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 Freeze protection for WB		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Dick Dyer
Deckhand

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16 Posts
Initially Posted - 09/15/2005 :  03:08:39  Show Profile
Does anyone have any experience with leaving a water ballast in the water during potentially freezing weather? I read the thread on "Blowing ballast" and wonder if this could be a way to protect the boat. Protland is a fairly mild climate, but it does get to below freezing temps, and I would like to leave the boat in the water.
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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts
Response Posted - 09/15/2005 :  05:12:07  Show Profile  Visit britinusa's Homepage
Dick, we blow the ballast every time we return to the ramp (every trip as we launch for each sail.) It works really well. We use an air pump from walmart<center></center>
The model we have requires 110v to recharge, but so far it has worked awesome. I did a test and it ran for over 17mins (It was still going) it takes about 5 - 7 mins to pump out the ballast tank. You know it's done when you hear bubbles erupt from under the boat (you can hear it anywhere on the boat!) I figure it has enough reserve to inflate the mini-dinghy a couple of times too. They make a model that uses regular batteries and one that uses a 12v adaptor, but this one seems more powerful than the 12v, but that's just an opinion. (we blew up the 12v when it was connected to wrong polarity!) This model has a power adaptor which has an output of 7.5v (why????) so most likely it has a 6v battery.
Reading the instructions, they say charge for 10hours initially, turning it off every 10 mins for 20 mins to prevent damage to the battery. (now that is a get out of jail disclaimer!)
Edited by - britinusa on 09/15/2005 05:14:20
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JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts
Response Posted - 09/15/2005 :  08:56:50  Show Profile
I don't think the valves seal well enough to keep water from reentering the tank. I have actually pulled my boat up the ramp with the tank full and I can tell you for certain that water still dribbles out the closed valve (slowly). If it dribbles out, it will dribble back in. If the boat is sitting in the lake and the lake isn't frozen, I wouldn't worry about the water in the tank freezing. It should stay the same temperature as the lake. My two cents worth.
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s3tbuell
1st Mate

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47 Posts
Response Posted - 09/15/2005 :  11:33:55  Show Profile
Dick there is a non-toxic antifreeze you can get from a RV supply store. They use it for drinking water lines. This way when or if you drain your tanks you would kill anything..
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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts
Response Posted - 09/15/2005 :  13:17:11  Show Profile  Visit Arlyn Stewart's Homepage
John, you make a good point about the ballast valve not sealing 100 percent... the forum received a report of a 250 sinking at the dock because heavy rains raised the lake level on a non floating dock and when the dock lines came up short, they held the boat down enough that the water level rose just over the ballast valve shaft height and over time it flooded the boat.
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Dick Dyer
Deckhand

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16 Posts
Response Posted - 09/15/2005 :  15:28:59  Show Profile
Thanks for all of the quick advice. The air pump sounds like a good item. I'm thinking I could blow out the water and then add back some RV antifreeze to compensate for any leakage.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.