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Winter Decommissioning
One of the best Labor Day Weekends ever is over and I am sitting here on a cold rainy day, totally depressed because the sailing season is coming to a close and I have to decommission Indulgence.
The good part is that it was a terrific season, Melissa and I had a wonderful time sailing the boat and getting together with several LISCA friends on many occasions.
The following describes what works for me to get Indulgence ready for the winter. They are not the rules, and everyone has their own methods and procedures.
- Portable Equipment: This is primarily binoculars, radios, flashlights, etc. I take all of the stuff off the boat. Remove any batteries and give the equipment a quick wipe with a soft damp cloth to remove any salt, grime and fingerprints. Where possible, I put the equipment and batteries in the same box the equipment came in. This makes it easier to put it all back together. (I also get a charge of opening all of these fun boxes in the spring.) I store all of it at home.
- Boat linens, towels, clothes, etc: We have an extra set of every thing and it does not get used during the year. Melissa and I are a little nutty, so we take it all home, cycle it all through the laundry and store it in vacuum bags. This makes taking it all back to the boat easier.
- Food, Medicine Cabinet: The rule is that anything that will rust, freeze and or attract an animal comes off the boat. Most of this stuff gets recycled for use during the year. However, I am sure that there is at least one can of emergency food that it is so old it is probably dangerous.
While some use the boatyard, I decommission my boat. It is a lot more fun and easier if you find a friend to help with the big stuff, share tools and just commiserate with each other that the season is over. One general rule to follow, when decommissioning the boat, make a note of what needs repair or replacing. Equipment sent out for repair during the winter gets much better attention and sometimes discounts as opposed to the spring or summer. Also, shopping at the shows during the fall season generally costs less.
- Fuel and Holding tanks: Fill the fuel tanks, adding additive as necessary. Pump out the holding tanks, flushing them with fresh water. Make sure the holding tanks are empty. I simply put pink stuff in the bowl and pump it into the holding tank. It seems that about a quart in each head works.
- Sails, Halyards & Sheets, Bimini & Dodger: I give everything a good inspection when I take them down. Generally speaking, the sails go to the sail maker every two or three years for washing and repairs. Everything else is as needed.
- Engine: Annual maintenance of a modern fresh water cooled diesel is simply changing the oil and the filters. [As a side note, when I buy maintenance parts, I always buy two. This insures you have a spare on the boat for an emergency.] I run the engine to get it up to operating temperature. (Some will run fresh water into the engine at this time by shutting off the saltwater intake and running a hose into the engine intake.) I then drain the oil and replace the oil and fuel filters. I also take my primary fuel filter apart, changing the element and making sure there is no water or dirt in the sediment bowl. I add the proper amount of oil and start the engine. Some engines require that you bleed the fuel system. It is always a challenge to find the manual fuel pump and working a small lever while standing on your head waiting for fuel to spurt out of hole that you cannot see. A little patience works and eventually you can start the engine. Let the engine come to operating temperature while checking for leaks at the fuel and oil filters. Do not forget to check the dipstick. Some change the engine transmission oil and coolant every year. I usually leave that for odd years and somehow wind up changing it in the spring. Others remove the impeller on the salt water pump. I will change my impeller this spring. Finally, when all is done, I close the salt water intake, open the salt water filter basket, clean it out, run the engine for a few seconds to remove all of the water and then pour in a gallon of antifreeze. (I use the purple stuff in the engine.) Shut the engine off and you are done. Some hang the keys on the intake valve. I put the keys in a plastic bag with a note that the salt water intake valve is closed.
- Fresh Water System & Drains: Ice damage occurs because the volume of ice is greater than that of water. When the water is trapped and the ice has no place to expand, it expands to break fittings and pipes. Some people use compressed air to remove the water. I prefer to drain all of the water and replace it with antifreeze, “Pink stuff”. I start with draining all of the water tanks. Taking the aerator out of a faucet will run the water a little faster. Do not forget the drain valve on the hot water heater. When the tanks are empty, I put enough pink stuff in one tank so that pink stuff runs through the hot and cold faucet separately. This insures that you have replaced all of the fresh water in the plumbing. [I have a diverter valve on the hot water heater so that pink stuff does not go in the heater.] Repeat this procedure with all of the faucets. Do not forget the shower transom. I then put pink stuff in the other tanks, using only one faucet, repeating the process with the other tank. You have now replaced all of the fresh water in the boat with pink stuff. I then do the drains, pouring pink stuff into the drains and then shutting the thru hull valves. Do not forget the shower sumps, refrigerator and ice chest drain, as well as the sinks. I remove all of the in-line strainers, cleaning them out and storing them in a nearby drawer. I also open the fittings on the saltwater wash down pump and hoses to make sure there is no trapped water. I put a little piece of masking tape on each component (faucet, drain, etc.) when I have completed the process so I know what I have finished.
I am sure that everyone has there own methods and procedures. Let me know what you do different and we can share it with the group. Have a good winter!
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