Freezing in the water

[Kevlar7r]

I never really thought about it until just now... Winterizing in Florida. We're under a hard freeze warning tonight. Expected low of about 24. The boat is in the water at the dock.

I'm going to turn the heater on inside the cabin just to keep it a wee bit warmer, but I don't know what to do about the engines.



I seriously doubt I could have a freeze problem in the engine compartment over night in that weather.



What do you guys think?

[biggerseagar]

Sometimes putting a trouble light in the bilge for the night works.

Welcome to our world....

Roger

[Kevlar7r]

All my trouble lights are LED. Not sure it would do the trick. 😉

[Kevlar7r]

I just went down there. Its a full 15 degrees warmer in the cabin than it is outside. The eisenglass traps a fair amount of heat. The river its sitting in isn't going to get that cold. I'd be surprised if it went below 60. Its brackish water connected to the ocean. I think it will be fine.

[Phillbo]

One night with a low in the 20's is nothing to worry about. It will not be cold long enough to do damage.

How far away is the boat? If you could go down and run it for a few minutes you would be 100% safe.

[Kevlar7r]

Yea, I could, except that I have the belts off both engines at the moment. Waiting for a new water pump pulley for one, and just didn't put the other back together yet. I could run the Gen, but I doubt that would add enough heat.

As far as distance, its about 150' or so from my living room. The admiral can see it from her kitchen window. Its a nice view. :-)

[biggerseagar]

New wave tech got me on that one. A trouble light with a led bulb instead of an old fashion Edison special go figure....

Fyi ..that is one of the winter snow problems of traffic lights with led bulbs......they don't melt the snow ...can't see the signal.

Stay warm.. a lovely 18 degrees here in central Illinois.

Roger

[mmwjr]

That warm water has a lot of thermal mass that needs to be cooled down before it will freeze, however engines are surrounded by air and will freeze if it stays below freezing for a couple of days. A marine engine heater may be called for.

Southern states have the highest issue with cracked blocks as folks who normally do not have to winterized get caught off guard by these cold snaps.

The winter season is just starting, best of luck as it is already abnormally cold

[Kevlar7r]

My thoughts exactly Mike. I am a chemical engineer after all...

[mmwjr]

EE myself with a Masters in Computer Science