Marinette Boat Forum

So I'm seriously considering leaving my boat in all winter in Huron, Ohio. I'm not worried about it freezing or being damaged from the water in the marina freezing at all. Just wondering if anybody else has done this up in this area and what their experience was. Basically it will be like having a live aboard boat all winter. Engines will be winterized but the water system will be active as well as shore power etc. Probably do some shrinkwrapping on the windows on the sides.. Maybe just tape it to the sides over Windows instead of actually "shrinking ". I plan on spending weekends on the boat during the winter just like I do during the summer..
Aaaaaaand go..
Thanks,
Sean

Will the marina let you do this?

Metal does not retain heat very well. The hull will quickly wick heat into the frigid weather/water. I would think heating it constantly so the water lines don't burst would be difficult.

What happens if the power goes out?

Spending time on a cold metal boat is not enjoyable, imo.

I'm not worried about it freezing or being damaged from the water in the marina freezing at all.

Curious to know what you plan to do to protect hull and plumbing systems over those harsh Ohio winters?

A good friend lives on his 65 foot Pluckebaum throughout the last 2 winters. He will be either be pulling the boat or winterizing her at the dock as it proved way too costly to heat the boat through the frigid weather. Personally, I would either write it off for the season or winterize it all and make due without it those amenities.

As for protecting the hull, there really isn't anything to protect it from. It will be in the water. The marina bubbles occasionally when needed. They have about 10 boats that stay in the water and 6 are live aboards year round. I plan on running the on board heaters and maybe getting a small diesel heater. The marina only charges $40 a month extra for elec during winter. It's actually cheaper than out side storage and shrink wrap. The winter dockage fee includes a pull out bottom scrub and re launch in the spring. Thought about shrinking partial top, that retains a lot of heat. I've done major repairs all winter long on boats that were farther north and in a parking lot not nearly as protected from the weather as this marina and I was always surprised how much warmth there was just from being shrink wrapped.

What Marina are you at? I'm at sawmill creek and we used to have 3 year round live aboards.

I called Sawmill first but they don't like to do it anymore. Not enough water in marina in the winter.. Harbor North marina. Not my Marina now, I'm in Port Clinton. It would be just for the winter.

How much does your bilge leak? Keep in mind, a frozen bilge pump won't pump. I've seen photo's of folks that have done the air bubble aerators to keep their boats in water all winter, and the bilge pump freezes, and down she goes....