Tim,

I don't think you're crazy at all; in fact people do it all of the time up north. We live in North Carolina and we keep our boat in the water year round. I would, of course, make sure that the bubblers are operating correctly. Are you able to get to your boat in a reasonable amount of time? Do you have 110V year round?

There's a couple of boats that winter over (live aboards!) in our marina every winter. They don't use bubblers they use what looks like a fan but it is hung in the water below and at one end of the boat and it shoots the water over the hull keeping it clear of ice. The rest of the basin freezes a foot or two thick.

The only thing I would be concerned about (other than frostbite and fungus, I can't imagine living on a boat in below zero weather) is if there was a sustained power outage, like happened up here in 1998 with the big ice storm and the power was out for 32 days over a big chunk of eastern Ontario and western Quebec. The boat would likely be toast. But NY and salt water isn't the Great Lakes in winter. I read a thing just a while ago that Fatty Goodlander wrote about living aboard in Boston over an extreme winter when the entire harbour froze and heaved all the pilings and docks, it was quite a tale.

We pulled our mast today, had a great 4 day weekend on the boat with a fabulous sail yesterday. We haul out on Oct. 3rd. I don't think you're crazy either, but I would never leave a boat in the water over winter, that's just me, an inveterate worry wart.

I have left mine in every other year for the past 5 years, never had a problem. I would periodically go down to check things out and add a little charge to the batteries while there. One of the things you will also want to check is the bilge, but I never had an issue.

We bought our boat almost four years ago and pulled it for only one winter.

We plan to pull this year since it needs to be repainted. One concern may be some blisters that may be present. We noticed a few "strays" at a recent short haul.

Some say that leaving a boat in the water year after year may contribute to blisters (aka "boat pox") forming. We are hoping the blisters are only in the paint layer and not thru the hull! We'll see.

We are in Baltimore MD. Winters can vary in regard to freezing temps and snow falls. We get everything from soup to nuts!!!

[QUOTE=Laura;10169]Some say that leaving a boat in the water year after year may contribute to blisters (aka "boat pox") forming.[/QUOTE]

Hi Laura... Being In SoCal, my boat stays in the water year after year. FWIW, my '91 has shown ZERO blisters since I bought it in 1999. My 1986 Cat 36 (divorce, long story;)) was blistered to death and I had to peel the entire hull. So, I think it has more to do with what Catalina was using when your boat was built. Your '89 is right between the '86 and the '91, so I will pray for you.:D I actually seem to remember that they did change things in '87-'88, so hopefully you're OK.

Mike

Thanks, Mike! I'll take every prayer I can get!

I am going to haul at the last possible minute, in order to enjoy more sailing, so I may not see her bottom again until some time in November.

[QUOTE=Laura;10169]Some say that leaving a boat in the water year after year may contribute to blisters (aka "boat pox") forming. We are hoping the blisters are only in the paint layer and not thru the hull! We'll see.[/QUOTE]

In Australia, all the boats stay in the water, all year. No issue with osmosis.
We only take the boat out for 4 days - to give her an antifoul and touch up.

We find it hard to comprehend having to miss out on sailing during winter. Even in Hobart - our most southern city, there is no issue with winter water freezing. Must be all the coal we burn - it keeps the climate warm.:D

Tim,
If there is even the remotest chance of freezing, you should winterize the engine. If you read Seaworthy Magazine (from BoatUS), they tell you that most of their freeze-damage claims come from "middle" states. Down south there's no freezing, and up north they know enough to winterize their boats, but in the middle states, they think they can get away with just putting a small heater in the boat and expect it to be fine. WRONG. For the cost of a gallon or two of antifreeze, I'd suggest winterizing the engine.

I keep my boat in its slip all year round in Annapolis. The marina has a bubbler system. I winterize all systems, (and certainly winterize the engine) remove the jib and canvas, leave the boat plugged in and the charger on. I leave a small heater running to eliminate condensation and mildew and that largely works. I visit the boat at least once every 3 weeks to be sure that all is well. This system has worked for me for the 16 years I have owned the boat. There haven't been blisters. This is a very common practice in my marina. There are a number of live-aboards who stay on all winter but that wouldn't be my idea of fun.

