Practical Boat Owner - January 2016

Seamanship – Winter sailing tips

1. Cabin heatersYou don’t need a heater to sail in the winter – but it certainly makes life much
   more comfortable on board. If on shore power, an oil-filled radiator can be left on overnight, which will not only make things warmer, but also reduce
   condensation if you also introduce some ventilation. marinas, there Away from
   are options for dry heat. The most common is one of the
   diesel heaters made by companies such as Eberspächer, Webasto or Wallas. These use the boat’s diesel tank and run from
   the battery. They shouldn’t be left on all night (the batteries are unlikely to last that long, for one thing) but they are great for keeping boats warm and dry.
   meths heaters, and some boats still use wood- or coal-burning stoves for the ultimate in homely warmth. Other heaters include kerosene and


2. Insulate to avoid condensation Improving insulation can reduce
   condensation, but insulating the hull can involve a lot of work. If you insulate

Avoiding condensationCondensation is a fact of life on a small boat in the winter, and as stopping breathing isn’t really an
alternative, you need to look at other ways to combat the problem. Condensation occurs when water vapour finds a cold surface and condenses on it, leading to a damp environment

the inside of the fibreglass hull with a product such as Celotex or another insulation, and then stick headlining over the top, the boat will stay warmer

and dryer in winter and cooler in summer. If you’re replacing your headlinings this winter, then it might be worth bearing in mind to improve

winter sailing in future.3. Cockpit tent

A cockpit tent means you can keep a hatch cracked open a touch and thus keep condensation at bay – without

letting huge amounts of cold air into the boat. In rain and even snow, it means you can keep wet sails and clothing outside and generally make

the boat more habitable.4. Window covers

Boat windows are both a major source of heat loss and, consequently, a prime candidate for condensation. One trick is the one used by PBO contributor Dylan

Winter – he cut an old foam camping mat to shape so that it fits inside each window, blocking out light, preventing condensation and improving insulation.

he does it.Visit youtu.be/zj5bBXxrABs to see how

5. Run a small dehumidifier
   Another option, if you’re in a marina, is to run a small dehumidifierat night to reduce

Sticking Celotex or similar insulation under headlining will keep your boat more warm and dry condensation as you sleep. These will dry the boat out and minimise condensation.

A cockpit tent lets you keep a hatch cracked open slightly without letting too much cold air in

Dylan Winter

Mark Green