Do you really need to winterize a boat?

[diverd]

Last year i took my boat out of the water, winterised it with a full drain down and an antifreeze flush, then pipes disconnected. We then went into lockdown, so i spent months pottering with it, doing jobs that really did not need done, but basically every fluid was changed, and it had a massive service. This year i plan to keep it in the marina in salt water all winter, as i think in NE scotland its probably safer, it wont freeze. Then, in spring, when the low temperatures are passed, i plan to take it out of the water for a service, perhaps a couple of weeks in total. This is what most of the locals do and i think its probably safest up here.

 

[QBhoy]

Last year i took my boat out of the water, winterised it with a full drain down and an antifreeze flush, then pipes disconnected. We then went into lockdown, so i spent months pottering with it, doing jobs that really did not need done, but basically every fluid was changed, and it had a massive service. This year i plan to keep it in the marina in salt water all winter, as i think in NE scotland its probably safer, it wont freeze. Then, in spring, when the low temperatures are passed, i plan to take it out of the water for a service, perhaps a couple of weeks in total. This is what most of the locals do and i think its probably safest up here.

I think you might be taking a chance on that theory perhaps. I’ve worked in north east Scotland over the years and it is definitely seriously cold on occasion. In fact likely the coldest temps I’ve seen in Scotland have been up there.

 

[diverd]

I think you might be taking a chance on that theory perhaps. I’ve worked in north east Scotland over the years and it is definitely seriously cold on occasion. In fact likely the coldest temps I’ve seen in Scotland have been up there.

Really, i have lived here all my life, loads of boats stay in the sea year round and i have never seen the sea freeze up here, the rivers do but the salt water never does. I have dived here for 30 years and i dont think the sea ever gets below about 2 degrees. That said i would be interested to understand the risks, i think the inboard will be fine its full of sea water, but the auxiliary engine, an outboard may be at risk, its out of the water, but on the transom. I plan to get a pal who lives by the marina to remove it for me this week and take it home, where i know it will be safe, I would appreciate any advice re keeping the boat in the sea, in a sheltered marina and freezing. I had thought it totally safe.

 

[simonfraser]

leaving it pickling in salt water for a significant chunk of time over the winter period is going to accelerate decay and corrosion
i'd rather take it out and rinse it all out / off
yes the water tanks and external cooling circuits will need draining

 

[pumpsmynads]

I can also see that you have the now well known issue with the prop bore sleeve ring coming loose too. Lots of people are now seeing this with these CT and larger gearcase. The wee white plastic ring that’s loose there behind the prop. It is meant to be further in and secured on wee tabs. They are known to come lose like yours has here. When they are loose they allow exhaust bubbles to travel over the prop blades and result in a drop in performance. Behaves almost like a misfire on occasion. You need to either re secure it by bending the tabs a little or get a new one. Otherwise you’ll be losing performance and efficiency too.

Hi, i Found a better picture. It also has the propeller details on it you were asking for. This was taken before a service where they did replace the sleeve. I’ll get up to the boat today and take another look.

 

[QBhoy]

Really, i have lived here all my life, loads of boats stay in the sea year round and i have never seen the sea freeze up here, the rivers do but the salt water never does. I have dived here for 30 years and i dont think the sea ever gets below about 2 degrees. That said i would be interested to understand the risks, i think the inboard will be fine its full of sea water, but the auxiliary engine, an outboard may be at risk, its out of the water, but on the transom. I plan to get a pal who lives by the marina to remove it for me this week and take it home, where i know it will be safe, I would appreciate any advice re keeping the boat in the sea, in a sheltered marina and freezing. I had thought it totally safe.

Hi there. You are correct in saying that there is no chance of the sea freezing over. That’s not the issue though. It is true that a boat in the water has less chance of frost damage...especially on components nearer or under the water level. But for certain, engine blocks can and have frozen on raw water cooled engines all around Scotland. Common occurrence. If it’s internally cooled with a heat exchanger then you still have a risk of the raw water system freezing. Either way, you’ll need to drain it down. We have been lucky in Scotland over the last few years, but we are due a cold one. The water in your engine is stagnant, unlike the water around your hull. It is at risk of freezing for sure. As for the outboard. As long as that’s left tilted down enough to avoid water trapped in the lower sections...you’ll be ok.

 

[Momac]

Looks like some frosty weather is coming up in the next week.
Minus 1 forecast .
I don't think this is enough to be worried about for a boat in the water .

