The first important question that a boat owner should ask themselves is whether the boat should remain in the water during the winter or be put on land outdoors or indoors. More and more people are choosing to leave the boat in during the winter, partly as a result of our warmer climate with a lower chance of the water freezing. Many also choose to move the boat to another port that is better adapted for the winter season, for example with good flow, which reduces the risk of ice cover. As the boats in our waters become newer, the need to put the boat ashore during the winter to dry the hull also decreases. Newer variants do not have the same needs.
For sailboats, the question then arises as to whether you want to leave the rig on or not. This usually depends on the possibilities available in your home port. Not all ports have the possibility to lift boats with the rig still on and sometimes it is not suitable, for example in certain places on the west coast where the autumn storms can cause problems.
What material should be used when winterizing a boat?
Classic tarpaulin or slightly more expensive plastic variants can often be found in different sizes at a ship shop or in other regular stores. However, what really matters what you should have is where the boat is located during the winter. The more snow there is, the more important it is to have a durable material that can handle greater weights. In the south, where winters are now rarely covered by large amounts of snow, there are other options.
What is the best way to cover the boat for the winter?
Our opinion is that it is clearly best to cover the entire boat as much as possible. This is simply to keep as much dirt away as possible and thus make spring cleaning a little easier. The more you cover the boat, the greater the need to use the right material that resists wind, above all. It is also important to try to get the material you use to sit tight against the hull along the freeboards, but also to minimize cavities where the wind can get under the tarpaulin and cause major damage at high wind speeds. At the same time, you should not close it completely because some air penetration is required to keep moisture out.
So how can I avoid all the problems?
If you are using a dense material, such as classic tarpaulin or plastic, you should put the cover on as tightly as you can. Try to cover the entire freeboard and secure it with twine under the boat. Also make reinforcements with, for example, duct tape at the eyelets.
Winter cover from Kapell & Annat
Our Winter Cover are designed to help you as a boat owner avoid problems during the winter and focus on the fun – waiting for next season. Because your Winter Cover is made to measure, it automatically lies right against the boat and a Winter Cover in fibertext also has breathable properties that minimize the risk of moisture and mold. Right now we are mainly expanding the range of Winter Cover on rig to series-produced boats. We are also looking at the possibility of an option with hull sides for those who alternate between having the boat on land and in the water over the winter. The template area for Custom Made solutions to Winter Cover will also be gradually expanded.