I'm worried about the temperature.

[HanBan]

Hi guys,
Once again I'm wondering if you can give me advice based on your experience please.
My 323 is at a yard in MD having a little work done, and the yard owner told me not to use a heater in my boat.
The thing is, it's going to get down to 23f tonight and I'm a bit worried that the engine will freeze (she hasn't been winterized). I've also got an engine block heater but haven't fitted it yet.
The yard owner said it had to be in the 20's for weeks for the engine to crack.
Is he right about that?
Should I just go on over and put the engine heater in today (it's thanksgiving and it's 1.5 hours each way to the boat)?
Thanks again guys!
Han

 

[Dr. D]

If the boat is in the water I believe it should be fine as the water temperature is still in mid to upper 40's F. On the hard? Maybe the yard owner is correct.

 

[SG]

Is is on the hard?
What about your water systems?
It does have a heat exchanger and "fresh water cooling"?

My boat is in the water in Annapolis. I will winertize the water systems next weekend. In not worried about the engine in my situation because it is not that cold in the water and it's only a few hours overnight that it gets below freezing.

My RO water maker is in a stern locker. That's a bigger concern for me.

I won't tell you NOT to worry, that's pointless. ;^)). I would say that I would not worry if it was me tonight.

What are you going to do after next week or in December?

The comment about "weeks in the 20's" seems excessive. The question is how cold the engine block really is which contains untreated water (no antifreeze). It takes a while for the engine itself to get ”cold".

 

[Will Gilmore]

It is the water you have to worry about. It takes time for temperature changes to move through a hull, through an engine room and into the core of an engine, but not weeks. The sun warms the boat during the day and without air exchange, that warmth can exceed outside temperatures, so it does take more than a night to cool off. The next day will warm it right back up again, as long as there is sunshine. How hard is it to flush your water systems, if you're worried about it? You could add an anti-freeze like alcohol, but you need to circulate it through.

I won't tell you NOT to worry, that's pointless. ;^)). I would say that I would not worry if it was me tonight.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[BigEasy]

Think that the engine block will be OK with seawater on the raw water side and antifreeze on the closed circuit as long as the freezing temps rebound quickly. I would be more concerned about the freshwater systems. Could get some freezing in those plastic lines with splitting occurring. Definitely need to winterize the entire boat asap, especially since you don’t live in the immediate vicinity. I have also heard of individuals placing a 75-100watt incandescent flood light in the engine compartment to keep the space above freezing; however, that doesn’t solve the freshwater systems problem.
When the temps down here rarely drop into the 20’s, I run a ceramic heater (west marine) over night on medium setting and it keeps the cabin temp in the low 50’s range; the 12 volt fans circulate the heated air throughout the interior spaces. Of course, I live only 15 minutes away, so I can turn it on/off as needed. The heat pump isn’t effective when temps drop into the 20’s; it runs continuously and doesn’t warm the cabin, because of low water temperature.

 

[HanBan]

If the boat is in the water I believe it should be fine as the water temperature is still in mid to upper 40's F. On the hard? Maybe the yard owner is correct.

Yes, she's still in the water. Thank you, I feel a lot better about it now.

 

[HanBan]

Is is on the hard?
What about your water systems?
It does have a heat exchanger and "fresh water cooling"?

My boat is in the water in Annapolis. I will winertize the water systems next weekend. In not worried about the engine in my situation because it is not that cold in the water and it's only a few hours overnight that it gets below freezing.

My RO water maker is in a stern locker. That's a bigger concern for me.

I won't tell you NOT to worry, that's pointless. ;^)). I would say that I would not worry if it was me tonight.

What are you going to do after next week or in December?

The comment about "weeks in the 20's" seems excessive. The question is how cold the engine block really is which contains untreated water (no antifreeze). It takes a while for the engine itself to get ”cold".

