Winter Maintenance

Good Morning

I bought a new Hobie Getaway this year and am putting it away for the winter. I live in Saskatchewan Canada and we get some very cold temperatures. My question is what should I be doing for maintenance or preparation to keep the boat beautiful and strong for the winter? Loosen or remove trampoline, wax the sheets, etc?

Thank you

We probably get as cold as you, but not as long as your winter.

Take down the mast, and store it under cover. Remove the Hobie Bob, and store with the sails.
We hang ours underneath a deck, mast track down. We use four tie downs, evenly spaced along the mast.

Remove the sails, lines, shrouds, roller furler, rudders etc, and store in your basement or garage.
Same for the tramps.
You can leave the tramps on, however I suggest you loosen them.
We remove ours to avoid snow load problems.

Then cover the hulls with a tarpaulin so that the freezing rain or snow melt does not get into parts of the Hobie....freeze/thaw/freeze etc. plus UV protection.
If you can, store under cover.

Make sure that the hulls are resting on bunks, i.e. there is no 'point' loading, which can deform the hulls. I suggest 2x6 fence planks underneath the hull.

Tie the boat down, wind storms happen in winter as well.

We have a stand so that my H16 does not sit in the snow pack, but sits up higher.
Try http://www.nsc.ca our sailing club in suburban Ottawa, ON.

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

Probably a good idea to ensure the hulls and beams are drained of any water.

_________________
R/Thom
SeaRail 19
Triak
BMW C600
Formerly Getaway with Custom Spinnakers
Formerly raced F24 Mk II

Don't lay a tarp flat on the trampolines. It'll catch water and sag your tramps, I found that out with the Hobie brand cover! I cut slits into it (the tarp) to drain water.
A better solution is to put a "tent" tarp over your boat, with a ridgepole or ridgeline, extending the tarp to the ground enclosing the hulls and staked to the ground. Leave the bottom foot or so open for air circulation.
Or store it in a shed...easiest way to protect it.

_________________
Yet another Bob!
"Firefly" - 2012 Hobie Getaway with wings and spinnaker
"Sparky" - 1978 Sunfish (OK, it's not a Hobie, but it's a fun little craft)
Too many canoes and kayaks

and check the mast for water they can leak at the join

_________________
Ashus
Mirror, Bosun, Laser, Fireball, Hobie 16, Dart 18, IOR 1 Tonner, 1720, Ozgoose, Hobie Getaway