Do you winterize in Southern California?

[df909]

Well...apparently it's getting cold out with all the winterizing posts. I feel for all of you that are in cold areas.

So, does anyone winterize or see the need to in Southern California?

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

Listen up df, I was born and raised there in So Cali and we don't need you rubbin' our noses into the great weather y'all have!

Ok, kidding aside the answer, my friend, is where your boat is.... are you up on any of the peaks where it freezes often? Maybe you get night time frosts, without the deep freeze.

Born in Long Beach, most of my schooling in Downey. It got cold, even snowed a time or two (back in the day), but I wouldn't bother with winterizing in those places.

A tarp should do most of the time if the boat is outside. Garage kept is even better.

Say hi to El Taco for me if you're passin' through Downey.

 

[QC]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

I've never winterized as far as freeze protection is concerned. All I/Os, open cooling, over 25 years . . .

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

As stated above, unless you are in a cold, mountainous area or hillside/canyon area stricken by flash flooding...

Percentage of boat problems caused by natural conditions in Southern California:

Cold: 0%
Rain: 0.1%
UV ray destruction: 99.9%

For me, "winterizing" means the boat goes out twice a month instead of 3 or 4 times.

 

[pmillar]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

Let's see now, I lived in socal for 8 years before encountering frost. Having grown up in Michigan it literally made me laugh when I realized I didn't own a scraper (... of course I was in short sleeves since the temps were heading to the upper 60's) That was in Costa Mesa. I never did experience a frost in Redondo Beach. So to answer your question, unless you're in the mountains or high desert I wouldn't even consider it.

 

[Gromulin]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

...posts from northeastern boaters claiming BLASHPHEMY...water freezes at 32 degrees and a random weather site says that you get 4 nights per year at 28 degrees so you MUST drain every last drop of water or your BLOCK WILL CRACK LIKE AN EGG...in 5...4...3...2...



I'm doing it just so I know how this year...I'm in NorCal, we get into the 20's overnight for a couple weeks per year (on average, lived here 20+ years). I asked a mechanic at the largest (well, only remaining...) shop in the area and he told me the only freeze damage he's ever seen here was from boats stored up by Tahoe. YMMV.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

Never

 

[stic88]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

If you winterize then you couldnt go boating in december, january, or february. Prime months in southern California

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

No need to winterize the boat.......just need to winterize the admiral (sweat shirt / jacket) for those cooler weekends on the lake.....

 

[MRS]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

Yup every year drain all the manifolds and engine water leave plugs out. Last year we got 6" of snow, but when we what to use boat put plugs back in and drain when we get back home. I live in the high desert and in the winter does get down in the twenties and teens just long enough to crack something. But no water in nothing to crack anything and still get to use boat all year.....

 

[mike343]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

We live in North San Diego county about three miles from the coast--elev 300 ft. The first year we had the house, there was a cold snap into the low twenties--nothing like that since. But all I have to do for the VP 5.7 is to run some water through the engine and remove the manifold drain plugs, grease them and re-install them. About a half hour job.

 

[dramaminedragon]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

No, never have in 30 years, I use my boat more in winter than summer. Lobster seasons opens in Oct. & ends in March. I dive all through Jan & Feb.

 

[df909]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

Thanks for all the reply's. Sorry I didn't chime in earlier but for some reason I'm not getting messages from the iboats forum.

I keep it covered all the time, even when I tow, since the sun will destroy everything in our area. That's a good point about not being able to take it out for several months at a time...last year I used it a few times a month Dec - Feb.

 

[MRS]

Re: Do you winterize in Southern California?

Even if it is not down to freezing temps not a bad idea to drain once a year. You will not believe the crud that comes out of the manifolds.