Winter Storage + Batteries?

[GeneraiT001]

Hi,
New boat (to me). It has 3 x 100Ahr Lead Acid Batteries. Its using a 100W solar panel to charge them. The boat is now on the hard and eventually that solar panel will be covered in snow. Should I just leave it as is or is it better to disconnect the battery leads?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If the panels will “eventually be covered in snow”, i Infer that means the boat isn’t covered during winter.

Snow will melt. Unless the boat is ‘dry’, water will get into the bilge. If your bilge pump doesn’t have power, it will obviously freeze. Not a good recipe for anything. Either cover the boat or leave a battery to power the pump. As the self-discharge of lead acid batteries is directly proportional to temperature, it too will be low during winter.

 

[GeneraiT001]

If the panels will “eventually be covered in snow”, i Infer that means the boat isn’t covered during winter.

Snow will melt. Unless the boat is ‘dry’, water will get into the bilge. If your bilge pump doesn’t have power, it will obviously freeze. Not a good recipe for anything. Either cover the boat or leave a battery to power the pump. As the self-discharge of lead acid batteries is directly proportional to temperature, it too will be low during winter.

Yes, unfortunately it is not covered. I do worry about ice in the bilge. I guess on the plus side the winters aren't to harsh here.

 

[dlochner]

If the batteries are fully charged, just disconnect the negative cable and call it a day. Flooded batteries need to be fully charged and have enough water.

Water in the bilge can be an issue, especially with keel stepped masts when the mast is left up. If the bilge pump is left on and the water freezes it can render the pump inoperable, possibly causing it to seize. A common approach to the water issue is the installation of a garboard drain plug. This is a bronze plug and fitting installed in the lowest part of the bilge, when opened water can drain out. Just remember to put the plug back in before launch.

 

[kappykaplan]

A common approach to the water issue is the installation of a garboard drain plug.

I finally had one installed a few years ago.

 

[jssailem]

This might be a good thread to review.

Winterizing batteries. Yeah, getting WAY ahead of myself here...

But, I'm working and reading and thinking about batteries and electrical projects right now, and if I don't ask the question now, I'll lose the context. I'm going to end up with three new FLA batteries this week. The batteries have all been purchased, two deep cycle G31 as my house bank, and...

forums.sailboatowners.com

Winter Battery Storage & Self Discharge Characteristics - Marine How To

December 11, 2012 After having a discussion with one of my customers, about leaving his battery charger running on-board all winter, a practice I am certainly not a huge fan of, and one his boat yard specifically prohibits, I decided to venture into this article.

marinehowto.com

 

[Leeward Rail]

self-discharge of lead acid batteries is directly proportional to temperature

Yes. Slower.self discharge at colder temperatures

If the batteries are fully charged, just disconnect the negative cable and call it a day. Flooded batteries need to be fully charged and have enough water.

This.

As long as the lead acid batteries are fully charged, they won't freeze here at -40c, so they will be fine in Nfld.

Disconnecting the cables ensures they won't discharge from load left on by accident or parasitic draw. make sure the batteries are clean.

I guess on the plus side the winters aren't to harsh here.

Harsh winters are better if it does go below freezing.

If the temps get too warm and the snow can melt/freeze/melt, it can cause problems.
If it's actually cold most of the winter, then snow isn't melting. No water entering the boat. No humidity.

Make sure the cockpit drains don't freeze shut.
Here, it's usually a quick transition to cold temps (-15c to -35c) so there isn't much of a ice problem, but with Newfoundland conditions, your cockpit drains could freeze closed, and you eventually end up with a cockpit of water that can drain into lockers, or over the bridgedeck, and into the cabin.

I assume you live near the boat, so just visit it occasionally and make sure it doesn't have too much snow buildup. Especially just before spring melt.

Garboard plug is a good idea. Bayfields in our marina have them.

Fwiw, the majority.of the boats in our marina aren't covered during winter storage. It's nice to do so, but not mandatory.

