In article ,
Eisboch wrote:


Wayne.B wrote:


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I left my Bertram in one winter when I was still living in the NYC
burbs but it was close to the house where I could check on it whenever
necessary. The pros are that it is easier to put the boat back in
commission in the spring and easier to work on over the winter if you
have projects to be done. On the con side are the obvious risks of
winter storms and ice damage. I also found that trying to extend the
life of the bottom paint to a second season is risky because I ended
up with a lot of fouling in and around water intakes which lead to
some cooling issues and premature pump replacement. Assuming you
leave the canvas up, that also experiences a lot more wear and tear.

If you are living on the boat I'd give it a yes, otherwise it's a
definite maybe. In your case of not being around to check on it, I'd
vote no.

What issues did you have with taking the boat south? We are
considering the winter/summer commute with our new trawler.


Thanks for your advise. It was fleeting brain fart anyway.

Regarding taking the boat south - when I made the trip it was my first
time and I was also relatively new to a larger boat. Although I thought
I had researched and prepared myself for the ICW, I was surprised that
it was not, in many places, what I expected. Where allowed, there is
something unnerving about piloting a 42000 lb boat at 19 knots in six
feet of water, and in a channel that is only twice as wide as the boat's
beam to boot. It was interesting watching boats ahead of me screw up and
run aground - until it was my turn.

We traveled about 60 percent of the 1500 mile trip offshore and 40
percent via the ICW. Next time I am going offshore as much as possible
with the exception of the Cape Hatteras area.

For the seasoned boat captains who do it all the time, the trip is duck
soup. For me it was very rewarding to accomplish, but much more
challenging and nerve-racking than I was prepared for. The next trip
should be easier.

Great thing to do. Go for it!

Eisboch

I've made a couple of long runs where there was a ditch, and unless I've got
a good reason to stay in it (like weather), I go outside.

Much prettier, for one thing.

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