I hadn't dewinterized the rest of her, only the engine, as we've been refitting her this year. Thank you. Once again you guys have come through and made me feel a lot better about it all. <3

 

[HanBan]

Think that the engine block will be OK with seawater on the raw water side and antifreeze on the closed circuit as long as the freezing temps rebound quickly. I would be more concerned about the freshwater systems. Could get some freezing in those plastic lines with splitting occurring. Definitely need to winterize the entire boat asap, especially since you don’t live in the immediate vicinity. I have also heard of individuals placing a 75-100watt incandescent flood light in the engine compartment to keep the space above freezing; however, that doesn’t solve the freshwater systems problem.
When the temps down here rarely drop into the 20’s, I run a ceramic heater (west marine) over night on medium setting and it keeps the cabin temp in the low 50’s range; the 12 volt fans circulate the heated air throughout the interior spaces. Of course, I live only 15 minutes away, so I can turn it on/off as needed. The heat pump isn’t effective when temps drop into the 20’s; it runs continuously and doesn’t warm the cabin, because of low water temperature.

We just bought one of those ceramic heaters for the engine area. Thing is, I just haven't been able to get over to her before today - and I didn't really want to risk the roads on Thanksgiving (with all the drunk drivers).

 

[kappykaplan]

The water temperature on Patuxent River when I sailed on Tuesday was 53 degrees. You won’t have any problems.

 

[NYSail]

My boat is still in the water not winterized. Went Down yesterday and all was good..... fresh water system no problems. Few bottles of water on counter and nothing frozen.

 

[Gunni]

I’m just up the bay from you, you will be fine, but time to put a work party together.

1. Don’t rely on a block heater, light bulb or other electrical device to protect against freezing. Antifreeze your engine raw water circuit.
2. Get a optical refractometer online and use it to check what is in your potable water lines, your shower sumps, your washdown line, your bilge pump.
3. Head(s) drained?

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

My boat is still in the water not winterized. Went Down yesterday and all was good..... fresh water system no problems. Few bottles of water on counter and nothing frozen.

@NYSail Your engine is probably fine, as it hasn’t been cold long enough, but your fresh water plumbing lines (valves and fittings) would have frozen solid last night. It was below 20 for at least 8 hours overnight (15 here when I woke and I’m only about 30 miles from you, across LIS). Tanks themselves are probably ok if they had large volumes of water or adequate expansion space. Sorry to say you may have damaged fittings such as hose barbs, sink valves, or pumps/filters.

 

[SG]

I think HanBan is on the Chesapeake (PAX River is the Patuxent Naval Air Station -- near Solomon's Island, MD).

 

[kappykaplan]

I think HanBan is on the Chesapeake (PAX River is the Patuxent Naval Air Station -- near Solomon's Island, MD).

She is.

 

[NYSail]

@NYSail Your engine is probably fine, as it hasn’t been cold long enough, but your fresh water plumbing lines (valves and fittings) would have frozen solid last night. It was below 20 for at least 8 hours overnight (15 here when I woke and I’m only about 30 miles from you, across LIS). Tanks themselves are probably ok if they had large volumes of water or adequate expansion space. Sorry to say you may have damaged fittings such as hose barbs, sink valves, or pumps/filters.

All fresh water system is fine..... ran everything. was cold but nothing inside boat froze. Had bottles of water on counter with no freezing. I’m going to close it up this weekend.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

All fresh water system is fine..... ran everything. was cold but nothing inside boat froze. Had bottles of water on counter with no freezing. I’m going to close it up this weekend.

Good to hear that.

 

[NYSail]

Good to hear that.

It’s getting close though...... today will be a good day to play on the boat!

 

[Dr. D]

I was out today and I will be out again tomorrow. Then getting serious about winterizing.....

 

[jssailem]

@Dr. D delay as long as you can... There are still s few wonderful sail days out there before the hard freeze happens... Think Caddie Shack and storm golf...

 

[NYSail]

Have bottled water on the counter with no freeze. My boat is still in the water and maybe that is the difference as water is still 50 degrees. I drained the last tank today.... drained the water heater, filled the shower drains in both heads and stared blowing the lines. Will finish tomorrow..... but no problems with freezing..... system pressurized and all faucets and toilets worked fine. I will be happy tomorrow when the water system is finished! I will do the engine when they pull me as they shut off the dockside water. I like to run fresh water through engine until she heats up nicely before adding antifreeze....

Greg