 

[east coaster]

I have left my mast in this year and have raised a 100 watt solar panel vertically from the flag halyards. The output goes to a victron mppt controller to keep my trojan deep cycle 450 amp bank topped up over the winter. Even on cloudy days it works well, as it's oriented to the south. The panel is about 5 feet above the deck as I only cover the hatch area. The panel is well secured against the wind. Since it's vertical no snow to clear off and the rain when it happens clears the gypsum dust off as a loading facility is nearby to ensure all boats are covered. Gypsum when it gets wet from dew or rain essentially turn to concrete especially on the dodger windows. Have had a cover made to cover the windows, cheaper than replacing the windows every other year. It works for me. With the victron Bluetooth app I can see the status of the charging system just being near the boat usually about 10 to 15 feet. Saves a lot of shovelling.

 

[GeneraiT001]

Yes. Slower.self discharge at colder temperatures


This.

As long as the lead acid batteries are fully charged, they won't freeze here at -40c, so they will be fine in Nfld.

Disconnecting the cables ensures they won't discharge from load left on by accident or parasitic draw. make sure the batteries are clean.



Harsh winters are better if it does go below freezing.

If the temps get too warm and the snow can melt/freeze/melt, it can cause problems.
If it's actually cold most of the winter, then snow isn't melting. No water entering the boat. No humidity.

Make sure the cockpit drains don't freeze shut.
Here, it's usually a quick transition to cold temps (-15c to -35c) so there isn't much of a ice problem, but with Newfoundland conditions, your cockpit drains could freeze closed, and you eventually end up with a cockpit of water that can drain into lockers, or over the bridgedeck, and into the cabin.

I assume you live near the boat, so just visit it occasionally and make sure it doesn't have too much snow buildup. Especially just before spring melt.

Garboard plug is a good idea. Bayfields in our marina have them.

Fwiw, the majority.of the boats in our marina aren't covered during winter storage. It's nice to do so, but not mandatory.

Thanks for all that. Unfortunately I'm a 4hr drive (one way) to the boat. I'll plan on going up there after any significant snowfall and clear it off as best I can.

To use a garboard I'd have to drill a hole through the hull for it? Can't see doing that. For now I'll just pour some antifreeze down into the bilge area, I guess

 

[GeneraiT001]

I have left my mast in this year and have raised a 100 watt solar panel vertically from the flag halyards. The output goes to a victron mppt controller to keep my trojan deep cycle 450 amp bank topped up over the winter. Even on cloudy days it works well, as it's oriented to the south. The panel is about 5 feet above the deck as I only cover the hatch area. The panel is well secured against the wind. Since it's vertical no snow to clear off and the rain when it happens clears the gypsum dust off as a loading facility is nearby to ensure all boats are covered. Gypsum when it gets wet from dew or rain essentially turn to concrete especially on the dodger windows. Have had a cover made to cover the windows, cheaper than replacing the windows every other year. It works for me. With the victron Bluetooth app I can see the status of the charging system just being near the boat usually about 10 to 15 feet. Saves a lot of shovelling.

Hmmm...thats a good idea. I'll be up there tomorrow and see if thats doable for me.

 

[kappykaplan]

To use a garboard I'd have to drill a hole through the hull for it?

Yes. How else will the accumulated water get out of the bilge? The issue with putting antifreeze in the bilge is that it will be diluted over time, becoming less effective.

 

[dlochner]

In the past I have left dry sponges and old towels in a dry bilge over the winter. The theory being the sponges and towel would absorb any water and then freeze, thus helping to protect keel bolts and bilge pumps from freeze thaw cycles.

 

[Leeward Rail]

Thanks for all that. Unfortunately I'm a 4hr drive (one way) to the boat. I'll plan on going up there after any significant snowfall and clear it off as best I can.

4 hours ! Not fun. Any friends near the boat who can be bribed ?

If it's cold enough that the snow stays fluffy it's not an issue. Here, on the prairies, wind blows excessive snow off the deck. It's the cockpit that can fill up. The side decks not so much. It's slopes up against the cabintop.

