Big Freeze and my water tank

Badger

Badger

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Jan 2002
Messages
582
Location
South East
Visit site
With all the forecasts of the big freeze next week, my boat is still in the water in a south coast marina and I haven't emptied the water tank.I remember that the taps all had little stickers on them when I first got her with warning messages about what would happen if the pipes froze. Should I drive down and drain the tank or not worry about it ? Advice Please.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
sea water temp still about 7-9 centigrade so tank should be ok. just draining pipework should do?

if you've a holding tank or even suspect possession of one, we have an expert nearby who can advise on freezing point etc etc

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I leave a heater on. My rationale is that whilst sea water is well above FP cold air will fall to the (insulated) bottom of the boat and get a lot colder than the water its floating in.

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..
 
Re: Bilge ....

.. water, that is, doesn't freeze on my manky auld boat but then you wouldn't know not having a bilge to shake a stick in ...

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Re: Bilge ....

Aye .. but you run a heater as well ye daft auld ejeet! And onyroads the bacteria furiously swimming in ra watter'll keep it fluid ..

<hr width=100% size=1>.. whit way roon should it be again ..
 
Just an experience...

...from the ice cold north.
With watertemperature less than +4 and air temperature between +- 0 (day time) and -8 (nights) during 5 following days the temperature in the closed engine room/bilge never fell below +2. During the same time the lowest recorded temperature in the saloon, above engine room was -6

So, don´t underestimate the surrounding waters ability to keep the bilges warm!

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Off to do ours tomorrow. Learnt our lesson last year, galley tap froze and burst all the seals. Will drain the tanks and leave all the taps open.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
I was going to turn up the fan heater in the saloon to 2kw, and open up the berth with the tank, calorifier and pump under it. Not enough? Should I drain the sytem down?

I'm not that keen on leaving the calorifier heating on, but I don't know why!!

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=red>
 
Living in relatively warm South Wales the only time my watertank has frozen was with the boat ashore.

Luckilly no damage.

Have you considered the engine cooling water ?If possible run the engine with the inlet pipe sucking up a bucket of antifreeze mixed with fresh water.

Wrapping the engine with old coats etc may help.

Water in the toilet pipework and bowl can also freeze .

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Rats, I wasn't going to go to the boat this week because the forecast is so bad but now I realise that's exactly why I have to get there.
My boat is out of the water and I didn't drain the water tank. I don't know if it would survive freezing or not but I'm not going to chance it.

Thanks for the reminder Badger.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
You might save yourself some aggro by closing the loo water in seacock, pump out, close loo output and draining the bottom of the bowl off, it is amazing how fragile the plastic pipe is that the bowl is fitted to!!!!

Iota

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top