Winter Storage for Instruments Up North
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Rob Hessenius
Inactive Member
Instruments
Brian~
I have never had any problems with leaving the depth and wind instruments exposed to the elements. I just put a piece of tape on the covers so the dont blow off. The compass I just put a piece of plastic over to minimize uv exposure. The oil that is inside does not freeze and wont be effected by the cold winds of the winter.
That is my honest opinion and common practice over on the other side of the pond.
Brian~
I have never had any problems with leaving the depth and wind instruments exposed to the elements. I just put a piece of tape on the covers so the dont blow off. The compass I just put a piece of plastic over to minimize uv exposure. The oil that is inside does not freeze and wont be effected by the cold winds of the winter.
That is my honest opinion and common practice over on the other side of the pond.
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Brian,
I just had my compass rebuilt, a Richie binnacle mount. It had small stress cracks and was loosing its oil. I looked like the PO had never done anything special to protect it. It didn't appear that it had ever been removed in the past. The Richie repair man said that it would be a good idea to remove it for the winter, but that if it were protected from the elements it should last another 20 years.
As for the electronics, I do not remove mine (I'm also in Michigan) but we did for many years on my Dad's boat. I think that they too are okay if they are protected from the harsh winter elements...at least I hope so.
Good luck
Paul
I just had my compass rebuilt, a Richie binnacle mount. It had small stress cracks and was loosing its oil. I looked like the PO had never done anything special to protect it. It didn't appear that it had ever been removed in the past. The Richie repair man said that it would be a good idea to remove it for the winter, but that if it were protected from the elements it should last another 20 years.
As for the electronics, I do not remove mine (I'm also in Michigan) but we did for many years on my Dad's boat. I think that they too are okay if they are protected from the harsh winter elements...at least I hope so.
Good luck
Paul
u079721
Contributing Partner
Many years of Michigan winters myself, but I cheated, always using indoor storage.
In general water is the enemy, particularly when it freezes. So all it takes is a decent covering of some kind. I can't remember anyone ever removing their compass or cockpit mounted instruments for the winter, or their built in cabin radios and instruments either. But anything that is bracket mounted is typically removed just for security.
In general water is the enemy, particularly when it freezes. So all it takes is a decent covering of some kind. I can't remember anyone ever removing their compass or cockpit mounted instruments for the winter, or their built in cabin radios and instruments either. But anything that is bracket mounted is typically removed just for security.
Tom Metzger
Sustaining Partner
I just cover the instruments and compass, and leave the installed electronics down below.
I do bring my Chartplotter home to the warmth because I have found as the internal battery gets older it allows settings and way points to get lost from memory. Come spring the settings and way points could again be stored, but entering them is a PITA.
The cold doesn't shorten the life of the battery, but it does reduce the available power while it is cold.
I do bring my Chartplotter home to the warmth because I have found as the internal battery gets older it allows settings and way points to get lost from memory. Come spring the settings and way points could again be stored, but entering them is a PITA.
The cold doesn't shorten the life of the battery, but it does reduce the available power while it is cold.
Gary Peterson
Marine Guy
I leave our compass installed on the steering pedestal and take all of our below electronics home for the winter.
We use a canvass tarp for covering so the compass never gets wet during the winter.
We use a canvass tarp for covering so the compass never gets wet during the winter.
Greg Ross
Not the newest member
Winter Storage
Brian,
I store outdoors as well with the boat tarped over. I keep a tickle of heat on in the boat (a low wattage electric space heater) basically to keep the interior temperature above the dew point.
The binnacle which includes Radar/ GPS Map and a large bronze body Constellation Compass are covered but exposed to the ambient outside temperature.
Interesting thing I noticed last Winter was that at one point the Compass had a large bubble. Come Spring and warmer temperatures it was gone, the bubble that is!
Brian,
I store outdoors as well with the boat tarped over. I keep a tickle of heat on in the boat (a low wattage electric space heater) basically to keep the interior temperature above the dew point.
The binnacle which includes Radar/ GPS Map and a large bronze body Constellation Compass are covered but exposed to the ambient outside temperature.
Interesting thing I noticed last Winter was that at one point the Compass had a large bubble. Come Spring and warmer temperatures it was gone, the bubble that is!