Blog Extra: Winter Boat Maintenance

 In which we come to better understand "BOAT" (but it's only another thousand) ...

Rick speaking - with Mel adding 'helpful' items in parenthesis, in a writing style we boaters like to call:

 

Some of you faithful readers will recall previous posts on the costs of boating, necessary repairs and impacts on the check book.  This is the first time that we have truly "over-wintered" Blue Horizon so it was our first experience with all the costs associated with not using your boat while you wait (theoretically earning money) for spring and the next boating season.   One of the most dangerous things about boating is sitting around during the winter, with a computer and a credit card - "well yes we do need new more comfortable deck chairs, oh, and they're on sale!"  (Just fyi - Melanie has EVER SAID that)

So, I thought I'd just give a quick catalog of all the things we did to the boat this winter (Oct 22, 2020 to May 10, 2021) while we were not boating (or earning money). 

Maintenance:

- Fuel Polishing (this is where a truck comes to your boat, pumps out all the fuel, filters it, cleans the fuel tanks and then puts the fuel back).  The fuel seemed to be quite dirty requiring frequent filter changes so I decided we needed this. The process required that access holes be drilled into the boat sole (floor) above the tanks. (this is the first Mel is hearing about HOLES put into the boat ON PURPOSE).

- Winterize and Shrink Wrap.  All water is removed and anti-freeze added.  Then they wrap up the boat for the winter. (in a giant plastic coat - that will never biodegrade but it is recycled!)

- Purchase/Install 4 new (gigantic) batteries and re-wire a large portion of the boat.  We didn't know we needed this but I felt is was preventative as the original inspector had mentioned it. (Rick also said we would be fine until we weren't, so I was all for waiting until 'we weren't') In the process the refrigerator 110 AC circuit was fixed (it had never worked due to a burned fuse holder), installed two 12 volt/USB charging stations  (it is amazing how many things need to be charged with a USB plug), update wiring and main fuses for the winch.

- Rebuild winch motor. You may remember from last year's blog that the winch quit working.  It had been partially fixed - now it is totally fixed.  (OK - this sounds like a real thing)

- Re-paint the boat bottom with ablative paint, which helps prevent growth of algae and marine organisms on the bottom. (hmmmmm.... is that even a word 'ablative'???)

- Install all new sacrificial anodes. (Sacrificial Zincs would be the best name for a rock band - you heard it here first)

- Purchase and install new VHF radio (Rick did this one himself so no cost for labor! I'm not going to argue about the radio - it's pretty important)

- Repaint anchor chain.  This entailed spray painting marks every ten feet so we know how much anchor chain is out. (Rick did this one too - it was adorable)

- Fixing leaking sink drain in bathroom. (Rick! Yuck!)

"Necessary" acquisitions for the boat: (we differ on the meaning of the word necessary)

 

New comfortable deck chairs (totally not needed, even if they were 'on sale'.

VHF Radio and necessary hardware for installation

4 large round boat fenders to help us navigate the locks on the Erie Canal

New curtains (handmade by Melanie - totally unncessary)

Custom made shelving for bedroom closet (to expand clothing storage - Rick did this one)

Once back on the boat we had to re-load everything and re-provision.   This list could go on and on but we thought it would be informative to give you a taste of what it's like to own a boat in the winter!