Tagged: winter
Time To Check In
It’s been a mild winter in New England so far this year. There’s been some snow and cold temperatures, but, in general, it’s been a pretty light affair. That’s the good news. On the other side is the fact that easy times often lead to complacency in various areas, including winter boat monitoring, and that can lead to problems. Boat covers can shift in winter winds, chafing against shiny fiberglass surfaces and allowing snow and ice to enter the boat. Small rodents, left undisturbed, can feast on wiring and upholstery. And, engine drive covers can tear enabling drive-splitting ice to [...]
Checking In
Here in New England, we’re in middle of winter doldrums. Fortunately, it’s been a relatively mild season so far, which is good and bad. It’s good because the number of days with high snowfall accumulations or sub-freezing temperatures has been low. It’s bad because this type of weather can cause otherwise vigilant boaters to “fall asleep at the switch”, ignoring their boats in perhaps their most critical time. It doesn’t take a continual string of record-breaking snowfalls to find the weak spot in an outside cover, allowing snow and water to unexpectedly flow in. And, in similar fashion, it can [...]
Where’s the Skiff?
There’s a common fantasy among many hardcore boaters in this neck of the woods, namely, boating in the serious off-season months of December thru March. Today, it’s 26 degrees and cloudy with a gusty wind, so the “real feel” temperature is close to a frigid 10 degrees. But, there have been many sunny, windless days up to this mid-January mark and there are certain to be more to come before the winter ends. And, it’s against this backdrop that I often hear, “Boy, I wish I had a fiberglass or alum skiff with a 40 hp on the back which [...]
Sawzall, Hammer, Pliers…
It’s officially winter now, and most boats in this neck of the woods are on the hard. Now, this is a double-edged sword because while the ability to voyage forth is completely comprised, the opportunity to fix things, long on the “to-do” list arises. Winter is typically not the time for “Mickey Mouse” type repairs that require needle nose pliers and small Philips-head screwdrivers. Rather it’s the time for major league repairs like replacing wet wheelhouse coring or significant stringer rot using serious tools like sawzalls, crowbars, and 5 lb. sledge hammers. A nice bonus associated with winter projects is [...]
Winter Guests
Recently I had to make a trip to the boat to handle one last important winter storage chore, namely, rodent control. Several times in the last few years, I’ve opened up the boat in the spring and found mouse nests comprised of fabric scraps, wire insulation, sticks, and a variety of other materials. And, while some of these self-made winter homes were in non-critical storage spaces, others were built in the middle of key wiring junctures creating high risks of fire and wiring harness failure. While I’m as much of an animal lover as the next person, the situation is [...]
Smart Boating 126 – Chartering
Chartering is becoming increasingly popular among boating enthusiasts. Historically most charters were done in the winter months by people living in cold weather climates. More recently, boaters have started to arrange for summer charters in unfamiliar locations to enjoy some new scenery and an adventuous experience.