www.iFourWinns.com

On Saturday October 2, 2010, I had the marine hauler move our boat to "the hard" in my yard. The process went smoothly. I had the same hauler that pulled her for the marine survey move her. I was prepared with home made stands, lots of blocking material and had cleaned up the area where I wanted to store her. The area was not ideally level but it is close to my garage where I can get power, water and tools easily enough.





Now I need to get the bottom scrubbed, the winterization complete and make a list of parts I will need to assemble for spring installation... I'm out of boating cash

I am considering building a trailer for her but she's oversized to pull and weighs 10,500 lbs dry and I don't have a truck of my own to haul her but it sure would be nicer than having to pay for a haul each spring and Fall plus if I need to pull her to service the drives or bottom then I need to pay again It's a hassle to schedule the hauler because you have to work around his schedule....The 3.5K-4K investment is hard to swallow though.

It was very nice to use her as a "sunroom" on Saturday afternoon. We were able to enjoy some cocktails without the cool wind... I'm going to keep her uncovered as long as I dare just for this reason. It was probably 30C in the cockpit... BTW i ordered a transhield cover for her that should arrive this week.

_________________
Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Millhaven,

If water from rain or melting snow got into your bilge, is the bow of your boat blocked high enough for this water to run out the drain plug or would the water run forward in your hull and rest there?

Maybe its just the way the pictures of your blocked boat look, but it does look that the bow should ideally of been blocked a little higher.

One year I poured a bit of non toxic antifreeze into my bilge and watched to see what direction the antifreeze rolled as I was suspicous my marina didn't block the bow high enough. My suspicons were correct as I watched the antifreeze roll forward. I had my marina re block the bow of my boat higher to correct this.

Mike.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

It's an optical illusion due to the slope of the ground. I pulled the plug and the boat drained. It's not blocked excessively high but high enough to allow drainage. Probably only an inch over the 32 feet. I was planning on pouring a gallon of antifreeze in the forward bilge because there seems to be water that collects under the stairs (bilge pump doesn't get it all) and I want to make sure it doesn't freeze.

_________________
Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

Glad to hear its just an optical illusion. Some boats depending on the condition of their camper top or mooring cover can get a fair amount of water in their bilge while being on the hard.

Our boat gets shrink wrapped. But it still bothers me if my bow isn't high enough while we are on blocks awaiting to be shink wrapped and for the 2 or three weeks in the spring while we are preparing for launch and have the srink wrap off and our mooring cover on.

Mike.

_________________

Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation