Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

81Banshee

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Dec 8, 2012
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6
Well I really don't want to broadcast over the internet what an idiot I am, but whats done is done and I need to deal with it, so... I parked my 81 Banshee (same as a Glastron gt150) at a friends farm over the winter & I recently went to go pick it up, well I stupidly left the drain plug in & the cover had a bit of a rip in it & we had a LOT of snow over the winter, so this spring when the snow melted a fair amount must have leaked thru, because when I pulled the plug, it seemed like a least 5 gallons of water came rushing out. Now I don't know if this was only from this spring & it never froze or if some rain/snow from last fall worked its way down & sat frozen under the carpet. What I am asking before I even think of putting it in the water this summer is how much of the floor should I rip out etc to check for damage? I cant see any physical issues from the outside, but I know how much damage ice can do, any recommendations? ....The other part of this is that when buddy picked it up in fall and parked it at his farm he didn't put a block under the hitch, so it was sitting slightly nose down, which is why I am concerned about ice issues seeing as it sat like that all winter. sucks.
 

tpenfield

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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

Just check for things that might have busted due to freezing water. Don't rip anything apart. Just look in every place possible to see if there is apparent damage. Then decide if you need to take more action.
 

Texasmark

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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

Main problem there is being bow down where a lot of weight could accumulate if uncovered, left out of doors, and you had heavy rains. The weight of the water would put pressure on the trailer to boat interface points in particular the bow chock. If you had a light weight, poorly made boat you could punch through your jell coat. For a hand layup matted hull it would take a boat full of water to do any harm in my opinion.

Water weighs about 8# per gallon so your 5 gallons is 40#. Your cooler chest weighs more than that. It takes a lot of snow to make 5 gallons of water and if the temp stayed cold the snow stayed in state. You and I both know that snow isn't going to smash bulkheads in your situation.

Assuming the worst, the snow melts, now we have 5 gallons of water that is maybe 3" deep at the bow in the area of the keel. The bow is the highest V of the bottom so any ice that would form would be automatically pushed up if it attempted to freeze hard and expand. It has a way out and with a way out it can't damage anything, unlike a water faucet where the ice was locked in and no place to go when it expanded. Besides, you probably had enough crud in the bilge to dilute the water to dirty water which wouldn't be all that tough if it did freeze.

Like Mr. Openfield said, give it a good look over, but don't pull your hair out worrying about it. Jump in and go have fun and next year get a new tarp, don't forget the drain plug and chock the bow so it will drain aft if any snow/rain does get in.

Mark
 

crabby captain john

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Aug 6, 2011
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1,823
Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

Check your bilge pump-- if there was ice it may be damaged. Then just visual and get everything dry as quickly as possible.
 

jigngrub

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Mar 19, 2011
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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

I had this same thing happen to me and the only real damage done was my livewell pump froze and busted, everything else was fine.
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

to me the real problem is not the freezing but the fresh water sitting in the bilge for months where the pump can't get it (or did you also disconnect the battery? Yikes!). That's what causes the rot that inflicts the lake boats. But it's a creeping problem; enjoy this boat this summer at least.
I wouldn't go tearing things up.
but check the pumps and everything else under there (hose connections, etc) and look for cracks
 

Texasmark

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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

I think Glastron just makes glass boats. Did back in the 60's when I was in Austin, TX. where their factory was located. So that makes the Banshee a glass boat.

A currently built glass boat, especially like that....www the James Bond boat Glastron GT 150...... with water in it, especially with the bow down putting it all up front and only 5 gallons in it over the winter is a no brainer.

Mark
 

81Banshee

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Dec 8, 2012
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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

thanks for the info guys, it gives me hope, I wont rip anything apart just yet then, just check everything thoroughly first. As for the bilge pump.. it doesn't have one, I purchased one & never got around installing it last summer, I will check things out & if everythings okay I'll take it as a near miss, lesson learned and do a better job this fall
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

for safety sake don't operate a boat with a bilge without a bilge pump.
 

boaterinsd

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Nov 19, 2010
Messages
276
Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

If it was me id have the pump on if its got a switch or if its auto make sure fure is good and put some water in to test the float if its equipped with one.
 

slag

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Jul 17, 2009
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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

Well, you're obviously not going to leave a battery hooked up all winter with an automatic bilge pump, but, if you store your boat like I do, outside, I jack the front end up so any water will run out the back (leaving the plug out), and cover with a nice fitted boat cover, but even sometimes snow and rain will pool up and find ways in.
 

Texasmark

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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

Well, you're obviously not going to leave a battery hooked up all winter with an automatic bilge pump, but, if you store your boat like I do, outside, I jack the front end up so any water will run out the back (leaving the plug out), and cover with a nice fitted boat cover, but even sometimes snow and rain will pool up and find ways in.

I didn't want to say it, but the guy missed a few the last time he used his boat for the year. Maybe he will be more knowledgeable next time.

MarK
 

81Banshee

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Dec 8, 2012
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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

I didn't want to say it, but the guy missed a few the last time he used his boat for the year. Maybe he will be more knowledgeable next time.

MarK

Oh trust me ...he learned a valuable lesson & hopefully its not a costly lesson (fingers crossed)... :embarassed:
 

Ned L

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Sep 17, 2008
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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

5 gallons of water for something like five months?? -- I don't see any reason for concern. The bigger concern is what you do now. Keep the plug out and let every thing vent and air out as much as possible for a good while.
 

81Banshee

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Dec 8, 2012
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Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

5 gallons of water for something like five months?? -- I don't see any reason for concern. The bigger concern is what you do now. Keep the plug out and let every thing vent and air out as much as possible for a good while.


plug is out, cover is off, airing outside during the day & under 2 ceiling fans on high in my bosses shop until its dry
 

zimm17

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May 12, 2010
Messages
33
Re: Ice in bilge over winter, just how bad is it?

Frozen water in the bilge won't hurt the hull, unlike frozen water in an engine block which expands and breaks stuff. I agree on the testing the bilge pump- if that works, you're good to go.
 
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