Closing Up for Winter

Pine Island Guy · 10-18-2016, 11:16 AM

We keep our house open year-round, but I winterize two other houses, and it's not a bad job if you have things (e.g. the water system) set up for it and follow a pattern so you don't forget anything.

There have been numerous threads on the Forum with tips and tricks for making the water systems easier to start up and shut down. I use a compressor to blow them out, just for added comfort/insurance.

I help with a friends dock, as we progress into our 60s, it gets a bit more difficult, but we still manage. We've got it down to a pretty good system now with using styrofoam floats and a winch... the owner said "I think we've set it up to make it easier next year", and a friend responded "you mean you're going to hire someone?!?!"...

It is still spectacular at the lake (even though i might need a step ladder soon to get out of the boat)... enjoy the fall everyone! -PIG

View Poll Results: How do you close up the cottage for the winter?
We do it ourselves	36	78.26%
We hire a firm to do it	10	21.74%
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll

10-18-2016, 11:16 AM	#13
Pine Island Guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: pine island of course! Posts: 407 Thanks: 248 Thanked 248 Times in 113 Posts	open, close, repeat... We keep our house open year-round, but I winterize two other houses, and it's not a bad job if you have things (e.g. the water system) set up for it and follow a pattern so you don't forget anything. There have been numerous threads on the Forum with tips and tricks for making the water systems easier to start up and shut down. I use a compressor to blow them out, just for added comfort/insurance. I help with a friends dock, as we progress into our 60s, it gets a bit more difficult, but we still manage. We've got it down to a pretty good system now with using styrofoam floats and a winch... the owner said "I think we've set it up to make it easier next year", and a friend responded "you mean you're going to hire someone?!?!"... It is still spectacular at the lake (even though i might need a step ladder soon to get out of the boat)... enjoy the fall everyone! -PIG