Wintering a boat in a marina vs boat yard
Discussion
First up, this question is just through curiosity. I have no interest at all in owning a big boat.
I’ve spent the last week or so staying in a place that overlooks a marina and I’ve watched a few boats being lifted out for dry winter storage by a huge crane (much to the delight of my 2 year old son!). Out of curiosity, I hit the marina’s website and worked out the cost saving:
8m boat:
Annual wet: £5741. Split wet/dry: £5694. £47/0.8% saving.
6m boat:
Annual wet: £3930. Split wet/dry: £3894. £36/0.9% saving.
So what’s the motive behind dry winter storage? Is it purely maintenance below the waterline and preservation of the boat out of the frigid salt water? I had initially assumed there was a significant cost saving, but clearly not.
I’ve spent the last week or so staying in a place that overlooks a marina and I’ve watched a few boats being lifted out for dry winter storage by a huge crane (much to the delight of my 2 year old son!). Out of curiosity, I hit the marina’s website and worked out the cost saving:
8m boat:
Annual wet: £5741. Split wet/dry: £5694. £47/0.8% saving.
6m boat:
Annual wet: £3930. Split wet/dry: £3894. £36/0.9% saving.
So what’s the motive behind dry winter storage? Is it purely maintenance below the waterline and preservation of the boat out of the frigid salt water? I had initially assumed there was a significant cost saving, but clearly not.
Traditionally every autumn boat owners would 'lay up' their boats for the winter, drain the engine coolant and water tanks, and do something else until the following spring. Having nothing in the system means there's nothing to freeze and crack expensive things. Having a boat out of the water is also necessary to clean, check and antifoul. So it's not just a question of 'in' or 'out', it's all the other stuff too. If the storage is undercover then even better, as the canopies won't get battered by gales and go green with algae, and windows and hatches can't start leaking.
Pricewise, the boat is taking up one space whether it's in or out of the water. In my neck of the woods (inland) we pay for the marina 12 months of the year, and pay extra if it needs to be lifted in or out. Sometimes this can be on demand if the marina has the facilities; otherwise there's one Out date (October) and one In date (April) and you're stuck with them.
So for owners who don't want to use their boats in the winter, but want it protected instead, the system you quote makes sense.
Pricewise, the boat is taking up one space whether it's in or out of the water. In my neck of the woods (inland) we pay for the marina 12 months of the year, and pay extra if it needs to be lifted in or out. Sometimes this can be on demand if the marina has the facilities; otherwise there's one Out date (October) and one In date (April) and you're stuck with them.
So for owners who don't want to use their boats in the winter, but want it protected instead, the system you quote makes sense.
Thanks. I had assumed that marina space would be at a premium, and inland yard space less so, but I guess in winter, when hardly anyone wants to go out on their boats, that isn’t the case. Yes, maintenance and storage location in winter do seem important when you think about it.
Nice to learn new things
Nice to learn new things
As said, it is slightly cheaper to do 6 in and 6 out (or a variation thereof).
It also allows for maintenance works to be done - anti-fouling, prop clean, gel coat repairs and for the gel coats of older yachts, especially in fresh water, to dry and reduce the chances of osmosis.
It also avoids winter storms and the chances of a boat moving on its moorings, chafing the hull etc.
For the marina owners it reduces occupancy in the basin so they can undertake works, some may require a dredge, others refit or repair piles or chains and pontoons and services. Lift outs also mean they can sell other services such as hull cleans, minor and major works, although bigger stuff is generally left to third parties.
Speculatore said:
The caretaker role removed. Apparantly it should have been posted on the 'Jobs' thread. I am sure there are plenty of people interested in yachts who read that... Not!!! It made sense to me that a yacht related position should be posted on a yacht related forum....
Post it on the thread in question, quote it here, delete the original post 
essayer said:
I would definitely have tooted the horn every now and then in the middle of the night.
Just once, just enough to annoy people without them ever working it out who it was.
That's a great idea. I'll park outside your house and 'toot the horn every now and then in the middle of the night'.Just once, just enough to annoy people without them ever working it out who it was.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
The marina where my boat currently is doesn't charge extra for storage ashore...There is a small (relatively) charge for lift in/out and block off, but otherwise is the same as being afloat and is one of the reasons I chose to go there this year.But after a winter season of renovation and maintenance this year, I will be going elsewhere, most likely, and that is probably going to be on a deep water mooring to a) save cost (it is a *lot* cheaper), b) be not constricted by tide times & c) not have to navigate a lock every time in and out!
The downside will be not having walk-ashore access, but it isn't too hard launching a dinghy!
The anti-foul, prop, rudder and anode maintenance this year will hopefully last for another 4 or 5 years before I need to consider a haul out again.
fushion julz said:
The marina where my boat currently is doesn't charge extra for storage ashore...There is a small (relatively) charge for lift in/out and block off, but otherwise is the same as being afloat and is one of the reasons I chose to go there this year.
But after a winter season of renovation and maintenance this year, I will be going elsewhere, most likely, and that is probably going to be on a deep water mooring to a) save cost (it is a *lot* cheaper), b) be not constricted by tide times & c) not have to navigate a lock every time in and out!
The downside will be not having walk-ashore access, but it isn't too hard launching a dinghy!
The anti-foul, prop, rudder and anode maintenance this year will hopefully last for another 4 or 5 years before I need to consider a haul out again.
4 or 5 years between underwater maintenance seems ambitious. Is there a scrubbing grid or drying out area near your intended mooring where you could, at least, inspect the anodes, etc.?But after a winter season of renovation and maintenance this year, I will be going elsewhere, most likely, and that is probably going to be on a deep water mooring to a) save cost (it is a *lot* cheaper), b) be not constricted by tide times & c) not have to navigate a lock every time in and out!
