We landed in October, the month that marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Autumn. Therefore, it is now time to start planning what will be your sailing boat destiny during the Winter season.

In this blog article, we will go through the advantages and disadvantages of either leaving your sailing boat in the water or not during the Winter season, no matter your needs or your free time.

Your sailing boat stays in the water

One of the main advantages of leaving your sailing boat in the water is that it is always available for being used. It is for sure the most practical solution for those who live close to the sea and for those who like to participate in sailing winter races.

The second advantage is a financial one. For those who pay an annual rental fee for their sailing boat spot or even for those who have ownership of it, storing their sailing boat undoubtedly involves additional costs.

In addition, if you leave your sailing boat in the water, it keeps living even during Winter. In fact, it is harder for the sailing boat to rust or ton ruin some of its components due to humidity when it is in the water.

It is clear that if you decided to leave your sailing boat in the water during Winter, you cannot pretend that it can take care of its own. Every 15 days the engine should be turned on, the pumps moved, and the toilet flushed,… if you do not do so, the boat will suffer more than staying stored.

Last but not least, if your sailing boat is in the water, you should not forget about all those components that might need to be changed or revised. For example, it usually happens to the rudder and steering components.

Your sailing boat is stored

Some boat owners decide to store their sailing boats during winter because it might represent the cheapest option, especially for those who pay for a summer rental spot.

Another advantage consists in letting the boat “breathe” during Winter: it will dry completely, leading to a weight loss once it will be put in the water again. Sailing boats, especially the old ones, tend to absorb tons of water when there are not used.

Moreover, having the sailing boat already out of the water helps in the search for damaged components/maintenance works that need to be done before the next summer season.

Looking at the disadvantages, in a boat that has been garaged and not properly prepared, the salt that lingers in many boat components might deteriorate systems, instruments, and furnishings. If this happens, when Summer arrives, you would have to spend more time and money before having your sailing boat ready for sailing.

Finally, another disadvantage consists in having to winterize the engine to prevent it from deteriorating.

What about you? Will you keep using your sailing boat during Winter or not?