Whew... Dodged a Bullet

[JoLin]

Finally, after a month of rigamarole in trialing, surveying and buying the Four Winns, lining up storage and service at a marina and arranging a time to pick up the boat, I arrived at the seller's house on Sunday morning with a couple friends.

Sunday was clear but cold here (relatively speaking), about 50 degrees. I wanted to move it from the seller's dock in Baldwin, to the marina in Seaford, early in the day as winds were predicted to kick up later on. Took about 45 minutes to make the run and the boat ran great (yippee!). Of course, it being Sunday the marina was closed, also on Monday. We hit a 3-day cold snap here, and I've been anxiously watching the overnight temps in Seaford. It's dipped to 33-34 degrees but will now start trending up for the next week. I spoke to the marina owner yesterday and she'll be winterized before the temps drop again. Whew!

One thing I found out- a twin-engine I/O boat running at cruising speed, reacts really fast to steering inputs.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

Glad to hear you'll be taken care of, and yes, she will react pretty quickly! I made the jump to twins this year myself. The handling, especially with trim tabs, is a whole new ballgame.

I find myself in a similar cold weather situation. I typically winterize around Thanksgiving. They are predicting 33 degrees this Saturday and I haven't been able to get in touch with the guy who pulls and blocks in our marina (no trailer). I am debating biting the bullet and buying a compartment heater. $300 for a heater is far better than the repair bill for two new 5.0's...

 

[64osby]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

Throw a couple 100 watt light bulbs or better yet a hallogen work light in the compartment. If it's not down to zero it will keep it warm enough not to freeze.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

Takes 30 seconds to open up the draincocks on the block/manifolds. I don't know why you'd spend $300 to avoid draining the blocks. The lightbulb/halogen thing is a risky move.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

Agreed. Try explaining the source of a fire to your insurance company when it's discovered that an unsecured light tipped over and started a fire! It's a small risk by why take it all when there are many other good options.

Draining is the best option.

The $300 compartment heater is second best.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

Takes 30 seconds to open up the draincocks on the block/manifolds. I don't know why you'd spend $300 to avoid draining the blocks. The lightbulb/halogen thing is a risky move.

And it takes an hour for the boat to sink if the draincocks are below waterline.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

And it takes an hour for the boat to sink if the draincocks are below waterline.

I'm affraid I don't follow your logic. Once the block is drained, it's drained. You close the petcocks and go about your day. I don't think there's going to be an endless stream of water pouring from the engines until the boat sinks.

 

[64osby]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

Hey the light bulb idea is just for emergency action, if your desperate to not freeze, and can't or won't get to the petcocks. And yes it could be secured.

I have freind that keeps his well tank from freezing with one 100 watt light bulb in the well house.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

congrats on your new purchase!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

congrats on the new boat, FWs are well built and good running boats...
I did my winterizing on Sat, because of the freeze warning, but where I am on the North Shore (300 ft from the water) it stays about 5 degrees warmer than further inland...but this morning there was frost on the roof!
If I ever re power this old boat I'm putting closed cooling on the new motor, for a number of reasons but easier winterizing is one of them...crawling around in the bilge is getting old at my age and I want a remote mount oil filter and closed cooling....

 

[JoLin]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

for a number of reasons but easier winterizing is one of them...crawling around in the bilge is getting old at my age and I want a remote mount oil filter and closed cooling....

Yup, that's why I didn't stay with the boat on Sunday and drain the running gear. I'm just not up to doing the bilge deep-dive stuff anymore, particularly with twin motors. I winterized the Chris*Craft last weekend and it was just plain harder to do, and more painful than it was last year <sigh>

 

[JoLin]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

congrats on your new purchase!

Thanks! I've posted several threads about my 'odyssey' in finding and buying this boat. Really looking forward to next season!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

Yup, that's why I didn't stay with the boat on Sunday and drain the running gear. I'm just not up to doing the bilge deep-dive stuff anymore, particularly with twin motors. I winterized the Chris*Craft last weekend and it was just plain harder to do, and more painful than it was last year <sigh>

the way my old boat is set up it has the big sunpad and the bench seat, so to do the winterizing I have to remove the rear seat and wood bulkheads to get at the motor. Once that's out it's wide open and easy to get at....but with closed cooling and a remote mount filter, I could do all that without even taking out the seats/bulkheads and that would save back strain and time too....

here's a before and after shot....

I've seen some cruisers that had a lot of room around the engines and some that are a horror show, that's one thing I'd always check out when buying a boat because even if I'm not doing it, if you wind up paying someone then the worse the access is the more it's gonna cost!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

I've seen some cruisers that had a lot of room around the engines and some that are a horror show, that's one thing I'd always check out when buying a boat because even if I'm not doing it, if you wind up paying someone then the worse the access is the more it's gonna cost!

The 4Winns is okay in that respect. 2 large hatches run the width of the cockpit, so access is reasonably good. Anytime you drop 2 'V' motors into a 10' or less beam, however (mine's 9' 4"), the space between them is gonna be a little tight. My first choice in that class of boat was a single big block, but I couldn't find one I wanted. The twin 6's were 'plan b'. At least they're fuel injected and Volvo. No offense intended to Merc owners...

Finding the 'right' used boat can be tough- the original buyer paid no attention to what I would want a decade later... go figure

 

[nlain]

Re: Whew... Dodged a Bullet

What is the temperature of the water you are sitting in, 40 or better, that will help keep from freezing until it gets really cold. As long as the water is not close to freezing 30's even 20's for a short time is not going to hurt. If it was me I would still be nervous also.