The downside will be not having walk-ashore access, but it isn't too hard launching a dinghy!
The anti-foul, prop, rudder and anode maintenance this year will hopefully last for another 4 or 5 years before I need to consider a haul out again.
I have previously dried alongside a wall with a fin keeler (to change props) and over a tide managed to do a few jobs such as fit a new anode. Much cheaper than craning out into a yard but if you don't have a drying facility then most yards will lift and hold in the slings while you/they powerwash the weed off and allow you to inspect and do a few minor tasks.
I got into a cycle of 1 winter 1 and one winter out.
The boat (28ft yacht) was noticeably more sluggish due to hull fouling after a winter in the water and the anodes were completely eroded after 2 seasons.
I think 4 to 5 years without a lift out is pushing it - to put it lightly.
A lot of marinas and boatyards offer a good deal for a weekend lift out during the summer months - which is enough time for a coat of antifoul, anode change and hull cut and polish. I think this once a year and a winter ashore every 4 or 5 years would be viable.
The boat (28ft yacht) was noticeably more sluggish due to hull fouling after a winter in the water and the anodes were completely eroded after 2 seasons.
I think 4 to 5 years without a lift out is pushing it - to put it lightly.
A lot of marinas and boatyards offer a good deal for a weekend lift out during the summer months - which is enough time for a coat of antifoul, anode change and hull cut and polish. I think this once a year and a winter ashore every 4 or 5 years would be viable.
pequod said:
4 or 5 years between underwater maintenance seems ambitious. Is there a scrubbing grid or drying out area near your intended mooring where you could, at least, inspect the anodes, etc.?
I have previously dried alongside a wall with a fin keeler (to change props) and over a tide managed to do a few jobs such as fit a new anode. Much cheaper than craning out into a yard but if you don't have a drying facility then most yards will lift and hold in the slings while you/they powerwash the weed off and allow you to inspect and do a few minor tasks.
I bought the boat (Fairey Huntress...wooden hulled) in June. Previous owners kept her on a private jetty that dried (to soft mud) except for 2 hours either side of high tides.I have previously dried alongside a wall with a fin keeler (to change props) and over a tide managed to do a few jobs such as fit a new anode. Much cheaper than craning out into a yard but if you don't have a drying facility then most yards will lift and hold in the slings while you/they powerwash the weed off and allow you to inspect and do a few minor tasks.
As far as I am aware, she hasn't been out of the water (in a yard) for the previous 4.5 years, at least (as that was when they bought it)..
She was lifted and jet-washed in June and it is obvious antifoul and anodes are an urgent requirement. But other than a few minor issues, the hull and fittings are in pretty good shape, below the waterline.
I intend to scrape, sand and triple-coat the hull this year as well as attend to the new anodes. I will be fitting a depth transducer, and resizing/replacing the propeller as I believe it is an MoD spec one for reduced revs/speed.
I fully expect it to last another 4 or 5 years in the water, but there are drying piles in Chichester Harbour (at Itchenor) so I suspect that once a year it will be inspected, at least.
Seight_Returns said:
I got into a cycle of 1 winter 1 and one winter out.
The boat (28ft yacht) was noticeably more sluggish due to hull fouling after a winter in the water and the anodes were completely eroded after 2 seasons.
I think 4 to 5 years without a lift out is pushing it - to put it lightly.
A lot of marinas and boatyards offer a good deal for a weekend lift out during the summer months - which is enough time for a coat of antifoul, anode change and hull cut and polish. I think this once a year and a winter ashore every 4 or 5 years would be viable.
Thanks for the advice The boat (28ft yacht) was noticeably more sluggish due to hull fouling after a winter in the water and the anodes were completely eroded after 2 seasons.
I think 4 to 5 years without a lift out is pushing it - to put it lightly.
A lot of marinas and boatyards offer a good deal for a weekend lift out during the summer months - which is enough time for a coat of antifoul, anode change and hull cut and polish. I think this once a year and a winter ashore every 4 or 5 years would be viable.
fushion julz said:
I bought the boat (Fairey Huntress...wooden hulled) in June. Previous owners kept her on a private jetty that dried (to soft mud) except for 2 hours either side of high tides.
As far as I am aware, she hasn't been out of the water (in a yard) for the previous 4.5 years, at least (as that was when they bought it)..
She was lifted and jet-washed in June and it is obvious antifoul and anodes are an urgent requirement. But other than a few minor issues, the hull and fittings are in pretty good shape, below the waterline.
I intend to scrape, sand and triple-coat the hull this year as well as attend to the new anodes. I will be fitting a depth transducer, and resizing/replacing the propeller as I believe it is an MoD spec one for reduced revs/speed.
I fully expect it to last another 4 or 5 years in the water, but there are drying piles in Chichester Harbour (at Itchenor) so I suspect that once a year it will be inspected, at least.
In effect, the boat has been afloat for only 18 months out of that 4.5 years as sitting in a mud hole is not the same as being on a deep water mooring. I'm no expert on Faireys but we have one in this parish and I would be interested in his views on your proposal to keep her afloat for that length of time.As far as I am aware, she hasn't been out of the water (in a yard) for the previous 4.5 years, at least (as that was when they bought it)..
She was lifted and jet-washed in June and it is obvious antifoul and anodes are an urgent requirement. But other than a few minor issues, the hull and fittings are in pretty good shape, below the waterline.
I intend to scrape, sand and triple-coat the hull this year as well as attend to the new anodes. I will be fitting a depth transducer, and resizing/replacing the propeller as I believe it is an MoD spec one for reduced revs/speed.
I fully expect it to last another 4 or 5 years in the water, but there are drying piles in Chichester Harbour (at Itchenor) so I suspect that once a year it will be inspected, at least.
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