When it starts melting and turning into ice that it becomes a problem. Like having snow on trees vs an ice storm. It's a LOT heavier, in addition to the cockpit drain freezing risk.

That's something you would have to figure out. Locals where your boat is would know what it's usually like for winter conditions.

To use a garboard I'd have to drill a hole through the hull for it? Can't see doing that

It's usually the simplest option to keep the bilge dry. No need to worry about bilge pumps and solar power etc. Any water that goes in.. drains out. Only work involved is to ensure you don't forget to put the plug at spring launch. A Bayfield 29 here, surprised her new owners that way. Hehe.
Not sure where you would install one on the 36 with the fuel and water tanks above the keel. Maybe you can find another owner or a Bayfield online group and ask.

 

[GeneraiT001]

4 hours ! Not fun. Any friends near the boat who can be bribed ?

If it's cold enough that the snow stays fluffy it's not an issue. Here, on the prairies, wind blows excessive snow off the deck. It's the cockpit that can fill up. The side decks not so much. It's slopes up against the cabintop.

When it starts melting and turning into ice that it becomes a problem. Like having snow on trees vs an ice storm. It's a LOT heavier, in addition to the cockpit drain freezing risk.

That's something you would have to figure out. Locals where your boat is would know what it's usually like for winter conditions.




It's usually the simplest option to keep the bilge dry. No need to worry about bilge pumps and solar power etc. Any water that goes in.. drains out. Only work involved is to ensure you don't forget to put the plug at spring launch. A Bayfield 29 here, surprised her new owners that way. Hehe.
Not sure where you would install one on the 36 with the fuel and water tanks above the keel. Maybe you can find another owner or a Bayfield online group and ask.

The bilge pump is in a crazy awkward spot beneath the cockpit and the only way to get to it is through the right side seat...I'm small and it seemed impractical unless I removed the battery bank which is also under that cockpit seat...I'm hoping to find a better place to locate those batteries.

What if that Garboard thing failed while at sea, I'd never be able to plug it.

 

[Leeward Rail]

What if that Garboard thing failed while at sea, I'd never be able to plug it.

Being able to access it from inside would be a good thing.

What do other Bayfield 36 owners do ?

https://m.facebook.com/groups/bayfieldowners/

That said, a bronze one, with a bronze plug would last a long time, and you would effectively be inspecting/using it twice a year.
Any thruhull fittings, like anything on a boat, need regular inspections.

 

[High Current]

+1 for the Garboard drain if you're uncovered. I've heard too many horror stories of boats flooding after their cockpit scuppers let go. OTOH I haven't drilled one yet because my mast is unstepped, my boat is covered, and my walk-through transom has no scuppers, but it's on the list so I can go mast-up next winter.

As for the batteries, I say disconnect them, they'll be fine. As for the bilge, which you're presumably filling with antifreeze...if the bilge pump runs, the first cycle will remove most of your antifreeze, leaving more pure water to collect and freeze the next time...

 

[GeneraiT001]

To get the antifreeze in the bilge....do you pour it through the thru hull or just our it inside the boat (for me the bilge is in the lowest part of the full keel (hard to get to)?

 

[Tally Ho]

I always just pour some pink AF in my bilge for the winter. My boat is covered, but I still get some water in the bilge. So some AF keeps it from freezing hard.

Greg

 

[dLj]

To get the antifreeze in the bilge....do you pour it through the thru hull or just our it inside the boat (for me the bilge is in the lowest part of the full keel (hard to get to)?

I have a very deep bilge - about 6 feet down. So there is quite a bit of back flow once my bilge pump stops pumping. I pour antifreeze into my bilge, let it pump out, then pour more antifreeze in and let it pump out again. That way I get plenty of antifreeze throughout my bilge system. I also have a pretty dry boat, I don't get water in over the winter. You'll need to know how your boat does or does not get water in just sitting. I just pour down from inside the cabin - easy.

dj