Winter in water or out?

Audrey II

Audrey II

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As not to completely Hi-jack another thread I started another. I have never considered storing in water but I have heard many people say it's better for the boat. If this is so, why don't more people store in the water rather then on blocks? I have several questions about the concept first is the cost is it more less or about the same? How do they shrink in water? Do you remain plugged in for power? How often do you check on the boat to be safe? Do insurance companies care?

Most of all, is it worth the risk of damage or worse?
 
I stay in, my contract is for 12 months in water, I have no layup period on my insurance policy so I'm good to stay in. Some insurers require you to pull out for the winter. My center console has a 2 month layup period, Jan-Feb so I have to pull for that time but I stay in to mid December, not a problem.

At my dock that have a floating dock they pull up next to the boats and they wrap it up like it was on land, no big deal.

I stay plugged in all winter and have block heaters that keeps the engine room very toasty. Even when it was 14 degrees out one day last winter, the salon was 46 degrees and the hull and sea cocks of the boat never went under 36 degrees (checked with infrared thermometer). I do blow them all out just to be sure and winterize all systems to be safe.

When I layed my 48 on land one year the boat got bitter cold and definitely had much more water in the waterzorb buckets than I ever get with the boat staying in the water.

I sleep well in the winter, I don't worry, probably half my marina stays in the water and they are always checking out the boats, the even shovel all the snow off the docks and will supply water to people that live aboard.
 
As you know, very few boats stay in near us. I have to wonder why if it's better. I tend to over think things and would worry all Winter it's bad enough that I worry on land. I go to the marina at least twice a month and always after a snow storm. I think I would be there all the time if I stayed in. I'm not sure my wife would believe that I wasn't cheating on her if I checked on the boat any more then I do. I can hear it now "you're going to the boat again, sure you are". I not sure what I will do next year but I will add to the list to consider. I'm considering indoor storage as well.
 
Check out Haverstraw in the winter Dave. There are quite a few that stay in there. It's much more protected than the marinas in Stony Point which are facing the open river. The exception is Minneseongo and they have a bunch of boats that stay in all year round.
 
If you pay before a certain date it actually costs a bit less than storing on the hard. But it's not really about the cost in my book, it's about what's best for the boat and my convenience.

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I've been leaving my boats in ....ever since my first inboards....over 8 years now.

Its a bit nerve racking.......when you see this :

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....but you get use to it !!!

.
 
I have winter in-water storage included at my marina but will be taking her over to the service yard for storage on land.

Currently, it gets stored inside a shed so it is a no-brainer but before that it was outside and shrink wrapped.

In water storage provides the best support but I don't think it detrimental if it is properly blocked on land.

I live and breath the boat from April to November and I don't want to give it a second thought until March.

My .02
 
Up in Kingston we get a really hard freeze and the creek ice can get over a foot thick. Bubblers keep it at bay but if you have a power failure, get ready to suffer. I've seen folks with axes and picks breaking the stuff up.

This thread reminds me to change our port of call here now that we're floating again.
 
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