When to Winterize

[TheCompound]

I just had one question. About what temp should someone make usre their boat is winterized. My boat is a Glastron DX215 with the volvo 5.0 I/O.
I am out of town and where my boat is located. It has gotten down to about 28 degrees of a few hours the last few night. I know i should have already winterized. But between work and family i have been super busy. The boat is kept on a lift at the dock.
I will be home tomorrow. What damage do you think to night at 28 degrees for only about 3-4 hours has caused?? during the day it has been about 50-60 degrees.
Thanks,
TheCompound

 

[ziggy]

Re: When to Winterize

About what temp should someone make usre their boat is winterized

i don't think that the temp is what decides when you winterize. it does decide when you should drain the water from the system. from what i read. 28* for a few hours is gettin pretty close to the limit. water freezes at 32*. as for the damage it may cause. for rwc systems, a cracked block or cracked manifolds seems to be the most common outcomes of not draining the system. for fwc yer block is ok assumin yer antifreeze is strong enough, but the manifolds aint. i would suspect the heat exchanger too as i suppose it has water in it too. point is, anything with water in it has to be drained. find out the facts on yer rig to know what needs to be drained via a service manual. hope yer not finding out the hard way as to what the ramifications for not draining the water out is. ya gotta be close i'd think.......at least get on down to the boat and drain the water out of it...sounds like a real nice boat too.....fyi, i'm just joe boater, not a tech. the pros will hopefully let ya in on the facts...or there's a couple of good winterization threads here on the forum. pinned to the top of this forum, and in faq....

 

[freddyray21]

Re: When to Winterize

28 degrees for a few hours out in the elements is getting close. I haven't winterized mine yet, but it's in a closed attached garage and it's not gotten that cold here yet. I have bought all the stuff to do it and will get to it this weekend. If you have a buddy down where the boat is or a garage that you trust have them at least go down and drain it. I assume you keep it on the lift all winter?

 

[Don S]

Re: When to Winterize

You Winterize when you are done boating for the season, no matter what the temperature. Winterization is long term (Off season) Storage in cold climates.
You drain the block/raw water system any time there is a Chance the temp is going to drop below freezing, and done in cold weather until you are done boating for the season.

 

[TheCompound]

Re: When to Winterize

I understand you should winterize as soon as your done for the season. But when i had to go to Cali. I didnt know i was goingot be here with the truck.
So which is more imporant actual temp, or wind chill (feels like)??

And i'm not saying anyone here is wrong, but an iron/steel engine block. i have a hard time believing it would freeze and crack with only a few hours at 28 degrees. but who knows maybe i'm wrong!

the temps for last night where 32 degrees actual and 26 degrees wind chill.

I do thank everyone for their imputs and opoins!
TheCompound

 

[tommays]

Re: When to Winterize

If its windy it will cool down any heat the boat built up from the sun faster BUT it will not freeze unless its below 32 degs

At that point it just a matter of time a bad night with temps below 32 for 4 to 8 hours and :devil:


tommays

 

[imported_TheMan]

Re: When to Winterize

You are probably fine. Just get it drained as soon as possible. Even if it was below 32 for a FEW hours it should be ok. Hopefully your boat provides some kind of insulation value around the engine and keeps it slightly warmer.
Anyways, like tommays said, REAL temperature is all that matters. Wind chill just factors in the increased rate at which water evaporates off your skin with air flow (I think). The only areas you would need to be concerned about for such a short period of time would be narrow passages filled with water that was constrained and would cause cracking if the ice couldn't expand. And don't forget, PURE water freezes at 32 degrees. Not sure where you run the boat, but don't forget that any brackish/salt water will require lower temperatures to freeze.

IMHO, the temperature needs to drop below 32 for a decent amount of time for the block to crack. As the water freezes, you have increased pressure on the water, making it more difficult to freeze. I'm not familiar with the system, but if it is also kept under air pressure, it will require lower temps to freeze.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: When to Winterize

Wind chill number has nothing to do with freezing temp for your boat engine. The wind chill number is what a human's skin feels like because of evaporation.

There is basically no pressure on any of our raw water systems so that is not a factor. An increase in pressure would actually make the water easier to freeze.

 

[imported_TheMan]

Re: When to Winterize

Pressure increases do not make water easier to freeze.
Elementary science.

 

[TheCompound]

Re: When to Winterize

Well just got off the phone with the wife. She had a friend of ours husband go and drain the boat. He even bought the manual for the boat so he know where all the drains where! I'll be buying that guy a lot of beer when i get home.

Thank you all your help.
As i stated ealier actual temp was 30-32 for about 4 hours. So hopefully i'm fine. IF something was to have happen how would i know when i go to runthe boat again??
-TheCompound

 

[imported_TheMan]

Re: When to Winterize

When you have water pouring out of your block onto your shoes, be concerned..

I can't possibly imagine that if the temperature is what you say it was for that period of time that any damage could occur to iron/steel parts. Any plastic hoses and things though are another story, but those are pretty cheap if they are damaged.

 

[TheCompound]

Re: When to Winterize

and BTW its a RWS or open system
-TheCompound

 

[stevieray]

Re: When to Winterize

Wind chill number has nothing to do with freezing temp for your boat engine. The wind chill number is what a human's skin feels like because of evaporation.

Well, yes and no. The term "wind chill factor" is used to describe the effect of wind on a human, but wind does increase heat loss of any surface that it directly contacts (probably not a boat engine in a covered compartment in a covered hull, though).

 

[Scaaty]

Re: When to Winterize

We had a couple nights last few days where it got down to 28 degrees (I shoot an infrared thermometer at all kinds of things since I bought it), and my parked and in the shade lower unit was at 32. at the coldest temp overnight.
Worry? Why? The damn water in the dogs dish in the pen didn't even freeze.
PS The ice cream in the fridge is at 19 degrees, milk at 41....I just have too much fun with this new toy!