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What’s Your Winter Project?

If weather prognosticators are correct, there will be a lot of rainy days this winter when you probably won’t want to go out on the water. But such days are often perfect for facing up to the many boat projects on your ‘to do list’ — especially indoor installations. 

During the winter months, it’s wise to pick outdoor projects that can be accomplished during a short stint of calm weather. Seen here is a flexible solar panel being installed on a soft dodger.

© Solar Marine

Also, here in Northern California, even during intense winters there are often windows of fine weather — sometimes lasting a week or more — when you can sneak in a quickie haulout (often at discounted rates), or accomplish outdoor tasks such as painting or fiberglassing. Despite cooler air temperatures, the calm waters and light winds of winter can actually make such jobs easier than in mid-summer.

Most boat owners do their haulouts during the summer, but there are advantages to hauling during winter, when the weather is right: You can often find discounted hauling rates, yards will be less crowded, and because business is slower, you may find that yard workers are more readily available to assist you. 

© Channel Islands Boatyard

So tell us, what winter boat projects do you hope to tackle in the coming months? Send us a note here, along with a few photos if possible. Whatever you intend to accomplish, we wish you the best of luck. 

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With the first weekend in December comes the first batch of holiday lighted boat parades, the nautical contribution to brightening the year’s darkest month.