winters approaching fast

[paulstoke1975]

i purchased my boat four months ago and while aboard i have experienced a week of high winds, light snow turning to ice and many days of moderate cold rainy weather, what advice would you guys/gals give to a new boater heading into their first winter ?

[Robbo]

Keep your water tank full. Taps on the cut tend to freeze.

Always keep three points of contact when getting on/off boat (this is a all round year thing but in winter the ground is more slippy)

[ditchcrawler]

Keep the toilet emptied and enough food as well, also get a new gas cylinder as soon as the one you have is empty and loads of coal. DON'T block the ventilators up

[craftycarper]

Definitely get a coat

[valrene9600]

The advice would be different depending on if in a marina or C/cruising.

[NB Lola]

Get central heating with a timer and remote, best thing we ever did

[craftycarper]

The advice would be different depending on if in a marina or C/cruising.

know it would not, you still need a coat in both circumstances

[junior]

also get a new gas cylinder as soon as the one you have is empty and loads of coal.

Great advice ^^^^

[Paul C]

2 ways to heat the space

2 ways to heat the water

2 ways to recharge the batteries

 

And rather than letting gas/water/diesel/food/space in your toilet tank (of whatever kind) or whatever run down, have a bit of a contingency in there, in case you're iced in, or there's simply a cold snap or a rainy day etc

[davidc]

I also place the summer quilt on top of the mattress then the sheet then the winter quilt

makes the bed really toasty .

 

also make sure you have a container of salt to de-ice the bow well and stern platform

Edited November 23, 2015 by davidc

[tillergirl]

Stock up on tins of soup and keep long dated part baked bread in your food cupboard. Proper footwear and thick socks and wear plenty of layers when outside.

[Sea Dog]

Moor near a pub and in walking distance of provisions; put off mooring in the middle of nowhere until your more experienced and confident.

 

Get to know your stove well so you can keep it in 24/7.

[system 4-50]

2 ways to heat the space

2 ways to heat the water

2 ways to recharge the batteries

 

And rather than letting gas/water/diesel/food/space in your toilet tank (of whatever kind) or whatever run down, have a bit of a contingency in there, in case you're iced in, or there's simply a cold snap or a rainy day etc

Indeed. The 2 ways mantra.

2 ways to empty yourself.

2 ways to communicate with the outside world.

2 ways to move the boat. (engine/rope or friend who can tow.)

2 ways to cook food.

2 ways to wake up on time. (no, lets forget that one.)

There must be more...

2 ways to tie up, ie spare mooring rope.

and, in respect of this evening, 2 spare bottles of australian red plonk.

[Paul C]

2 laptops....

2 ways to connect to the internet

a server with 2 independent power supplies, each fed from different substations

another server in case the first one goes pop

another datacentre just in case

a backup plan of elves copying data as it comes in, and sending it out via a a fleet of well trained pigeons

training up a slightly different breed of bird, in case the pigeons fall ill to a pandemic

 

 

etc etc

[system 4-50]

2 laptops....

2 ways to connect to the internet

a server with 2 independent power supplies, each fed from different substations

another server in case the first one goes pop

another datacentre just in case

a backup plan of elves copying data as it comes in, and sending it out via a a fleet of well trained pigeons

training up a slightly different breed of bird, in case the pigeons fall ill to a pandemic

 

 

etc etc

[lesanne]

Best have two boats just in case then........................

 

joking aside, I totally agree with the back up system,

[Cloudinspector]

Always make sure you have a bottle of Jack Daniels in stock and keep cruising!

[MtB]

Buy a house...

[BruceinSanity]

Thermal underwear

Fleece lined trousers (Regatta)

Lots of emergency food and drink

Good boots and some of those slip on crampon type studs for when it's icy.

Good gloves – there are some amazingly cheap Thinsulate types around now.

 

As others have said, as much redundancy as possible for the essentials, including the gloves. Wet gloves are useless.

 

A plan for how to get out of the water if you fall in, like a boarding ladder.

 

Make sure you know how to describe your location every night in case you need the emergency services.

[system 4-50]

...

Make sure you know how to describe your position every night in case you need the emergency services.

Alternative phrasing...

[cuthound]

Good gloves and warm clothing.

 

I found "workwear" to be cheaper and perform better than normal stuff.

 

When its really cold or wet I use Dickies padded overalls

http://www.dickiesstore.co.uk/product/WP15000-dickies-waterproof-padded-overall

 

and Ironclad waterproof gloves

http://www.toolventure.co.uk/safety-protection/ic-ccw.html

 

Prior to buying the above I wasted loads of money on clothes to keep dry and warmwarm.

[BruceinSanity]

Good gloves and warm clothing.

I found "workwear" to be cheaper and perform better than normal stuff.

When its really cold or wet I use Dickies padded overalls

http://www.dickiesstore.co.uk/product/WP15000-dickies-waterproof-padded-overall

and Ironclad waterproof gloves

http://www.toolventure.co.uk/safety-protection/ic-ccw.html

Prior to buying the above I wasted loads of money on clothes to keep dry and warmwarm.

Yeah, should have mentioned that. The Dickies stuff is good value no frills gear. We have their all-in-one waterproof coveralls, cope with most wet weather and no damp gap round your waist.

[canals are us?]

A spare phone and charger in case you drop it in the cut and tell friends and family where you are currently and your future plans if cruising! A spare set of boat keys. Lighter for the stove. Plenty of diesel for engine and if you have diesel heating. Clean your stoves chimney at least twice a winter.

 

James