Winter boat usage....

S

snal

New member
I'm seeing several posts about winter storage, covers, shrinkwrap, ect....and I'm curious about how many folks use their boat year round.

Personally, although I'll be going into my first winter with a C Dory, I expect to use this boat more during the winter than any other boat that I own, or have owned.
Being in WNC, the winters are likely mild compared to those in the PNW, but most recreational most folks do put the boats away.
This is our first "cabin" boat, and I'll be quite pleased to boat our local lake, and other places within a fews hours drive, with the comfort of the cabin. The wife might not be so inclined, I'm looking forward to it, but I used to start packing my backpacking gear when they started talking about a snowstorm in our area. The solitude of being on the water when most aren't just kinda fits my idea of relaxation.
 
snal":2uo88575 said:
I'm seeing several posts about winter storage, covers, shrinkwrap, ect....and I'm curious about how many folks use their boat year round.

Personally, although I'll be going into my first winter with a C Dory, I expect to use this boat more during the winter than any other boat that I own, or have owned.
Being in WNC, the winters are likely mild compared to those in the PNW, but most recreational most folks do put the boats away.
This is our first "cabin" boat, and I'll be quite pleased to boat our local lake, and other places within a fews hours drive, with the comfort of the cabin. The wife might not be so inclined, I'm looking forward to it, but I used to start packing my backpacking gear when they started talking about a snowstorm in our area. The solitude of being on the water when most aren't just kinda fits my idea of relaxation.
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I use mine in the saltwater year round. Last winter I was one day late to pull it March 03/07 So it spent a nail biting month in the ice in the Homer Alaska harbor :mrgreen: :beer

ICE1.jpg
 
I'm looking forward to winter this year. Last year during Thanksgiving weekend I was fishing at Flaming Gorge. I slept in the boat that night an 18 foot Crestliner with the mooring cover over it. It got down to 18 degrees F that night. I can't wait to use the wallas at Lake Powell this winter. In January you would be lucky to see 1 or 2 other boats the whole time you are there. What an amazing place.
 
Snal ~

Spoke to a C-Dory owner from Oriental, NC a while back on the phone (don't remember his name).

He told me he & his wife spent several days on the Neuse River last December. Said he had his Wallas turned up and they were warm and happy in the cabin.

Also said they didn't see another boat on the water.

Being from PA I have a difficult time accepting NOT fully winterizing my boats every year, but C-Gypsy will be in the water in Oriental this winter!

Al
 
Living in Florida, the other side of hurricanes, is that you can boat year around. But I lived in Richmond VA--and boated year around for several years in the Chesapeake, and when cruising stayed in Norfolk from Oct thru January--a bit cool, but do-able. We went out on Christmas eve to sing Christmas Caroles to the ships anchored in Hamptom Roads.
 
Most of us in the PacNW boat all year round. Most more often in the summer months but many actually boat more in the winter when the crowds are down. I get my boat out most every month of the year. If I don't, it's not because of the weather but time.
 
C-Gypsy":2x1ltclr said:
Snal ~

Being from PA I have a difficult time accepting NOT fully winterizing my boats every year, but C-Gypsy will be in the water in Oriental this winter! Al
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That is the nice thing about outboards, If you are using them once or more a month when you get to the top of the ramp tilt the motor back down, water drains out & it is Winterized! I also pump a 1/2 gal of R/V antifreeze thrugh the previously drained fresh water system on the J.M.R.II :mrgreen: :beer
 
Sneaks":zo6lz772 said:
Winter? :shock:

In San Diego? :shock: :shock:

We shift from Crocs to Topsiders for the winter month.

:mrgreen:
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Yeah...but you guys never know when the waves are caused by shifts in the fault lines. I'll stick to my duofold underwear, heater, and waves via boat wakes! :lol:
 
I generally use my boats year 'round here in Kansas and Olkahoma. There are times the temp gets into single digits and I don't go out for that. Many beautiful and even warm days come around in Feb here.

Nicest thing is that you pretty much have the lakes to yourself! My favorite time of the year.

John
 
Here in upstate NY on the Hudson sometimes it does not freeze untill after December. There are barely any boats on the water including law enforcement types- it's a rare FREEDOM. But such freedom comes at a cost, your on your own. Last year I purchased 2 Stearns cold water worksuits. They are comfortable and warm. I feel that I could swim to shore or a man overboard might not be a disastorous situation due to thermal protection. They are not meant to stay in the water for long, but in the river the shore is not far. Strangely enough, I've had people ask if it is "legal" to use the boat in snow/winter conditions. To me, when someone asks if it's legal it means it must be fun- and is.
 
My boating in western NY is circumscribed by winter conditions. The Erie Canal is drained ca. 10/15 to 4/15, and the L. Ontario shoreline is usually encased in ice mid-December to mid-March (it varies). I keep the boat out of storage and available into November and pull it out again as soon as possible (usually ca. 4/1). Oh, to live a little farther south!
 
I keep the boat in the water , in my slip on Gray's Inn Creek...the January thaw is wonderful, and even when it is down to the 20's F. old Wallas seems to work. Last winter i spent a night at anchor on the upper Chester River. Dark by about 4:30, 28 degrees...sipping my second bourbon when a voice said: "Can I help you?" It was a Marine Police boat checking me out. He said he never had a boat anchor at that time, in the upper river. Good old C-Dory.

Terraplane
 
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