I'm considering staying in the water this year, but our marina doesn't have a bubbler system. The marina may freeze over, but wouldn't be more than an inch or so thick. Our slip is towards the middle of the harbor, so we'll see ice later that the slips closer to shore. I tend to get to the boat at least every 3weeks (usually every other week) and could make a trip to break up ice whenever we had a prolonged cold snap. I've always been on an every other year haul out schedule so this is our first in the water year this far up the bay. I never had to worry about ice before we moved from the lower bay.

Does this sound like a resonable idea or should I strat making plans to haul out somewhere?

I do winterize all systems usually around mid/late November.

When we have left our boat in the water for winter, I still winterize, as we may not be able to get to the boat during extreme cold spells or big snows.

Frozen water ANYWHERE inside the boat is not good!

It only takes a short time to winterize the engine, so why risk a broken block if freezing occurs?

[QUOTE=Laura;10187]Frozen water ANYWHERE inside the boat is not good!
[/QUOTE]

Sorry to have to disagree, Laura, but we INSIST on frozen water in our boat when are cruising. I can drink my rum neat, but prefer it 'on the rocks.' :D

I thought about it so I checked with my insurance (Ace Marine)?? Ya Ya I know sounds crappy but actually not bad. They could not give a straight answer so I checked with my agent (another sailboat owner) and he said not to take a chance.

[QUOTE=deising;10188]Sorry to have to disagree, Laura, but we INSIST on frozen water in our boat when are cruising. I can drink my rum neat, but prefer it 'on the rocks.' :D[/QUOTE]

I'll second that,it's why I pulled out the oven and installed an icemaker.

Our boat and previous boats spend 100% of there time in the water here in Hampton Virginia. Almost everyone follows this routine. Since the water never goes below 34 deg., freezing ice is not an issue. In addition, if your boat is on the hard, it may not/will not be in shape, due to different loading by the jack stands. Also, when it does go below freezing, the portion of the boat below the water line will not freeze. Blisters do not effect most boats.
It is easier to maintain an above freezing temperature inside the boat and prevent mold. If there is snow loading issues, the boat is better supported in the water.

Our experience in Hampton for 25 years.

Ron Leta
Captainron

This may be slightly off topic, but if your boat is stored on the hard properly, it should be sitting on the keel, the cradle pads or stands should be carrying very little load, they just keep the boat upright. If the boat is not "in shape" I would suggest it is not blocked properly. We see a lot of boats put on the cradles or blocked wrong but due to the flexible/malleable nature of fibreglass it is rare to see any significant lasting damage as a result, though it does sometimes happen.

I turn the cradle pads down a few inches before the boat is to be moved. The crane then lowers the boat so the front of the keel is sitting at a mark put there for that purpose. Then the crane reduces his lift so he is just stabilizing the boat plumb, level and straight and the bulk of the weight is on the keel. Then I snug the pads up to the hull firmly, take the slings off and its done.

In addition, our manual shows the wing keel has about a 2 degree downtilt to the bow and the rear of the keel should be shimmed an equal amount to distribute the load equally on the keel. Not allowing for this may contribute to the smile that's being talked about in the other thread.

I don't like my boat sitting in the water not being used for any length of time. Due to our circumstances this year we had weeks at a time when the boat did not get used. If there was a travel lift at our marina I would have pulled it for those weeks. I surely would not leave the boat in the water over the winter if the boat was not going to be used. But that's just me and where we live. Those further south have a different view, obviously, and with good reason.

[FONT="Book Antiqua"]Stored SCOTTFREE in water for many years on southern Lake Michigan in a protected harbor. Recommend winterizing just as you would store on shore, and double mooring lines and fenders between dock. Bubblers used are actually water circulators that mover warm, above freezing, water up from the bottom. Only damage experienced was from boat rubbing against dock. Have not experienced blisters on 20 year old boat. Nice to have someone able to check boat on a regular basis.
Bob Scott
SCOTTFREE
1073[/FONT]

Our boat blistered the 1st year; I thought it was very considerate of the blisters to come while the boat was 100% covered by the warranty;) Catalina paid 100% of the job including bottom paint in the spring.

I've never kept the boat in the water over the winter. I'm too paranoid about a power failure disabling a bubbler, or other hazard. We've had a couple winters where the creek iced over pretty thick, so I'd have had little or not opportunity to use the boat anyway. I just feel safer with it on the hard. If I was a bit further south, in salt water, with the possibility of getting in a few winter sails, I'd reconsider.