T&T: Winter bubbler

[lrzeitlin at aol.com]

Ahoy List,

I am thinking of leaving the  boat in the water next year, upstate New York.
Any data for winter storage  in low, still, tidal, fresh water with those ice
bubblers.  Were might I  look to determine the minimum depth of water.  Cost
of hauling, wrapping  & frame vs. Bubbler, genset fuel etc.

Capt. Joe.

I forgot to mention a couple of points about in-water winter storage in
upstate NY. First, upstate winter temperatures get lower in the Empire State
than in any state east of the Mississippi.B A record cold of - 52 degrees F
has been recorded and I regularly ski at -30 degrees. Second, the snowfall in
some areas is measured in tens of feet rather than inches. It's all due to
Lake Effect snow. In-water storage has to take these factors into account.
Even if you have a reliable bubbler, all interior systems have to be
winterized. Second some provision has to be made to keep snow from the decks,
or at least shovel them clean after big snowfalls. A couple of winters ago a
large boat in a local marina in the southern part of the Hudson capsized
because the owner failed to have the decks shoveled.

If you store your boat in the water, be sure to winterize it. It's also a good
idea to have it shrink wrapped. The shrink wrapping will shed the snow. I
suspect that the costs of land storage and in-water storage will be similar.
Hauling and winter storage in my boatyard runs about $30 a foot. The fee
includes in and out lifting, bottom cleaning,20and blocking and stands. Shrink
wrap is another $10 to $15 a foot depending on the complexity of the job..

There is another alternative. Brewerton Marina in Brewerton, NY at the west
end of Lake Oneida offers heated inside storage for boats up to 55 ft. LOA.

Larry Z