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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Freezing weather

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hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/14/2013 : 06:06:24

I was wondering what others do in a normally warm climate where their boats stay in the water all winter. How do you keep the water in the systems (Fresh & Holding tanks) from freezing. I winterize my RV with pink stuff and a friend that keeps his boat on a trailer does his boat that way because he has a power water system. I assume that setting in water that is above freezing has some merit in keeping water in the boat systems from freezing. I have a small electric heater turned down real low left in the boat and I leave cabinet doors and hatches to the engine compartment open. It rarely gets below freezing temperatures for very long here, mostly just a few hours at night, however on rare occasion it may freeze for a few days.

1988 WK/SR w/inboard diesel Joe Pool Lake
Hobie 18 Lake Worth

Life is not a dress rehearsal. You will not get another chance.

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2013 : 06:53:52

I think you mostly answered your own question. In central FL it doesn't freeze long enough to warrant any extra ani-freeze measures and even when we have a rare multi day event the water is warm enough to keep your boat safe. Maybe LarryR who's up around D.C. would have some insight in to this.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5881 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2013 : 06:59:51

I store my boat on the hard every winter (near Solomons Island, MD) and winterize the inboard diesel, empty the fresh water tanks and run just enough RV antifreeze through it to run pink out of each faucet, and I pour a little in each sink drain, in case water collects in it anywhere. I also winterize the toilet and air conditioner, and pour about 1/3 gal. of antifreeze into the bilge. I don't heat the boat in any way. The boat is well covered, and I leave a small port open, to permit air circulation. If I left it in the water, I'd do the all the same things. I can't leave it in the water because my winter home is in Ohio, and I can't stop by the boat to check on it from time-to-time.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 01/14/2013 07:14:31

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3408 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2013 : 11:15:38

I have my boat in all year-round but since I have not used my freshwater tank, I have no freeze-up issues concerning it. I basically keep water bottles onboard and when winter comes, I take any still onboard, back home. I then only bring what I may use for a day sail in the winter.

I do use some marine anti-freeze down the sink drains. I pour some in and then momentarily open the seacock(s) and then close them. This ensures that some anti-freeze is in the lower drain hose adjacent to the seacock.

Some years, I have added some anti-freeze to the porta-potti top and bottom units to extend the time until until I empty it's contents. This year, I just drained out the top unit over the side and emptied the lower unit over in the toilet at the marina's bathroom. Then I re-installed the porta-potti, so it's practically ready to go for next year. other year's, I have brought the top and bottom halves home and serviced them at home storing them for the Spring-time.

The outboard, I keep it raised vertically. If I go out during a winter day, then when I return and raise it keeping it in the vertical, I will momentarily start it (1-2 seconds) to get the impeller to fling any residual water off and thereby reduce any chance that water may freeze on the impeller or elsewhere internally. This then reduces any potential for damaging the outboard when next starting it up in cold weather.

I think that is about it for what I do for the winter-time. It's a nice peaceful time to sail but definitely need to dress warm since it seems colder when out there just sitting around and getting the wind in the face.

By the way...some marinas have restrictions against using space heaters onboard when not attended. My marina has restrictions. I also recall someone that would have had a sunk boat at my dock area if it was not for the marina manager noticing that his boat had an slight list. Inspection revealed that while the boat owner had a engine block heater on to protect his engine, he inadvertently had left his seacock open and the pipe inboard adjacent to the seacock had cracked. The bilge pump was not keeping up with the leak rate. But closing the seacock stopped the leaking.

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/14/2013 11:25:37

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9044 Posts

Response Posted - 01/14/2013 : 15:11:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
 ...I can't leave it in the water because my winter home is in Ohio, and I can't stop by the boat to check on it from time-to-time.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...a solvable problem.

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