Putting the boat away for the winter

Is that where your boat stays until spring? Reason I ask is that one time when I had my 280DA parked at home strong wind caused a large tree limb to fall on my camper canvas and bend up the stainless support bow in the rear.

 

First time outside for me boys. I’m a bit nervous for this 6 month layup.

I have too much work to be done on the outside to be in heated storage. They pack them in like sardines and it’s almost impossible to get stuff done.

Ez, here’s MacRays hoist. Seems pretty manly but that’s just me

 

If you store outside, wrapping keeps your boat much cleaner than leaving it unprotected. I have never heard of a fire caused by installing it although you need to be careful when doing the install. It does not prevent condensation because it does little to prevent the wide temperature swings that come with storing a boat outside. It does keep snow and water out of the inside if properly done. I would say it prevents some oxidation but does not mitigate the need for polishing and waxing in the spring.

 

Yes, it is... this will be my 10th year storing in this location. There's a wall that has to have power through out the entire winter so when ever I get the itch in the spring I can have power. The marina owners are great of making sure that the tree's are maintained and have a crew come out and cut limbs that are suspect. That's also why I have insurance. never had a problem to date though...

 

Here's the bulk of why I shrink wrap... It protects the boat from having a bunch of snow sitting and melting and freezing and finding it's ways into small gaps then filling them and then freezing and expanding. I have stored with shrink wrap since I've owned the boat. Have luckily never had an issue. I always use the damp rid buckets on the cabin and prop up mattresses so that air can get under them. I also leave cabinet doors open. It doesn't do much to keep the boat clean as it always seems dusty in the spring but I like to get started on clean up and commissioning earlier then I could usually get out of storage so that's why I shrink wrap. I've only heard of 1 fire from shrink wrapping and that was because someone treated their canvas with water proofing and then wrapped over the canvas... not the smartest thing to do since the water proofing is petroleum based...

 

Where are you storing?

 

I've glanced at MacRay's hoist, I think you'll be just fine. The thing I noticed in Woody's pics was 1 cable has to handle all the weight of everything. It can be done easily enough, but I would make sure of the size. I have never stored my 400 inside and (fingers crossed) have never had a problem. I put all my seat cushions in the cabin, leave frig, closets and head doors propped open. I disconnect and take all my batteries home. I put Damp-Rid buckets in the cabin and in the cockpit. Never had a problem with moisture. I assume your installing a door in the shrink. I always go to Ross Coated Fabrics in Hamtramck and get an oversize door (36"X 84" I believe) for the installer to install. Makes it a lot easier getting in and out. Let me know if you need anything else answered to make you feel better about being outside. I believe you have my number.

 

Hey Joe
So you take your cockpit cushions and put them in the cabin along with putting a damp-rid bucket in the cockpit? I didn't think about doing this

Yes I'm having a door installed too

 

Up in Nunica. A small marina on the Grand (Grand Marina). It's my first break from the bigger guys in Grand Haven. So far they seem fantastic.

 

It may not do any good but it don't do any harm and their cheap. Plus I only put the cushion that are easy to remove in the cabin. The rest stay up top. I bought 4 buckets yesterday at Lowe's for 10 bucks.

 

Interesting, do they allow work on the boat over the winter?

 

2 big reasons for me.,....
Snow
Outdoor storage.
It’s stays dry inside and relatively clean.
It also allows me to put away the mooring covers for the winter.

 

I bought the Damp Rid at Home Depot or Lowes. $9/bucket. Bought 4 buckets. Removed all cockpit cushions that were removable. With the old boat I always used 2 buckets but this year left 2 in the cabin and 2 in the cockpit. I also bought mothballs and put a couple small containers of them in the cabin and also in the cockpit. Also sprayed Lysol all through the cabin. I usually go back down in January to check and/or replace the Damp Rid and spray more Lysol.

 

Today is a good day to pull your boat out of the water for the winter.

 

Great pic! I saw 26 degrees on my drive in to work today....that's a cold boat ride!

 

People are busy putting boats away today. These will all be inside or shrink wrapped in the next 30 days.

 

I do like the name of the place....

 

EZ, regarding you comment about taking you batteries home. So you must pull the hydraulic ram pin for the electric floor and prop the floor up to get the batteries in and out?

 

No I have an adapter that I plug into the boat and run an extension cord to a 110 outlet at the marina and power it up that way.

 

Leaky intake valve so it's heated storage for us this year to have work done .Usually shrink wrapped. We will be replacing the carpet in the cabin with Plasteak so we'll be able to get that done.Kind of odd not going through all the steps to but the boat away for the winter though.