 

[simonfraser]

Looks like some frosty weather is coming up in the next week.
Minus 1 forecast .
I don't think this is enough to be worried about for a boat in the water .

-4C last year around my boat on a trailer overnight, the few cups of water in the bilge after i had drained the tanks had not frozen the next morning (no heat running in the boat)

 

[QBhoy]

-4C last year around my boat on a trailer overnight, the few cups of water in the bilge after i had drained the tanks had not frozen the next morning (no heat running in the boat)

Needs to be a good few nights of freezing with temps not rising above 0 too much in the day, really. That’s the danger circumstances.

 

[p.keatley1]

Hi All,
I’m a new owner looking for reassurance. I had a Sigma 292 lifted out just before Christmas for pre-purchase survey. Sale went ahead and I’d planned to get it back in the water but the yard closed due to covid. It hasn’t been winterised but I did leave an oil-filled radiator with a timer and thermostat on - probably something like 200 W of heat from 4pm until 10am. Lockdown now means that I haven’t been able to travel (50 miles away) to check everything is ok. The lowest air temperature overnight has probably been -2 or -3 tops. Should I be lying awake at night worrying (I am)?

 

[Greg2]

Where is the radiator? Assuming that it isn’t in the engine bay then if the boat is out of the water the raw water side of the engine cooling system should really be drained or have anti-freeze run through it and the fresh water system drained.

On the temperatures you have mentioned things might well be okay because in my experience temps inside are usually higher than outside but I would be making efforts to get it winterised. The yard should really enable this being done IMHO.

 

[p.keatley1]

Thanks for that. The radiator is at the aft end of the cabin, beside the companionway and engine space. I’m hopeful (or maybe hopelessly optimistic) that because of the radiator and the fact that the low temperatures weren’t prolonged (it has always reached +2 or 3 during the day so far) there would have been enough heat to stop it freezing.
The yard is shut down and they’re adamant that they can’t allow access.

 

[Greg2]

Thanks for that. The radiator is at the aft end of the cabin, beside the companionway and engine space. I’m hopeful (or maybe hopelessly optimistic) that because of the radiator and the fact that the low temperatures weren’t prolonged (it has always reached +2 or 3 during the day so far) there would have been enough heat to stop it freezing.
The yard is shut down and they’re adamant that they can’t allow access.

Yards making up rules is a bit of an issue - in reality they have no role in enforcing any of the Covid restrictions and whilst people accessing boats should be at a minimum it is acceptable to undertake urgent works in my view.

I would put it to them that your boat is at risk of damage if not winterised and ask that they allow access for this to be done. It may be that you have to pay an engineer to do it but not allowing any access at is manifestly unreasonable to my mind. If they refuse then perhaps pointing out that you will hold them responsible might give them pause for thought.

 

[BruceK]

Yes. West Landdudno beach at the mouth of Conwy estuary this last weekend. That is sea ice albeit the sea water temp is still above freezing.

 

[MystyBlue2]

Yes. West Landdudno beach at the mouth of Conwy estuary this last weekend. That is sea ice albeit the sea water temp is still above freezing.

WOW watch out for the iceberg's

We all know what happened to the HMS Titanic.

That is bloody insane!

 

[ChromeDome]

Several years of mild winters made people belive the global warming came to stay.

Then it turned minus 17 C over night and for a week kept below zero, day and night.
Marina closed by ice, not a chance to move to the lift or anywhere else, if you wanted to lift the boat out.

One dinghy and a speed boat went down so far despite marina staff calling owners to alert them in due time

 

[MystyBlue2]

Oh my god!! You'd be devastated.

Global warming does not exist IMHO.

It's a fact of nature and the globe is always in a continuous cycle between a greenhouse and a snowball earth. Its been that way since the birth of the planet.

Deisel cars and plastic bags have nothing to do with weather its mother nature showing us she's the boss. And she always will be.

That pic is unreal! Nice pics ?

 

[Mr Googler]

Several years of mild winters made people belive the global warming came to stay.

Then it turned minus 17 C over night and for a week kept below zero, day and night.
Marina closed by ice, not a chance to move to the lift or anywhere else, if you wanted to lift the boat out.

One dinghy and a speed boat went down so far despite marina staff calling owners to alert them in due time

View attachment 109353View attachment 109354

Where is that?

 

[madabouttheboat]

Those moorings look like it may be in the Netherlands. Only place I have seen them here is in Gillingham (do they still have them).

 

[Momac]

Daytime temperatures forecast at 10 degrees throughout the next week and no frost.
A week of chilly weather hardly means global warming is not a thing.