbler will aerate the water creating bubbles so that it doesn't freeze.
Being from Florida, I'd bet there were T Rex's running around the last time you might have needed one of those...

[url="http://clickserve.cc-dt.com/link/click?lid=41000000011919572"]Click here for further details.[/url]

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 17:36:21

And they don't really bubble, they swirl.

Dennis, does this change your email for staff business? email.uophx.edu = dead? Send me a new one please

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 19:03:21

Hi Frank, that one is not dead dead. I will still be teaching classes from time to time. My personal email is djnagle@comcast.net

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2006 : 22:16:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ben - FL
 I must be out of it, but what the heck is bubbling?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Actually, they used to use "bubblers"--air hoses run under boats to cause water to circulate up and around the hulls to avoid freezing. More often, they now use little underwater fans to create more movement. In the winter, water well below the surface is warmer, so circulating it upward solves the problem. Marinas also use them to prevent freezing around pilings, which in tidal areas can cause the pilings to be pulled out of the bottom. We wouldn't expect you FL guys to understand...

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Dave Otey
Navigator

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USA
112 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2006 : 04:20:10

Dennis, so sorry to hear about your job. Is it the result of our depressed automotive environment ? I'm in automotive and worry about this regularly. At 57 it's tough market.

I wish you well.

Sincerely

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3484 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2006 : 06:06:15

Dennis,

Hope your job situation is soon resolved.

As far as the bubblers, etc seems like you have gotten great advice. Nothing really to add except that my boat stays in the water year round and other than checking the boat out every so often, it should be fine. The cockpit filling up with snow is something that is resolved with a cover, otherwise, probably best to shovel out any snow accumulations from the cockpit area and making sure the scuppers are clear for drainage. You may also want to take your rudder out of the water since you are not going to use the boat or at least infrequently. That minimizes at least some water/moisture exposure to it. I leave my rudder on but I use the boat regularly even in the winter.

There some addl things to do that I saw listed in the Catalina Manual that is in the link section of this website. You may want to review that section regarding storage and consider if you want to follow thru with any of the suggestions. I noticed they had one suggestion to use a messenger line on halyards so that the majority of the halyard lines could be pulled down and so not to subject the normal sections exposed to sunlight/weather conditions so much during the winter months of non-use. i do not do this since I use the boat. not sur eif anyone else does this but it is one of a number of suggestions I saw I the manual. Anyway...something to ponder if of any real benefit.

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