I know the season is ending.

What do you do with your boat(s) over the winter if you are not in the
southern climes?

I store my old classic in a shed. My newer boat spends the winter on the
hard in a nearby boatyard, in a cradle the previous owner had built for
her. The cradle has an A-frame that can be erected to support a couple
of tarps.

The old boat has a simple inboard marine engine that's easy enough to
service. The newer boat has a pair of diesels that i have an outside
contractor service. I take the batteries home.

On 10/29/10 4:53 PM, Paul@BYC wrote:
I know the season is ending.

What do you do with your boat(s) over the winter if you are not in the
southern climes?

I store my old classic in a shed. My newer boat spends the winter on the
hard in a nearby boatyard, in a cradle the previous owner had built for
her. The cradle has an A-frame that can be erected to support a couple
of tarps.

The old boat has a simple inboard marine engine that's easy enough to
service. The newer boat has a pair of diesels that i have an outside
contractor service. I take the batteries home.


I've arranged for a diesel service company to send a tech to my boat
when she is hauled next month. He'll take care of the engines,
generator, cooling, et cetera, and I'll drain the fresh water tanks and
get some help to pull the batteries and take them to my basement,
along with removable upholstery. i'm reading up on what else needs to be
done. I had a boat almost this size a couple years ago, but it wasn't a
plush boat, so there is more to do now.

Once we're done with whatever needs doing, the yard's "shrinkwrapper
guys" will seal the boat up for the winter.

On Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:20:49 -0400, Secular Humouresque
wrote:

I'll drain the fresh water tanks and
get some help to pull the batteries and take them to my basement,

One thing that's easy to forget is the hot water heater. Of course
if you have water cooled air conditioning or refigeration, that
requires winterization also.

Regarding batteries, there is really no reason to bring them home as
long as you leave them fully charged and disconnected.

On Oct 29, 3:53*pm, "Paul@BYC" wrote:
I know the season is ending.

What do you do with your boat(s) over the winter if you are not in the
southern climes?

I store my old classic in a shed. My newer boat spends the winter on the
hard in a nearby boatyard, in a cradle the previous owner had built for
her. The cradle has an A-frame that can be erected to support a couple
of tarps.

The old boat has a simple inboard marine engine that's easy enough to
service. The newer boat has a pair of diesels that i have an outside
contractor service. I take the batteries home.

I have an 18 ft, and a 23 ft. They are in my warehouse and are tucked
away. The 30' Pontoon (barge) has had the furniture pulled and will
have to fend for itself out in the relentless cold cruel world!

On 10/29/10 7:42 PM, I am Tosk wrote:
In ,
says...

I know the season is ending.

What do you do with your boat(s) over the winter if you are not in the
southern climes?

I store my old classic in a shed. My newer boat spends the winter on the
hard in a nearby boatyard, in a cradle the previous owner had built for
her. The cradle has an A-frame that can be erected to support a couple
of tarps.

The old boat has a simple inboard marine engine that's easy enough to
service. The newer boat has a pair of diesels that i have an outside
contractor service. I take the batteries home.

How do you store the batteries in the winter, do you manage them during
the time off?



I clean the batteries when I get them home, put a bit of grease on the
lugs, charge them up slowly, and then charge them up once a month to
keep them fully charged.

On Oct 29, 4:53*pm, "Paul@BYC" wrote:
I know the season is ending.

What do you do with your boat(s) over the winter if you are not in the
southern climes?

I store my old classic in a shed. My newer boat spends the winter on the
hard in a nearby boatyard, in a cradle the previous owner had built for
her. The cradle has an A-frame that can be erected to support a couple
of tarps.

The old boat has a simple inboard marine engine that's easy enough to
service. The newer boat has a pair of diesels that i have an outside
contractor service. I take the batteries home.

I store my old classic in a shed.

Description, please.....

On Oct 29, 8:05*pm, Secular Humouresque wrote:
On 10/29/10 7:42 PM, I am Tosk wrote:



In ,
says...

I know the season is ending.

What do you do with your boat(s) over the winter if you are not in the
southern climes?

