Winterization- What to take. What to leave?

[spimik]

I was wondering what items you take off the boat prior to storing and what items are ok to leave on for winter.

I'm wondering about items such as PFDs, lines, fenders, dishes, utensils, even the master suite mattress. My thoughts are, if I can carry it, then take it off and store in the dry warm basement for the winter.

Thanks.

 

[Sea Gull]

In the old days I used to take everything off the boat. The only things that stayed were screwed or glued to the hull. As our boats have gotten bigger and fancier this has become impractical. Partly because the parts have gotten bigger (queen size mattress). And partly because the some of the parts that are glued/screwed to the boat are ones that I would traditionally want off like like cushioned bolsters around the beds.

I still take almost everything off, but leave the mattresses and even the cockpit cushions. All of these are propped up so as to maximize air flow around them during storage. I also leave all cabinets and bilge access open.

I hope this is helpful to you - it has made me really, really depressed.

 

[Henry Boyd]

We take:
a) Everything loose off, dishes, towels, clothes, books, charts etc.,
b) The easily removable electronics like the GPS display that is on an external mount,
c) all of the loose fabric covered cushions in the cabin. The vinyl cushions stay.
d) this year we will also probably bring the porthole and privacy curtains home for cleaning as well,
e) the cockpit cushions will stay, but be propped up
f) All of the canvas comes down, cleaned and stored at home. The frames get cleaned and a good coat of wax applied.
g) the batteries usually stay, but this year they will come off, mainly to insure they are replaced with new next spring.

Henry

 

[sbw1]

It depends on your storage arrangements in my view. We are inside heated so there is no condensation to worry about. We strip the sheets and wash them and put them back on the boat. We simply do a very good job of housekeeping and leave stuff on the boat. We even keep a change of clean clothes in the storage bins. We've not had any issues and this certainly is a lot less work if you have the proper conditions. As soon as the hull is waxed in the Spring and the bottom paint touched up, the boat is ready to cruise.

 

[tc410]

Like sbw1 said, how and where you store the boat will dictate how much one should remove.

One thing I would definitely remove regardless of storage environment is food and toilet paper/tissue boxes/paper towel rolls. If a mouse makes his way onto your boat and finds any of those items, he will stay all winter, invite his friends, and make nests and babies.

 

[Groucho]

Like sbw1 said, how and where you store the boat will dictate how much one should remove.

One thing I would definitely remove regardless of storage environment is food and toilet paper/tissue boxes/paper towel rolls. If a mouse makes his way onto your boat and finds any of those items, he will stay all winter, invite his friends, and make nests and babies.

:lol:
This is true...(don't ask me how I know this)

 

[wingless]

Remove any spices, soaps or other items w/ a scent to avoid attracting rodents and critters.

All electronics are removed and stored to avoid attracting rodents and critters too.

 

[spimik]

Thanks for the input thus far all. Much appreciated.