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Winterizing C-25 in the NW, questions

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dave andersen
1st Mate

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85 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/26/2009 : 09:24:08

Our boat sails off Whidbey island in the NW, where the winters are generally mild. We are going on the hard in about a week. We'll relaunch in April of 2010

Do we have to remove the batteries?

Do we have to drain the water tank?

What other measures would you suggest for storing the boat
in drydock for the next 7 months?

Many thanks for your response. RAVEN

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2009 : 12:16:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dave andersen
 Do we have to remove the batteries?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">If they're AGMs or gel-cells, no. If they're wet-cells, you should keep a trickle charger on them to prevent self-discharging, which can eventually harm the batteries. I switch my little 3-stage charger from one battery to the other every couple of weeks in my garage during the winter. I'll let somebody more local make recommendations on the other winterizing...

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/26/2009 : 19:52:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dave andersen
 
What other measures would you suggest for storing the boat
in drydock for the next 7 months?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I not sure what I would do first, cry or hit the bottle!

Steve A

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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4024 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2009 : 07:44:12

The big question is do you get below freezing temps? If so yes, drain the water tank. On second thought I would drain the water anyway. That water left in the tank and lines could get really nasty after 7 Months

Its not good for the battery to be left without a trickle charger on it for this long of a time so if you can't have one in the boat on the hard I would take it home and put a battery maintainer on it.

Edited by - islander on 09/27/2009 07:49:29

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 12:19:25

Even if you trickle charge, check your fluid level every month or two to make sure it's where it should be. I ruined a battery once while trickle charging in your/our situation.

Put some anti-freeze into the head and sink water lines. Leave some in the head bowl.

Make sure your bilge is dry.

Open all your lockers, drawers, and storage areas to allow free air flow into them. Keeps the mildew down.

I completely strip my boat interior of all equipment except the radio and instruments. I used to take them out as well but not in the past few years. I also remove the cusions, although I've left them on board a few times without a problem. They should not be stored flat however to avoid condensation and mold buil-up.

Tarp your boat using bungees instead of rope. It provides some elasticity to keep your tarp from tearing in the wind.

Do yourself a favor and get rid of your so-called "fresh water" tank and use the space for storage. Your water in there will never be used for more than washing dishes anyway, and I'm not sure I'd even use it for that.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/28/2009 12:20:44

Voyager
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5379 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 18:50:23

Al
What did you do with the two sinks? Did you convert that space to countertops or storage bins? How did you set up the board covering the starboard settee? Did you add a hinge? Once you removed the water tank, did you have to do anything to interior of the space to make it more suitable for storage like add a liner or a plastic tupperware-type container?

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Voyager
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5379 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2009 : 19:12:25

Dave
I started on a checklist, but then again, we get hard freezes in CT down to zero (F) or below.
- Antifreeze in the waterlines (the red stuff, not the green stuff)

- Dry out the bilge - mop it dry with a sponge, wipe it with paper towels

- Check the bilge pump - the manual one, if there is any water in the line, it can crack plastic parts when it freezes. If you have an electric bilge pump, remove it once the boat is on the hard.

- Remove the engine (outboard) and gasoline. Put the gas in your car, don't save it. Prep the engine per your mfrs recommendations.

- Remove the fuel-water separator. I plan to run it dry, then pull the whole assembly, since its fine unless you remove the old cartridge. You'll never get the O ring back in place.

- Eliminate any beverages from the boat, sugar soda/pop, diet soda, mixers, other softdrinks and bottled waters. I had a coke can freeze and burst once, not pretty.

- Remove food and snacks, even scraps. Mice love snacks, then they start nibbling on the wire insulation!

- I plan to remove the cushions, sleeping bags and blankets

- Pull the rudder - careful not to let it freeze, or it may burst or come apart.

- Remove the sails

- Remove fenders

- Remove the lines so you can take them home and launder them. Use a dryer sheet to soften them up.

- Check the battery water levels - I keep the battery in the boat over the winter so I can run lights if I need to work on portions of the boat. I use my 15W solar panel with regulator to keep it topped off.

I have a 13W compact fluorescent fixture that I power using an inverter for lighting the cabin. It takes about 1 amp, so if I'm working in the boat for 3 hours, it uses ~3AH.

- Disconnect the inverter - it may take a small amount of idle current even if switched off.

- Remove all cleaning materials, detergents, stains & paints, clorox and other potions from the boat. You probably won't need them until Spring.

- Watch out for anything that can leave a stain, like metal cans that will rust and leave a mark, dyed cleaners or treatments like windex or portapotty "blue-water".

- If there is a possibility of a break-in over the winter, remove all tools, valuables, clocks, barometers, ornate lamps, to the extent you feel necessary.

I'm sure others will add their yearly pointers as well.

Edited by - on

dave andersen
1st Mate

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85 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2009 : 09:57:00

Many thanks for these excellent suggestions.

I wouldn't have thought of many of them.

RAVEN

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2009 : 11:30:16

Bruce,

I've left the sinks in tact, although I want to turn the head sink inot a hanging locker for foulies, etc. I hedging on that since I would like to have everything in tact if I ever sell.

I put brass hinges on the seat cover over the tank and painted the interior with white topside paint, along with all the interior hull surfaces. It looks great. I keep spare life jackets and my hatch boards in there.

Edited by - on

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