Association Forum - Winterizing -- why bother (on the Chesapeake)?

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General Sailing Forum

Winterizing -- why bother (on the Chesapeake)?

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Martin
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/15/2004 : 20:01:44

What do you think: Do I need to bother winterizing, or can I sail throughout the winter?

We are on the Chesapeake Bay -- actually freshwater tidal Potomac near Washington DC -- and would like to sail a bit during the winter. In the last few years, there were days warm enough that I went windsurfing here, which made me think sailing should be possible as well...

So, what do I need to do to keep the boat sailable in winter but avoid damage? Keeping the battery charged, gas tank full, bilges, water tank and hoses filled with anti-freeze, bubbler going (marina does that)is easy, but what do I need to do to keep the sails and outboard on the boat, ready for a short notice sail?

Or is it not worth the risk that something will get damaged, and I better take sails and motor home for storage. (The boat stays it the water anyway.)

Thank you,

Martin

Edited by - on

Bubba
Admiral

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USA
542 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2004 : 21:08:05

Must be nice to have the option! I'm on a creek off of the Rhode River, just south of Annapolis and it freezes over. It would take more than a few bubblers to get out of there in the winter.

I'm no expert. but it sounds like you have it covered. Just make sure the water drains out of the outboard when you're done. Is your outboard a 2-stroke or 4-stroke? You might want to think about a lighter weight oil in a 4-stroke for the winter time.

Once last winter I shoveled a foot of snow off of a friends Gemini 105 before we took it out.

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2004 : 21:11:18

Martin, I'm in Urbanna, VA. I've never hauled my boat for the winter -- but in the dead of winter I've brought my outboard, sails, and batteries home for storage. It's just too raw in January and February for me. I have sailed into the second week of December.

This year, however, I'm putting the boat on the hard. All the forecasts are for a hard winter. Since I need to paint the bottom next spring anyhow, it seems like the right thing to do.

Brooke

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2004 : 21:15:53

Martin-

We usually haul every other year (on the Piankatank River in Deltaville, VA). Make sure you drain all the water & keep your batteries charged. We have sailed in January, but not very often. If your marina won't get ice you should be okay. We did get some light ice around our hull last winter & it wore off some bottom paint at the waterline which made us nervous all summer, but there was no real damage (checked it out close when we hauled today).

Edited by - on

Charlie Vick
Captain

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USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2004 : 22:39:17

If it's warm enough to wind surf its warm enough to sail!
I sail in 20-30 degrees during the winter, don't carry water in the tank, and use the motor at least once every two weeks. I charge the battery every time I'm at the boat, and keep the sails on my dock to keep them dry.
Never any problems, but you sail a lot farther north than I do.
IMHO sailing in the winter is the best.
I really feel for those who are on the hard for 6-7 months waiting for the weather to clear to get to sail again.

You can always wear enough clothes to keep warm,
you can't get back the time you missed sailing.

CVick

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2004 : 22:59:16

I'm close to Charlie and do the same. Actually the boat's in one temperate zone north, so 10 degrees colder. However, we sail year around.

Drain the water tank and disconnect the hoses so any excess or expansion drains into the bilge. Run antifreeze down the drains (one gallon does two sinks and the icebox) and then shut off the seacocks. Put Stabilize in the gas tank.

Interiors do freeze, even if the water doesn't. We had a Corbin 39 (my next boat) sink in January because they forgot to winterize the A/C strainer basket, whose casing was made of plastic. Freeze, expand, crack, blub, blub, blub...salvage title. ;-)

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Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2004 : 19:33:10

Martin,

If I remember correctly, the water flow is pretty good where you are, but the salt content is lower so icing is a problem. Our boats don't really have ice-breaking capabilities, so I'd worry more about down-stream floating ice tearing up the hull. I'm on the Chesapeake about halfway between Annapolis & Baltimore (Bodkin Creek).

Although the boat is staying in the water this year (bubblers provided by the marina), I just couldn't envision getting enough sailing in to not put her in hibernate mode. The antifreeze went in last week when we started dipping into the low 20's overnight. I finished winterizing yesterday. I'll drop by to check her every couple of weeks & do some small projects.

Now if the groundhog will just cooperate...

Edited by - Jeff McK on 11/17/2004 10:51:45

Martin
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2004 : 12:10:57

Fellow Chesapeake-and-Tributaries Sailors,

Thank you for your advice. See you on the winter waters!

Martin

Edited by - on

Wahoo
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2004 : 13:55:12

Martin
Where do you keep your boat? I am newly returned to the Alexandria and the Potomac and looking for a good Virginia side marina.

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Martin
Deckhand

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USA
16 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2004 : 17:11:45

Ron,

We live in Alexandria as well. There are four marina options nearby. First, where we have a wet slip -- in Washington Sailing Marina, which is just N or Alexandria and S of the National Airport. Fee is $1,800 per year.

But everything in the marina is entirely new -- docks, gates, electric supply, included in the fee), water supply to each dock (included), pump-out station (included) and clean. Fancy Potowmac restaurant and regular fast food on the grounds. Very active and friendly Sailing Club of Washington (SCOW) with regular regattas. No power boats. They used to have an endless waiting list but I think it got more reasonable during the marina renovation. Anyway, check them out at http://www.washingtonsailingmarina.com/slips.html

Second option is Belle Haven Marina, just south of Alexandria. Old, small, few slips, with lots of character if you like slightly scruffy places (and patrons). They had 12 year wait list, though, last we checked. Fair number of power boats. No organized sailing I am aware of.

Third option is Alexandria City Marina. Not very well protected, right downtown,by Torpedo Factory. Mostly power boats. Multi-year waiting list.

The fourth option is the Old Dominion Yacht Club, a few hundred yards south of the City Marina. It is a small private outfit of the occupants of the luxury waterfront condos right at the docks. The recently made name for themselves when they killed a proposal to develop a neighboring vacant property into a boat-building and sailing facility run by a foundation looking after low-income kids, and then promptly submitted a plan for expanding their private docks on the same spot.

And then there are a few places further N on the Anacostia river but not nearly as convenient as the ones in or near Alexandria.

Best of luck finding a slip! Better get on several waiting lists asap.

Martin

Edited by - on

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