cold weather and interesting phenomena

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
This was the frost patterns on Nancy's car monday morning.
 

Attachments

Aug 2, 2005
374
pearson ariel grand rapids
That is too cool, Impressive isn't it? A shame to scrape it off to drive! Almost feel like you're defacing a great artists work.

Slow freezes do produce some real neat patterns though, A few years ago we had a long slow fall where it hung right around freezing for weeks and it stayed pretty cold all winter, in the spring when I got to cleaning up there were patterns similar to that in the grand kids sand box. Figure it froze in the fall and laid under the snow all winter. Keep looking for it every spring, but it hasn't happened again.

Last couple years we've had fast freezes, so all we've been getting is the plain old ugly kind of granular frost. We have had a few ice storms that make it look like we have crystal trees that are really pretty, until the sun catches them and you can't see anything for the brightness.

I like looking at things, which is why I think I like sailing so much. You actually get the time to look at something instead of having it just whiz by.

Ken.
 
Jun 5, 1997
659
Coleman scanoe Irwin (ID)
Come again, Ralph, how exactly did you paint your car???

The attachment shows what it looked like on my screen....

(in juxtaposition with the "bunks and rollers" thread)

Have fun,

Flying Dutchman
 

Attachments

Last edited:
Jun 19, 2004
512
Catalina 387 Hull # 24 Port Charlotte, Florida
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Ross

That's such a cool looking pic, but boy oh boy, it sure gets me cold looking at it.

What a paradox, I am in a hurry for spring time already, yet I'm at the age where wishing for time to move faster only shortens the time I have left here and is one less season left to sail and enjoy!
 
Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
Just to get this on topic in regarding the old myth that you should always keep your fuel tank topped off to prevent condensation:

During the decade I flew and managed an airplane, I would go out and often find it looking just like that. We would sometimes have to pour RV antifreeze over the wings to fly. We didn't keep the tanks full because some club members needed the extra weight capacity on short flights. I checked the fuel nearly daily and every member did before each flight by drawing some out the bottom sumps.

I only found drops of water in the tank once. That was after a heavy rainstorm when someone didn't fully tighten the fuel cap. This plane was parked a just a couple hundred yards from the ocean.

Better to draw your tanks down and have minimum fuel in them for long storage periods as Rich H, our resident filter expert, says in my thread on diesel filters. Tank condensation is a myth.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Actually, tank condensation isn't a myth IMHO, it just requires conditions that aren't all that common.
 
Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
Actually, tank condensation isn't a myth IMHO, it just requires conditions that aren't all that common.
True. A more accurate way to put it is that the conditions that favor drawing the tanks down as far as practical before refilling are almost always present whereas you might never see a case of serious tank condensation.

Keeping tanks filled up into the vents is a different issue because it minimizes the surface area of fuel exposed to air. This isn't practical on most boats and can lead to spills through the vent.

Once tanks are down the first 1/4" from the top, it's better to use up the fuel that is absorbing some water and interacting with the air than to keep adding small amounts on top almost filled.

Keeping tanks mostly filled also means you miss out on the opportunity for some mechanical washing of the sides and mixing that helps get sediment into the fuel system gradually. Sloshing won't clean the tanks but it will extend the time before clean tanks become fouled enough to need outside intervention.
 

Mike B

.
Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
Amazing

Ross, it's amazing how beautiful nature can be. I've seen many frost created patterns but nothing to compare to that. Thanks for sharing.
Mike
 

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: Amazing

This is the first I have seen that was this elaborate. The car needs waxing and it had rained a little Sunday night so there was some water standing in addition to the frost. 15 minutes after I took the pictures the sun had melted the pattern.
 
Mar 28, 2007
211
Hunter 33' Cherubini Biloxi Back Bay,MS
Jack Frost

This was the frost patterns on Nancy's car monday morning.
Ross I remember ice patterns like these on the house windows after a good Blizzard growing up in New Jersey as a little girl.
These are beautiful. Don't see this at all down here..thanks for sharing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.