Clock/barometer over winter? (Canada)

[nitrogenase]

Thinking ahead to winter, I’m curious if possible to leave our newly installed clock and barometer (with thermometer that goes to -10C) on the bulkhead through the winter months. I worry about wear and tear to put it up and take down every year, but also worry about the thermometer exposed to such low temps. Any concerns/advice?

 

[Davidasailor26]

I wouldn’t worry about the effects of the cold on the mechanisms. But if the clock has an alkaline battery I would remove that to prevent it from leaking.

 

[dlochner]

I leave my clock and barometer on board all year. Even leave the battery in. It gets cold here on the south shore of Lake Ontario.

If you do decide to remove it, the mechanism should just twist a little and separate from the base. The base does not have to be removed.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Alcohol is liquid to about -120C so you should be good for MOST Canadian winters.

I store batteries in the freezer so I wouldn't worry about removing them for the winter. With an exotic$$$ clock like that, I'd change the batteries every two years to eliminate any chance of leakage.

 

[Davidasailor26]

But if the clock has an alkaline battery I would remove that to prevent it from leaking.

Just to clarify - I don’t mean to remove the battery for fear of it freezing. I just mean to avoid the chance of the battery going dead, corroding, and leaking. My clock (a Weems and Plath) is also removable without unmounting the bracket, so removing the battery is easy enough.

 

[Tally Ho]

Pull the battery out of the clock. Keeps it from corroding the contacts if it leaks. You need to replace it anyway.

Greg

 

[Dalliance]

I added both a new weather station with clock and an Electronic SOS Beacon this year and have no concerns about leaving them on the boat through winter lay up. I’ll remove the batteries to avoid possible corrosion or leakage issues. Have been doing the same with the boat’s smoke alarm for years.