Winterizing for in-water winter

[DCatSea]

We're doing the Alexandria VA Parade of Lights again this year in December and I'm thinking to leave Mazboot in the water afterwards for the coming winter. This would be a first as she usually comes out for the cold months, but I kind of like the idea of some chilly cruising.

Hopefully the Potomac will not freeze over; I have a bubbler and probably will get a bilge heater unless someone thinks this is bad idea. I'll also be doing a good engine service in the late Fall, and applying the usual new fluids, draining tankage etc.

Do you northern Coldweather Albineers have suggestions for helping us weather the storm?

Thanks

[RockAndReel]

Bilge heaters work great, until we have a storm and the power goes out.
Just something to think about..

[tego]

Doug, I've wintered in the water in Mass. for 3 years and didn't have a problem. You've lived there long enough to know the odds of an overnight power loss-but you can safe-side it with a "little Buddy" propane heater and a few small cannisters of propane. If the river doesn't freeze there, the odds are very much in your favor that you'll be OK. Ben

[GSSeattle]

PNW here so we tend not to get a lot of hard freezes that last more than a day or two. I leave the boat in year round. Oil change and zincs in the fall. For the winter I use the Caframo 'Pali' 400W bilge safe heater in the ER, and then in the cabin I have a davis dehumidifier and an electric heater that has an anti-freeze thermostat setting (40 degrees I think). I just make sure the bilge heater and cabin heater are on separate circuits so they don't trip a breaker if they both come on at the same time.

[GeorgeS]

A word of caution re : antifouling. :
Last season my boat , an Albin 35TE 2001, was hauled in late August /early September in East Greenwich Rhode Island. The bottom was cleaned and painted with a good quality high priced ablative antifouling . Since this was close to our usual November 1, haul-out date I decided to leave her in the water in a very protected marina in Bristol harbor, uncovered but with the canvas canopy furled and all mechanical and water systems winterized. The winter storage and following summer season went well, but at haul-out last week the yard noticed a much greater amount of bottom growth and barnacles than expected. I had assumed that the cold weather inhibited this type of bottom growth, but either last winter was warmer than usual or the Naragansett Bay barnacles have adapted to climate change. A word to the wise about your next-season bottom !