How to winterize your boat. Some ideas from Tom Cunliffe

Wow I am happy I charter a cruiser every summer and someone else has to worry for it during the winter! On the other hand my skiff is dry and happy in the garage during winter while the car gets rained on. I guess it's a matter of preference!

A valuable reminder Tom. It's coverd by your advice to remove all kit but perhaps worth a special mention for outboards? Regards Buster

A piece of advice that was passed to me: always hang the engine ignition key over the closed off seacock for the raw water intake. Without the key you are forced to reach for the seacock before starting the engine.

What a guy I could listen to him all day.

Used fan heaters with thermostats on my yachts for over 34 years with no problems! Thing is they have to be safe to be used in peoples homes they circulate the air and dry it out Agree re Ocean safety i have used them for years!

Hello Tom, I just found you and your channel and it is fantastic. My problem is the videos are so interesting I haven’t completed my boat projects and it’s getting cold here in Newport RI. 😎

Cladosporium resinae .

Technically speaking I will be taking a huge axe to my rotten hull this winter.

Great point about using a dehumidifier but unless the area is heated make sure a fan type desiccant type dehumidifier is used. The normal compressor type dehumidifier will work but the efficiency will plummet as it gets colder, where the desiccant unit is not so badly impacted.
Also if a switch timer is used running the unit in the very early morning before dawn when it will be coldest for a few hours works well. At 50% HR should see zero equipment/material degradation, thought with wooden built boats this may not be a good target point, ask someone who knows about wood.

I have been get the experience from ur channel 🙂 tnk for sharing your awesome video

Excellent video, thanks. One thing worth knowing is that the most common joker valves in marine toilets are made from neoprene which is not resistant to propylene glycol, for this purpose ethylene glycol should be used.

Hi Tom,

Hello Tom, new subscriber! I’m a power boater but love anything nautical. Fantastic video, you have a great presenting manner

Hi Tom, thanks for another great video. This year my engine man suggested completely draining the fuel tank, and giving it a good clean as we had a bit of bother with clogged filters in the summer. He told me that it's best to do this every four or five years. I hadn't heard of this before, have you? I also normally drain the fresh water tanks and system if laying up on the hard as it can get really cold with the wind chill, is this something you do? Thanks, David

Excellent informative video, great presentation. Thanks Tom, keep them coming. Just subscribed, now back to persuading the wife that we really need a boat...

Lovely engine Tom looks mint.

Put Fuel Right in your diesel - better than biocide

Excellent tips really well presented.
Any tips on water tanks and gas bottles?
If left in the water, and you have installed solar panels, any thoughts on trickle feeding 1 house battery and leaving electric bilge pump on?
Finally, any value in covering the winches, wheel, hatches, etc against weather and uv?

Why isn’t everyone like Tom ? (Well; men, not our girls obviously 🙄!)

I’m lucky enough to work with a few good guys who have similar knowledge/attitude combinations...So I can’t complain.

Thanks Tom. What are your thoughts on hauling out for the offseason vs staying in the water?

I find the whole idea of shutting down for winter a little strange? Why would you not want to go sailing in the winter? We dont live in the arctic in the UK and there are so many great days to sail, should you wish. If you keep your boat in another country, certainly. I'll still be sailing out of Pwllheli for as long as the Welsh will let an Englishman cross the border.....

Great advice, happy christmas.

If I could get to the boat, I'd get it done!!!

I am fascinating with your crisp clear beautiful English Tom. Congrats and thank you.

The equivalent of the Jack Hargreaves of sailing.

Jolie Brise, well done Tom Cunliffe. Alaska sends it's best wishes

Always a source of great information to make the sailing experience less hassle. Thank you Tom.

Well I like that Najad

Wonderful sound advice, thanks Tom

Not in perfect order but I believe I got the gist of it.

1. Fill fuel tanks
2. Add Bug inhibitor
3. Run Engine to warm oil
4. Change engine oil
5. Change Oil Filter
6. Change Fuel Filters
7. Anti-freeze in Heat Exchanger
8. Clean the Loo with Fresh water then a liter of Antifreeze
9. Turn off All Seacocks- Leave Notes to remind you to open them come the Springtime.
10. Charge all Batteries, then remove all terminals. Or leave them plugged in if you are able
11. Dehumidifier - Drain
12. Green house heater
DO NOT USE AN ELECTRIC FAN- FIRE DANGER!
13. Cushions- remove them or stand them up to allow air to circulate
14. leave frig doors and lockers open
14. A Bottle of Whiskey
15. Remove all food from boat
16. Clean boat throughly
17. Remove all gear from boat
18. Remove all electronics if possible
19. Put Transducer plug in
20. Chafe protection on lines
21. Remove all sails if able. Store them somewhere dry

Happy New Year my Friends!

Excellent advice.

Solid advice!

Tom...like the idea of filling up the tank to the brim...why does Yanmar advise against using any fuel additives?

I Denmark we se a rising numbers of boatfires in the winter because the boats on shore is more or less constantly connected to til 230 volt system. Often the charger or the batteries are the reason. Most harboures has therefore forbitten connetion to the 230 volt system, if you are not present at the boat!

Excelent advices

I feel like I own a boat now watching this.

Such great content 👍🏻. You sound like Alfieaesthetics grandpa 😀.

You didn’t say anything about the fresh water system

Good to see Tom. I say Tom's me Uncle! Graham in Bristol Maine USA

I leave my seacocks open ... i think that if there is a few drops of water on top of the valve it would freeze and maybe crack the valve.

great video tom can you talk some more about your lovely bentley please as well if you get time please

What a gorgeous interior

Great advice Tom! I haven't ever heard of the sea strainer trick, should prove very useful. I also see some comments below about how you have non sailors watching your videos and just want to say I think it's amazing that you can get someone who doesn't sail to watch a near 25 minute video on winterizing a sailboat AND comment about how they enjoyed it. Amazing stuff Tom, it really shows your charisma.

Closing the cockpit -drain seacocks isnt the greates of ideas....

Great ‘checklist’ Tom! Only one thing I would do different and that is to postpone the fuel filter exchange to the spring which avoids build up of bad fuel in the filter over winter.
Grtz!
Harry

One thing you didn't mention is pests. Especially if your boat is in a warmer climate. Having a mouse on your boat is terrible. They chew up sails and cushions and maybe even wiring. Roaches, once there, are really hard to get rid of. Wasps love nesting in boats, especially mud daubers. I put out mouse poison and traps, ant traps, flypaper hanging and sticky pads for crawling bugs. Wasps seem to be able to get into the tiniest crack, so it's hard to block them out, but you need to look out for them when you come back in next season.

Great advices Tom🙏

legend

Good advice. Thanks