Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early Dec?

[Spivy30]

I do a lot of late season musky fishing up here in Wisconsin that sometimes goes until late Nov/early Dec. The lakes dont usually freeze until the middle of December but it does get below freezing at night starting the end of Oct. I usually didnt put my old boat way until Dec but it had an outboard and I never had to worry about the block cracking. When I got my new boat an Aluminum with an i/o I never thought about this and was just curious if there is a safe way to heat your engine compartment to keep the block from freezing?

 

[steddy]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

I've heated the water pump in my garage with a drop light w/60 watt light bulb. Stick one of those in the bilge below the engine with the doghouse in place. You might even be able to get away with a 40 watt bulb if your boat is covered in all but the coldest climates.
Make sure to drain your outdrive by keeping it in the lowered position. You might also have to pour a little antifreeze down your pickup tube every time you come off the lake; just in case. It'll be a real b!tch if your impeller freezes in place and you go to start your engine...

 

[scipper77]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

It is not recommended to try to heat the engine with a light bulb. If the bulb burns out then you need a new engine. Not to mention it's a fire hazard. And who is to say that the bulb will put out enough btu's to keep things thawed if it gets really cold.

The most reliable thing you can try is to drain your block after every outing by opening the drains. Also don't forget the power steering cooler if you have one.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

i'm with scipper77,
learn to drain all the water from your cooling system. this is the safe way to have an extended season. this method shows up in the service manual too (at least for my rig).
i usually run into mid oct. same thing here. over night temps below freezing. i drain my block and manifold and riser, drive all the way down.. air don't freeze..

 

[thumpar]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

Not sure about your engine but mine is easy to drain and just make sure you plug it back up before going out again.

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

I wouldn't trust anything electrical to keep an engine block from freezing. IMO, personally. Too many things can go wrong too easy and I'd be worried the whole time it's below freezing. :

bulb burns out,
cord gets unplugged, kids, wife, dog running across it in the yard
breaker trips, or loose power to the whole house
Bulb size would be a guess at that if it might keep the engine from freezing, and IF any of the above happened, then it can result in expensive repairs super quick.

I'd drain it each time after use and if becomes too much work at some point for you it will just stay winterized and you know in April you won't have a Frosty in your oil.

 

[Spivy30]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

Good call everyone one draining the block I guess I was over thinking it, my boat has a 3.0 so it takes all of 10 mins to drain.

 

[reeveshd]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

This is what we use on aircraft eninges. I know they are pricey for everyday use, but it might give you an idea of a cheaper way to do the same thing.

http://www.tanisaircraft.com/index.php?cPath=23&osCsid=ol796dftbnb7fhruijbj4j53l3

Reeves

 

[Don S]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

This is what we use on aircraft eninges.

When was the last time you seen an aircraft engine using a raw water cooling system that takes in water from the water you are running in ???????????

 

[reeveshd]

Re: Is it possible to heat your engine compartment if you fish into late Nov/early De

Sorry
The point was not about air cooled or water cooled.
in airplanes we use them to keep oil warm, moisture out of the crank case so we do not get frozen breather lines, cylinders warm and not tapered.

I know in the winter time they are warm enough to warm your hands.

The point I was trying to make was that you could a system like that to keep the block about freezing, and then be able to avoid draining the block everynight.

I have no idea if that is a good idea or not, but an idea nevertheless. You guys have way more experince with the boats than I do.

Reeves