Winter storage.

[Simon1973]

Is it ok to leave a sib outside, inflated, covered and on a trailer over winter....(uk).
It's a honwave 3.2 v floor, the onutboard would be removed.

[The Gurnard]

Hi Simon ..yup I believe it is fine. My Quicksilver SIB is now thirteen years old and has been stored in that fashion all those years and I wont be doing anything different for the next ten years or so.

Some pointers .. jack the trailer tyres up so they are not sitting on the ground.. this helps preserve the trailer tyres.

Let a bit of air out the tubes so if we get a high pressure spell..the tubes don't over stretch.

I keep the back of the tarpaulin lifted off the transom so air can circulate inside. The cover is long enough so rain cant get in)It saves dampness collecting. Build a "ridge pole" along the length of the boat with something like an oar or in my case..an old plastic drain pipe. This forms a tent ridge to the tarpaulin so water doesn't collect in pools on the trap.

Leave the bung out in case the tarp get a hole and you don't notice. That's what will destroy a floor ..if rain fills up and covers the floor boards. Ali ones wont matter so much ? but mine are wooden ..so I don't take risks..the bung is out

Hope that helps some

[Simon1973]

Thanks for the reply....that's a great help, and suggestions noted.
Thank you.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by The Gurnard

Let a bit of air out the tubes so if we get a high pressure spell..the tubes don't over stretch.

Low pressure Shirley?

[The Gurnard]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Low pressure Shirley?

Yup I see what you mean .. but its a bit of both in real life ? … Bassey ?


I prefer the high pressure areas as they tend to bring warmer weather that makes my tubes go harder … the temperature makes them rise .. Low pressure area in theory should cause my tubes to expand ..but in winter they seem to bring cold damp weather ..which causes them shrink more than they expand .. however its that long ago since I used it ..I cant really remember except I seem to recall they shrink in cold wet water

[SixtyNorth]

Yes, low pressure, but, as he says, high pressure generally brings nicer weather and the sunshine heating has a larger effect on the tube pressure.

Keep the boat covered with a light coloured cover and watch out for rodents.

[Highland Haggis]

I keep mine out all winter even with engine on like the gurnard says keep an eye on it check every couple of weeks just in case a wee moose is lose [emoji23]

[jeffstevens763@g]

I don't pee about with mine if it's 30 degrees I blip the valve to let pressure out then leave it till I use it top up to hard then leave it till I have to blip the valve again works for me no issues in 40 odd years.