Does anyone know of an example of a water ballasted Hunter actually being damaged due to leaving it in the water over winter and the ballast tank freezing?
Sunk
- Thread starter Bill Jones
- Start date
- Status
I don't know that this has been done by any owner, but I can guarantee that if you do that, the water in the ballast tank will freeze and you can expect damage that is very difficult to repair.
I'm sad if I loose a beer when I chill it in the freezer too long. I can only imagine how I'd feel with the same effect on my 260. The damage would total the boat just like my frozen brew. The ballast tank is glassed in and buried under the interior liner which can't come out without removing the deck which means forget it if the tank fractures or bursts from ice damage.
Being from the land of palm trees and bad sunburns I'm no expert on frozen plumbing or keeping regular boats in the big freeze but Your WB boat will have to come out of any body of water that can become solid(boggles my mind). I can't imagine that an insurance company would quickly (if at all) pay a claim like that as it borders on negligence.
There should be plenty of discussions in the archives where this was completely covered including adding antifreeze(which your lake won't like when it's eventually dumped).
Good luck in your winter haul out. Mike
Being from the land of palm trees and bad sunburns I'm no expert on frozen plumbing or keeping regular boats in the big freeze but Your WB boat will have to come out of any body of water that can become solid(boggles my mind). I can't imagine that an insurance company would quickly (if at all) pay a claim like that as it borders on negligence.
There should be plenty of discussions in the archives where this was completely covered including adding antifreeze(which your lake won't like when it's eventually dumped).
Good luck in your winter haul out. Mike
I guess what I'm after is this. I've hauled my boat out each winter and understand the implications that come with leaving it in the water. Kentucky gets winters and the lake will freeze at times. Not walk on frozen, but the surface in smaller coves may cover with ice. Would this be enough to cause the water ballast to freeze to the point of damage?
Probably not, especially if the freezing is that short. But if you can predict that this year you won't have a deep freeze, then you should play the power ball tonight.
The outside water is exposed directly to the air temp and air pressure, which would most likely freeze before the water inside the ballast tanks, as they are, however slightly, insulated. Much the same way that a glass of water will freeze outside your car before inside the car.
The other thing is that if your ballast tanks are mostly empty, but still have some water in them, as the water freezes and expands, it will expand into the empty void of the tank, not really pushing out on the sides. Put a styrofoam cup in the freezer. As the water freezes and expands, it expands up, not out and cracking the cup.
The outside water is exposed directly to the air temp and air pressure, which would most likely freeze before the water inside the ballast tanks, as they are, however slightly, insulated. Much the same way that a glass of water will freeze outside your car before inside the car.
The other thing is that if your ballast tanks are mostly empty, but still have some water in them, as the water freezes and expands, it will expand into the empty void of the tank, not really pushing out on the sides. Put a styrofoam cup in the freezer. As the water freezes and expands, it expands up, not out and cracking the cup.
If it drops to freezing for a few hours overnight, your ballast tank isn't going to freeze. Just consider how long it would take a 200 gal ice cube to freeze.
I have a space heater which has a thermostat and will come on if the air temp gets to 38*. The lake never freezes so as long as it's in the water, and the air inside the cabin isn't below freezing, I think I'm good.
I forget where I found it but you can find it online for less.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50667&subdeptNum=50668&classNum=50671
I have a space heater which has a thermostat and will come on if the air temp gets to 38*. The lake never freezes so as long as it's in the water, and the air inside the cabin isn't below freezing, I think I'm good.
I forget where I found it but you can find it online for less.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50667&subdeptNum=50668&classNum=50671
Just to give you an update... my wife and I are headed to the lake today to take the boat out of the water. I'm getting lazy in my old age and just wanted to avoid the whole process. Borrow my son's truck, pick up the trailer, get the boat out, rig for trailering, drop off the boat at the storage facility, return the truck. I've worn myself out thinking about it. Time for a nap.
Left my H23.5 in for one winter
I actually left my 23.5 in the water in Norfolk through two wnters. Rarely did it get that cold in Norfolk. One week though they did predict a rare freeze for about a week. I pumped all the water out of the ballast tank and added anti-freeze instead. I rigged a temporary cabin heater (100 W) and had no problems.
I actually left my 23.5 in the water in Norfolk through two wnters. Rarely did it get that cold in Norfolk. One week though they did predict a rare freeze for about a week. I pumped all the water out of the ballast tank and added anti-freeze instead. I rigged a temporary cabin heater (100 W) and had no problems.
What you'll gain is "piece of mind". Wouldn't you just hate to be the "poster child" 10 years from now, when someone asks your same exact question? :bang: BrianW
I live on and sail on Owasco Lake in Central New York and our lake freezes most years so like it or not I must haul my boat. What you describe, a surface freeze of the lake, will likely not cause your ballast tank any harm but I wouldn't chance it.
Have you thought of adding some anti-freeze to your ballast tank? The stuff that you add to water lines in RV's and boats comes to mind. Or perhaps heating the tank slightly to ensure it wont freeze?
Brad
s/v KIVALO
The boat is out and my fingers are killing me from dealing with all the shackles, springs, etc. A couple of folks mentioned antifreeze. You would have to add a lot for it to have an impact. Also, one year I pumped the water out of the ballast tank, left the boat in the water, and the next spring when I opened the valve to let water in, surprise, a full ballast tank. I don't believe those are sealed to the point that over long periods of time water doesn't reenter the tank.
I do have peace of mind... just wonder what became of my right trailer light? It was there when I started the trip, but missing in action at the end!
I do have peace of mind... just wonder what became of my right trailer light? It was there when I started the trip, but missing in action at the end!
"Also, one year I pumped the water out of the ballast tank, left the boat in the water, and the next spring when I opened the valve to let water in, surprise, a full ballast tank."
I launched the boat one afternoon, decided to come back and fill the ballast tank the next day. When I came back, I didn't need to -- it was full already, so I went sailing!
Between the weight of the boat and the fact that the tank valve gasket is designed to keep water in the tank, there's no easy way to keep it empty or partially filled while the boat is in the water.
I launched the boat one afternoon, decided to come back and fill the ballast tank the next day. When I came back, I didn't need to -- it was full already, so I went sailing!
Between the weight of the boat and the fact that the tank valve gasket is designed to keep water in the tank, there's no easy way to keep it empty or partially filled while the boat is in the water.
The seal on the water ballast stopper where it meets the hull is not perfect. It will allow water to fill the ballast in a very short time. A sudden unexpected freezing spell ...and your boat will be a total loss. ( we had 17 inches of unexpected snow here in New Jersey last week and it's still on the ground )
Years ago I bought a 1993 H23.5 that unknown to me at the time, a previous owner had left the water ballast full over the winter (Chicago area) and it apparently froze, cracking the water ballast tank. Last summer I sold the boat as a "parts boat" because the balsa wood core was completely saturated and rotted throughout the hull. Bought a much newer H240 for less than what the repair would have cost. USAA insurance did not cover (but that is another story). Very sad.
The risk is too great for the reward.
The risk is too great for the reward.
- Status