How We Winter on a Boat

Live Aboards in warm climates don't need to do some of the things we do to get through winter. Living aboard in Chicago means taking steps to stay warm and safe in the winter. Here's a tour of the boat and how we actually live through the cold months.
Full Tour: • Tour of Couple's Live ...
Plasticizing the Windows: • Colette Does Windows!
Swan Escape: • The Swan Escaped!
Wrapping Cygnet: • Wrappers Delight. How ...
Heating in Winter: • Heating Cygnet in Wint...

[@jeffyounger6123]

Hey are you two still living year round on the boat? Maybe this is a longshot, but would you ever be up for giving a tour of the living situation and marina set up in person? As a basically lifelong boater, I am really interested in exploring the liveaboard life. I live in Pilsen, so it would be convenient for me. Cheers!

[@steveprice4779]

I use Xtreme heaters in my engine room. They are military grade and ignition protected. They are expensive but have never let me down. I put one in the Lazz and one in the engine room. They are the 600 watt models....

[@jacktyler7599]

Pretty amazing. We have lived aboard in Maryland (3 years, snow every winter) and London (2 years with little snow but oh-so grey & chilly). None of those liveaboard winters touch your Chicago location and 8 years. I'm impressed!

[@waterwethinking1142]

Very cool! Were you on a narrow boat in London or in one of the harbors off the Thames River?

[@jacktyler7599]

@@waterwethinking1142 Nope, sailed the boat to Europe from Florida. Then sold it in Australia. Boats = Magic Carpets

[@b.andherbooks]

I'm reading a book about a river pirate so this was super great to watch!

[@waterwethinking1142]

Nice, we're thinking of getting into the pirate life too!

[@brettgerber795]

Living in Ft. Wayne, I know his cold your winters are and had no idea you could do this up north! I just came across the channel not long ago so have not watched all your videos but is there any concern with the bay water freezing? With the extreme cold we had around Christmas, was there any issues? Thanks for these videos! Looking at a similar boat and putting in Michigan City.

[@TERMIN8TOR99]

Yea we like the bridge. Saw the video when you installed it.

[@waterwethinking1142]

We wish it was year-round

[@johnbolongo9978]

U guys are troopers.....it's starting to get nice out there.

[@waterwethinking1142]

Thanks, we do still love the lifestyle even after 8 winters!

[@jodypresley6677]

Great video. Hope you plan on making a St. Patrick's day party video.

[@waterwethinking1142]

That's the plan!

[@MyTube4Utoo]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[@waterwethinking1142]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@geraldwright9841]

Very, Very cool video!

[@waterwethinking1142]

Thank you very much!

[@robertlewisvideo]

Great Video. I imagine you have discussed the idea of putting permanent receptacles where you need heaters in the winter and have a spot in the engine room to plugin the cords where you bring them in through the vents ?? to make that "winterizing" easier ?

[@waterwethinking1142]

Great question. When we first moved aboard we ran a few HD electric cords in but mostly ran our space heaters from the outlets on the boat. After a few melted power inlets we realized it's not good to have that much power running through the boat since we only have 50A of power that way. We'd have to turn off heaters to cook on the stove or microwave because our amp draw was too high and we would occasionally blow the breaker or overload the system. That's why we exclusively power our heaters from separate cords. The two white ones coming in the window are 30A shorepower cords plugged directly into the pedestal and on a different breaker than our main shorepower for the boat. Also, receptacles in the engine room would be a safety issue. I'd love to have one down there but it makes more sense to run a cord for that.

[@jodypresley6677]

I was going to say the same thing. Would be a cool project to make a video of.

[@robertlewisvideo]

@@waterwethinking1142 Actually I was thinking of a totally separate set of Receptacles labeled "Heater" or painted a different color, Not powered by anything except the cords you run through the vents for the heaters to the boat for the winter, To eliminate the need for the extension cords throughout the boat.

[@waterwethinking1142]

@@robertlewisvideo I like that idea and I've considered adding two extra inlets on the aft to plug into and only run heaters through dedicated lines on board, but it seems like a lot of work (and added weight) for little reward. I also like seeing and touching my cords during the cold months. I check them often to make sure they aren't getting hot, can't really do that with cords hidden behind bulkheads. On the next boat!

[@smithjj41181]

I'm looking to liveaboard in a Chicago houseboat too. Where is the name of the marina that allows you to stay there all 4 seasons??

[@CaptainKevWright]

River City but it’s very hard to get a slip for the winter. Summer is open

[@mvinfinity5002]

Nice review, any issues with river water freezing or does the marina have bubblers? Oh and if you need help with those Coronas let me know…..🍻

[@waterwethinking1142]

The marina has bubblers under all the slips so no problem there.

[@davidrhodes7988]

@@waterwethinking1142 I was just about to ask the same question. You’ll have to show us this next winter. How many winter slips do they have and are they all occupied in the winter? (How many other crazies are there? 😄). Nice location, I have a friend who lives in the building.

[@BobEstler]

Do you plan to stay in Chicago or or move somewhere with more year around boating?

[@waterwethinking1142]

For now it's Chicago. But we have started the conversation about living (at least part time) somewhere with better winter weather.

[@AaronXoom]

Doesn't the river freeze?

[@CaptainKevWright]

Yes the river can freeze, in fact it froze for a little over a week this January 2024. But we have bubblers underneath our slips that keep the water in motion and don’t allow the boats to freeze in the slips.

[@Midwestbertram]

Nice video . What type of heaters do you use in the engine room? Reason I ask thinking of keeping my boat in the water all year-down the Illinois river.

[@waterwethinking1142]

We use an industrial style small space heater. Basically the same as in the living area but a bit more robust and made of metal. We SHOULD use the heaters designed specifically for engine rooms since they are designed never to spark like some space heaters can do when cycling on or off. Our neighbors have one and I think they paid $200+ 😲

[@johngoncalves]

I see you have some Port wine ;-)

[@waterwethinking1142]

Always!

[@waterwethinking1142]

I asked for Starboard wine at the store but they only had Port. 🤣

[@johngoncalves]

LOL

[@rauelb09]

You 2 are so waisted making this video 😊you aren't even kidding anybody

[@chriscarter974]

Calette is Hot

[@waterwethinking1142]

I totally agree! - Kevin