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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Winter Storage

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gpc
Deckhand

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17 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/22/2011 : 15:44:46

I am located on the northern edge of the Chesapeake, and was wondering the benefits and pitfalls of keep my 250 in the water over the winter. The marina runs bubblers and checks lines frequently, so I am not worried that it will be damaged by ice. They will haul out, power wash and paint my bottom in the spring. Is there any reason I should not do this and have it parked (on a stand) in the parking lot for the winter?
Thanks

Greg C., Berwyn PA
Tidewater Marina, Havre de Grace
2001 C250WK #0559

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2011 : 16:24:52

It has always been my belief that it is more fun spending time on a boat in the water then one on jack stands.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 06:28:15

Unless you have a specific reason for taking it out, leave it in. You might get lucky and have warm weather in February????? I'd still cover the companionway and forward hatch to reduce the risk for snow/ice getting into the nooks and crannies and causing leaks and other problems.

Edited by - on

mikesuej
Navigator

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USA
119 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 07:22:49

We've had our 250 slipped for three years now and our West Wight Potter 3 years before that in KY, where we do get ice and snow. I have a bubbler and we've never had a problem. . . I also have multi-season bottom paint that's still working fine after three years.

Just make sure you have it tied off well with bow and stern lines on both sides to keep it off the docks, get a good cover if you can afford one and support it with a pole under the cockpit section of the boat.

And yes, every now and then in December we'll get a nice day here.

I wouldn't do it any other way.

I think "dry docking" or boat yard is highly over-rated in terms of keeping a boat nice. A good cover and some good snubbers and the occassional scrub of the bottom during a summer cool-off has served me very well.

Edited by - on

joelterry
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 08:06:46

Do you guy have a suggestion where to get a good cover?

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mikesuej
Navigator

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USA
119 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 08:16:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by joelterry
 Do you guy have a suggestion where to get a good cover?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I bought mine from the Sailor's Tailor - -- I would recommend against them. The cover is of sufficient quality, but for $1100 it has some major shortcomings and working with Bob there was a real PITA.

they "guarantee" the cover fits, but that's not entirely true. What that "guarantee" constitutes is that if your cover doesn't fit, you send it back in (at your own cost, which is considerable) and they make adjustments (but charge for those). You keep doing this until it fits.

I don't normally talk down a company who makes honest mistakes, but this experience was awful. Maybe I just had bad luck.

Loook around online . . .

We keep ours in a dock-box that I bought on Ebay for a great deal.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 08:20:32

In NJ-Philly area, Lippincott is real popular. (This is a different company from the guys in Florida.) They do all the bimini/dodger work for Winters Sailing Center (HUGE Catalina dealer), and it's spectacular. I've seen their winter covers too. There's a link with pics on their website

http://lipmarcanvas.com/Lippincott_Marine_Canvas/Main.html

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 08:51:10

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3441 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 09:31:05

My boat has been in all year-round for past 6 years. I sail all year-round and there are obviously less days sailed in the winter months but still go out frequently except when the Potomac ices over which does not happen every year. When it does, then it clears in 2-6 weeks.

One thing you may want to consider. if the marina is charging you separately for hauling it out, pressure washing and painting the bottom at the end of the winter, consider using a copolymer or ablative multi-year paint since that will last between 2-4 years. I last had mine painted 5 years ago with just a $75 pressure wash annually including the haul out for the 1/2 hour. The money you save you can put toward a custom cover. The other thing I recommend is to visit the boat even if not going sailing to check it out every few weeks or so and make sure all is okay. Make sure your seacocks are closed and probably a good idea to dump some boat anti-freeze down the drains with seacocks momentarily open and then close them up. That will protect the hoses that may contain some residual water. Empty any water stored in your water tank. Also, if sailing, then when back in slip, run the fuel out of the outboard by disconnecting the fuel hose and remember to use Stabil or Startron in your gas tank since that fuel will be in there for awhile over the winter months - if not using the boat, then use up the fuel or keep it completely full. (add Stabil/Startron). One other thing...may not be necessary...but since I sail in the winter frequently, when I get back in the dock, I do not run the fuel out of the outbord's fuel lines because very little chance of it getting gunked up since I go out frequently and probably a greater chance that water will condense inside the fuel line if I did run out the fuel. But when I raise my outboard and I leave it in the vertical with perhaps just one prop partially in the water, I will pull the starter once or twice to just ensure no water is sitting on the pump impeller. May not be an issue but why take the chance of any freeze-up with the internals.

My website in the section labeled "interior and exterior", I have addl photos of the custom cover the PO had made by Potomac Sailmakers. He had it made perhaps 10 years ago and at that time, I believe it cost around $500 maybe a bit more. It protects approx 80% of the topsides except for the bow area. If you do not have a cover and even if you do, recommend check the boat out right after a snow especially any that are greater than 4" to ensure the cockpit area is not full of snow and scuppers blocked. Here is one cover photo from my website:

Edited by - OLarryR on 09/23/2011 09:34:30

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2011 : 09:32:39

FWIW, I store on the hard at a boat club near my home. I'm not particularly interested in going out in conditions where survival time is <1 hour if I fall overboard. If I had a larger, more stable boat with a good dodger and/or enclosed cockpit, I might consider year round in the water.

I'm also unwilling to pay big $$$ for a custom fitted cover from Lippincott or anyone else. Last year I built a gin pole to drop the mast, and I secured it above the boat and put a couple of cheap tarps over the mast to make a protective tent. Because all the rigging was down there was no need for any custom fitting. I put tennis balls over the stanchion tops so they wouldn't poke through the cover, added some additional PVC framework to prevent low spots in the cover, and used a bunch of bungee cords to hold the tarps taut so nothing would flap around in the wind. It worked for me at minimal cost, so I plan to do the same this winter.

Also, I was glad the boat was only 10 minutes away when the heavy snow hit. I was able to get down to the boat and knock the snow off so there was no ice damage.

If you are serious about staying in the water year round, you might consider hard paint in the spring. It will last longer, but only if you don't dry store the boat.

Edited by - TakeFive on 09/23/2011 09:37:01

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