Winter lay up

[wilhelm]

We are interested in comments regarding winter lay up for our LM 27. She is dated 1984, when purchased surveyor suggested it would be a good idea to lift her annually, however we do note a number of LMs left in the water, comments please.
Also we intend to fit our bulk head with doors, does any owner have drawings/measurements for a 1984 27 to accomplish this project.

Regards Wilhelm

[johnc]

I have been involved on sailing for 60 years and when I had wooden boats, I lifted them out every year. When I went over to fibreglass boats, I still lifted them out every year. A motorsailer I built from a bare hull back in 1975 was hauled out every year while I owned her and since then all the subsequent owners have done the same. That boat is now almost 45 years old and still has no signs of "Osmosis" My experience with that boat would suggest hauling out is beneficial to the long term condition of the hull. I have just bought an LM28 and I plan to haul her out every year.

In terms of your plan to enclose your wheelhouse, you might like to look at the LM28 design which has a vertical sliding door and two partial bulkheads with sliding perspex (acrylic) windows.

I will take some photographs of our LM28 wheelhouse and post them if I can work out how to do it.

[Sula]

My view is that the days of having to take the boat every winter are largely gone: many people leave their GRP boats in all year round now if they have a sheltered mooring/marina berth. While the hull is slowly absorbing water all the time it is in the water, in the UK it's not going to be doing lot of drying out in our cold, damp winters. Our boats are old enough that any osmosis (which is caused by faults in the moulding, not moisture in itself) will have probably revealed itself by now.

I generally took my previous (not LM) boat out every other winter, and it came to no harm. One of the benefits of the LM27 for me is being able to sail in the winter and be inside in the warm!

Traditionally, annual maintenance would be done to the boat during (usually the end of) the winter haul-out, but the poor weather and short days make that a trial. Some people now have their boat lifted ashore for a short period in the summer, when its easier to get varnishing, anti-fouling and other jobs done.

Another advantage to staying in during the winter is that (at least on the UK coast) it will stay warmer than ashore (because the water stays warmer). if you're boat is wintered ashore do make sure that all water is drained from the bilges, plumbing and engine, and run antifreeze through the engine seawater cooling system.

[stevespring]

My 27 stays in all year round, only being lifted out for 2 weeks in the summer for a hull polish, anti foul and anodes to be changed if needed. She has been epoxy treated below the water line some years ago. I've not seen any issues with this approach. I also sail the boat in the winter months and the wheel house plus diesel heating makes this a real possibility without being damp and cold.

[wilhelm]

Interesting comments, Our 27 is the 4th boat we have owned and have always stored ashore during winter months. Now having a wheel house and heater including a protected mooring we would like to use boat during winter. Have any member had hull checked for water ingress our reading when surveyed was on the high side but storing on shore during first winter the levels reduced considerably.