I store my old classic in a shed. My newer boat spends the winter on the
hard in a nearby boatyard, in a cradle the previous owner had built for
her. The cradle has an A-frame that can be erected to support a couple
of tarps.

The old boat has a simple inboard marine engine that's easy enough to
service. The newer boat has a pair of diesels that i have an outside
contractor service. I take the batteries home.

How do you store the batteries in the winter, do you manage them during
the time off?

I clean the batteries when I get them home, put a bit of grease on the
lugs, charge them up slowly, and then charge them up once a month to
keep them fully charged.

Hopefully NOT sitting on concrete. I put plywood under mine.

On 10/30/10 1:33 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 30 Oct 2010 10:46:21 -0400, Secular Humouresque
wrote:

I like to take 'em home to clean 'em up, slow charge them and keep them
reasonably warm over the winter. I put a slow trickle charge on once a
month, and also a charge on 'em just before I return to the boat.

A lot of diesel starting batteries weigh over 100 lbs, much too heavy
to cart them around unnecessarily. Our trawler has a pair of 8Ds
which are not uncommon, about 140 lbs each. I have to rig a block
and tackle from the engine room overhead just to lift them into place.

Let us know how you make out.


Yeah, I've been wondering whether I really want to do that. The
shrinkwrap guy says he can rig a "door" out of plastic so I can get into
the boat during the winter if needed. But I doubt the boat will be close
enough on the hard to run an extension cord to the charger to the
batteries. I might be able to run the charger off my little honda gas
generator and run a cord up from the ground to the charger.

On Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:27:53 -0400, Secular Humouresque
wrote:

On 10/30/10 1:33 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 30 Oct 2010 10:46:21 -0400, Secular Humouresque
wrote:

I like to take 'em home to clean 'em up, slow charge them and keep them
reasonably warm over the winter. I put a slow trickle charge on once a
month, and also a charge on 'em just before I return to the boat.

A lot of diesel starting batteries weigh over 100 lbs, much too heavy
to cart them around unnecessarily. Our trawler has a pair of 8Ds
which are not uncommon, about 140 lbs each. I have to rig a block
and tackle from the engine room overhead just to lift them into place.

Let us know how you make out.


Yeah, I've been wondering whether I really want to do that. The
shrinkwrap guy says he can rig a "door" out of plastic so I can get into
the boat during the winter if needed. But I doubt the boat will be close
enough on the hard to run an extension cord to the charger to the
batteries. I might be able to run the charger off my little honda gas
generator and run a cord up from the ground to the charger.

That's what I'd do, and the zipper door is a good idea in any case.
We used to do that with our old Bertram up north. The shrinkwrap
provided a lot of solar heating so it was fairly comfortable on the
boat even in cold weather - good for getting winter projects done.

You'll find that the batteries won't need much charging as long as
they are completely switched off or disconnected.

On 10/30/10 3:14 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:27:53 -0400, Secular Humouresque
wrote:

On 10/30/10 1:33 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 30 Oct 2010 10:46:21 -0400, Secular Humouresque
wrote:

I like to take 'em home to clean 'em up, slow charge them and keep them
reasonably warm over the winter. I put a slow trickle charge on once a
month, and also a charge on 'em just before I return to the boat.

A lot of diesel starting batteries weigh over 100 lbs, much too heavy
to cart them around unnecessarily. Our trawler has a pair of 8Ds
which are not uncommon, about 140 lbs each. I have to rig a block
and tackle from the engine room overhead just to lift them into place.

Let us know how you make out.


Yeah, I've been wondering whether I really want to do that. The
shrinkwrap guy says he can rig a "door" out of plastic so I can get into
the boat during the winter if needed. But I doubt the boat will be close
enough on the hard to run an extension cord to the charger to the
batteries. I might be able to run the charger off my little honda gas
generator and run a cord up from the ground to the charger.

That's what I'd do, and the zipper door is a good idea in any case.
We used to do that with our old Bertram up north. The shrinkwrap
provided a lot of solar heating so it was fairly comfortable on the
boat even in cold weather - good for getting winter projects done.

You'll find that the batteries won't need much charging as long as
they are completely switched off or disconnected.


What? Even the bilge pumps are disconnected? :)