Laser Winter Storage

laser11

Member
Hi,

I live in Toronto, Canada, and I was wondering what the best thing to do, to store the boat for the winter would be. I thought of building bunks to store it upside down, on with top and bottom covers. I was also wondering if the weight of several inches of snow would be okay on the hull for a couple months? The other option would be to leave it on the dolly.

Thanks
 
Lasers can be safely stored on their gunwhales. Rather than build bunks, just tip it onto its side and lean it up against a fence, house, shed, etc. That way the decks won't be bearing unusually loads and the snow will roll off the mostly upturned hull. That is how my Laser is presently being stored in my backyard.

Matt
 
The best option is to find a frostbite program and sail it, second best is to leave it on the dolly and keep the snow off it, upside down is third option but allowing snow and ice to build up on it while upsidedown will cause some damage eventually.

even though the snow can be light when it falls, after days and weeks it gets pretty condensed so if you can keep the snow off its a good idea,

I highly recommend option 1
 
I wish i could find a frostbite program nearby. But i would still have to store it in January - March since the lake usually freezes to about 20 meters out.

Would it be better to leave it on the dolly with the caps that sit on the gunnel's, while keeping snow off it, or upside down on bunks, while keeping snow off it?

Also would you recommend leaving the inspection port, bailer, and butt plug open over the winter?



Thanks
 
here is not enough volume of snow in Toronto to worry about the loads on your laser, store off the ground upside down with a bottom hull cover. Don't use your top cover while it is upside down as it will fill up with water over time in the winter (that adds load).

Unless you secure the boat leading against a fence or shed you risk it blowing over by the wind. I find that because the boat is short and there is really no straight edge that it is always a bit unbalanced when on its edge

While upside down leave the inspection port closed because it just invites a home for a squirrel or mouse etc. Leave the bung open

if there is support at the mast step and at the back of the cockpit while upside down you can't get any stronger points. Upside down will catch less snow then stored right side up and you would have to have quite the load of snow that LaserXD is worried about causing damage - I doubt that is possible. The biggest risk is the mast step and cockpit filling up with water and snow then turning to ice. The force of the ice will for sure damage the boat.

Most boats stored upside down do not collect that much snow and if off the ground you avoid drifts and usually the heat of the sun will eventually melt anything off in time unless the wind gets it first
 
Find a single friend that has a garage to stash it in, in exchange for a case of beer every now and again. Also helps if he sails, you have two Lasers and you take him sailing a few times a summer.
 
I wish i could find a frostbite program nearby. But i would still have to store it in January - March since the lake usually freezes to about 20 meters out.

Would it be better to leave it on the dolly with the caps that sit on the gunnel's, while keeping snow off it, or upside down on bunks, while keeping snow off it?

Also would you recommend leaving the inspection port, bailer, and butt plug open over the winter?



Thanks

You can leave it upsidedown as long as its on something and it should be covered, right side up is ok to, but you want to cut a gatorade bottle or similar and plug up the mast step as ice in here is not good, then if you keep your spars under your top cover it will keep the cockpit from filling up with water,

this is what I do for frostbiting and it works pretty well, cleaning the snow off if you can isn't a bad idea or better yet if you have some kind of overhang like a deck that you can put it under, that makes it easy.
 
If you can't store it inside somewhere, I think upside with a proper bottom cover would be the best choice. As far as snow building up, couldn't you brush it off periodically? Being upside down would certainly make this easier.
 
The best option is to find a frostbite program and sail it, second best is to leave it on the dolly and keep the snow off it, upside down is third option but allowing snow and ice to build up on it while upsidedown will cause some damage eventually.

even though the snow can be light when it falls, after days and weeks it gets pretty condensed so if you can keep the snow off its a good idea,

I highly recommend option 1


I support option #1
 
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Here's the poor man's solution. It lasts 3 winters (UV is lessened).

Take a cheapo tarp. Cut it roughly to fit, leaving 12 inches or so extra all the way around.

Roll the edge up 2", and then 2" again. Tape it. Then spend 10 minutes putting in a few grommets.

I also duct tape the mast step.

This held fine last year to a total 80" of snow, though I did sweep it off after the bigger storms...
 
if you have a garage you could suspend it from the cealing the guy who i baught my laser of in scotland kepi it on the garage cealing
 
My father-in-law suspended his Dyer Dhow from his garage ceiling (where the boat stayed for at least a few years) and the roof trusses separated and needed to be shored up. Though, I don't think (short term) winter storage would cause these problems.
 
Hi,

I live in Toronto, Canada, and, as we have gone soft over the last few years, I was wondering what the best thing to do, to store the boat for the winter would be. I thought of building bunks to store it upside down, on with top and bottom covers. I was also wondering if the weight of several inches of snow would be okay on the hull for a couple months? The other option would be to leave it on the dolly.

Thanks

fixed

DO NOT store it upside down with snow loading on it. The sections next to the centerboard trunk will cave in and your boat will become as slow as .... well a really really old boat.

Those areas gotta stay convex or the boat becomes a pig.

first choice is to lift the thing up against your garage ceiling....Harken even sells rig specifically designed for that purpose..

If you have a friend with a porch and space under it...that's where my boats lived during the winter when I lived in the north..as I had about six dinghies I used to be very nice to a couple neighbors who let me use their porches as well.

If you must leave it outside, perhaps you can get a couple sheets of 3/4 inch plywood , a few 2 x 4 s, some 50 mm decking screws and build a little house over it. That would blow $100 but boats cost lots more,
 

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