Missed the Window)= First Boat is Frozen in?

[jtm]

you will probably be ok- but if you're in for the winter- and there's no bubbler or its not reliable- I'd get one of those deicers with auto thermostat that you hang under the boat

One thing you need to do is get significant snowfall off the boat as the weight will depress the waterline and any mushroom head thru hulls just above the waterline will become lower to the waterline and will be at risk of shearing off in a rocking wind when the boat is surrounded by ice.

Last year when we got hammered in toms River NJ with significant snowfall after snowfall- I had snow in the cockpit up to my, umm ...pectorals . I went to the marina 12/24 AM after a 2 ft snowfall and "crabbed" my way around the side shoveling off the icy snow with a plastic dustpan til I reached and emptied the cockpit- not fun- if I slipped and went into the water there's be no one around for help and no ladder to climb out .

 

[JVB]

First off, I'd take the heater out. The huge currents heaters draw are liable to set your boat on fire much more frequently than any ice problem you might have.
...

Heaters come in a multitude of sizes. A 120 volt heater requires no more than 15 amps. Fifteen amps is well within the 30 amp rating of the typical shore power cord. And depending on heat flow rates and temperatures it may cycle on and off.

An electric blanket or incandescent light bulb in an appropriately anchored fixture will supply less heat if that's what you want.

 

[jimmcgee]

Can you get a de-icer from the marina?

When I kept my boat on LBI the marina provided bubblers to anyone staying in as part of the winter slip fee. Hey it can't hurt to ask...

I have this heater from West Marine that has an "anti-freeze" setting that only draws 5 amps. Here's the same heater from Defender. That should keep your bilge water from freezing.

Just remember some marinas have policies against running a heater in an unattended boat. :naughty:

I'd second the advice to double up your lines for winter storage.

Jim

 

[goblin]

Back in the early 60's on the upper Chesapeake we were as concerned about ice pulling the caulking out of a wood boat as we were having our pilings pulled up. We made our bubbler systems back then out of a junked refigerator compressor that sat on the pier with a length of hose centered under the keel. Worked great and was almost free !!

 

[shemandr]

A boatyard I used to frequent used compressed air for bubblers to prevent ice with success here on LI.
I've shoveled snow off several of my boats and its dangerous. There's nothing more slippery than non skid with snow on it. Be careful - whether you could fall in the ice cold water or fall ten feet to the ground. Those could be life altering events.
When turtles stay too long in LI Sound and the weather turns cold they become "Cold Stunned". Rich may have become cold stunned in Annapolis? He'll survive - the turtles often don't.

 

[Winters Dream]

Rich,

When my O'Day 28 went through three nights of record 22 degree temperatures due to a marina screwup, my freshwater and gray water half full polypropelyne tanks froze solid. Fortunately they didn't burst, although the sides were bowed out. The marina ran two 110 volt electric heaters inside the boat for three days and nights to thaw them out. Then they were pumped out and winterized. One of the supply lines cracked from freezing. Luckily this was the only damage.

If your water systems aren't winterized, I would recommend using one or two office size electric heaters in your boat if you can plug into shore power. Make certain that there are fuses in the boat's shore power system and maybe shutoffs or fuses in the heaters.

Bob Lendvay

 

[Chuckbear]

Rich,

When my O'Day 28 went through three nights of record 22 degree temperatures due to a marina screwup, my freshwater and gray water half full polypropelyne tanks froze solid. Fortunately they didn't burst, although the sides were bowed out. The marina ran two 110 volt electric heaters inside the boat for three days and nights to thaw them out. Then they were pumped out and winterized. One of the supply lines cracked from freezing. Luckily this was the only damage.

If your water systems aren't winterized, I would recommend using one or two office size electric heaters in your boat if you can plug into shore power. Make certain that there are fuses in the boat's shore power system and maybe shutoffs or fuses in the heaters.

Bob Lendvay

Every marina I am aware of has a strict policy that does not allow heaters to be left on boats unattended. This is not a good idea, even if they do allow it and anyone that has experienced a marina fire understands why. I sure would not want my boat in a slip next to one that has a heater running when the owner is gone for the winter, fuses, circuit breaker or not. Chuck

 

[jrussnogle]

I've left my boat in the water through the winter a couple of times where the lake freezes up to 12" thick and the biggest problem I had was ice fishermen who used the cockpit as a storage container for their empty beer cans.

 

[higgs]

I think the issue is the POTENTIAL damage ice can do. As testified here, no one has had a boat damaged by freezing water. A friend of mine bought his O'Day 35 when its interior was a solid ice cube a foot OVER the floorboards. This included the engine. The boat was fine and he got a great deal. I think the curved surfaces of a hull make it unlikely for ice to damage it. It is like an ice cube tray. As long as the water has somewhere to expand to, you will probably be OK.

That said, if my boat were frozen in at the slip, I would be concerned.

 

[Mike1956]

Re: Missed the Window)= 1rst Boat is Frozen in?

All You folks must be talking about full keeled boats. What about a swing keel? If water froze inside of the trunk or the cable chase, then the expansion could cause damage that would allow leaks below the water line, wouldn't it?

 

[catsailor]

All You folks must be talking about full keeled boats. What about a swing keel? If water froze inside of the trunk or the cable chase, then the expansion could cause damage that would allow leaks below the water line, wouldn't it?

Unless you are freezing hard into freshwater ice or are far north, the notion is that the portion of the boat below the waterline does not freeze; there is liquid water under there. That's why through-hulls are not generally a big problem in the winter, though most run glycol through them before they close them.

Still, if I had a center board or swing-keel I would run the bubbler every year. Just to be certain.

 

[fifedog]

I've been told by my sailing mentor that you should resist the temptation of climbing aboard a boat in iced-over water. That sudden movement or swaying can potentially damage the hull. Otherwise, boat should be ok.

 

[Ketoj]

Wintering in-water in the great white north of Canada

No issues with ice in over 20 years. Due to dock power failure and subsequent loss of agitation I've been frozen in solid a couple of times. The ice will safely lift the boat without compressing the hull. However, it sure is a wild ride when you're on-board as the ice gives way under the weight of the boat. Feels like the world is endiing as the boat heaves and drops back into the water! Freezing in solid may remove some bottom paint around the water line. Trying to break ice off the side of the hull will definately remove boot top and or bottom paint, just let it melt off. The safest heater to leave on-board is the electric oil filled radiator type. Never heard of one failing and starting a fire and have used them safely for many many years. I have never winterized the engine or water system and keep the boat warm throughout with a combination of electric, propane and diesel heat (diesel heat (Volvo Ardic) is my back-up heat with thermostat set at 60). In the enclosed pictures you'll see the oil-filled and the propane heater. A half-horse power ice eater will generally keep a 34 boat clear all winter, even with well over a foot of ice around the boat (see picture). Close all through hulls when going away for any length of time. An old fishermans trick is to some pour molasses into through-hulls for the winter. It won't freeze and expand and it is evironmentaly friendly when you open them in spring.