thinwater
Well-known member
Is it in the water or on the hard? Huge difference, cannot be discussed in the same entry. Refuler, I believe, stays in the water (said seacock was closed). The seawater moderates the temperature.
Does the water left in the toilet pump never freeze in the UK ?
- Thread starter simonfraser
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Refueler
Well-known member
2007 till 2019 - she stayed in water ... Fresh Water not Sea. Its a river berth. Water freezes to about 30 - 40cms in winter with my intake about that depth. Seacock is closed from last boat outing.
Winter 19 - 20 ... 21 - 22 ... she was lifted onto hard ... all seacocks were then opened and pump handles extended fully to allow air to enter and let water drop out. Seacocks left open.
Bilgediver
Well-known member
Unlikely if in the water and possible if ashore and a long cold period below zero.
eilerts
Member
I throw some antifreeze (40%) in the the bowl and pump it through (I guess this is far more concentrated than really needed). Then I detach the seawater intake hose from the toilet and blow air with the dingy pump until I hear bubbling outside, and quickly close the valve.
Any substance that dissolves in water works as anti freeze. Salt and sugar works well, but I would not like to have a 40% solution of that in my valves over the winter. Pee works too, if you first make a concentrate (not the diluted version your body produce).
Ordinary ball valves are surprisingly thin around the ball, so if a closed water filled valve is allowed to freeze, it will not stand the pressure. I have never seen it on boat in the water, just when stored on land and the owner had forgot to open the valve.
Any substance that dissolves in water works as anti freeze. Salt and sugar works well, but I would not like to have a 40% solution of that in my valves over the winter. Pee works too, if you first make a concentrate (not the diluted version your body produce).
Ordinary ball valves are surprisingly thin around the ball, so if a closed water filled valve is allowed to freeze, it will not stand the pressure. I have never seen it on boat in the water, just when stored on land and the owner had forgot to open the valve.
HR340
New member
Is the general advice to close all seacocks when leaving the boat for a period of time over winter (in the water in a marina)?
Little Dorrit
Well-known member
I have just had a look at World Water Temperature & | Sea Temperatures and it would appear on the south coast (Portsmouth) December sea temperatures don't get below 10° C, so I am assuming it's unlikely that the temperature inside the boat is going to drop much below that.
ChromeDome
Well-known member
Interesting,- something however doesn't add up when our marina min. temp allegedly is 3.3 C and this is the reality some years:
Refueler
Well-known member
You are confusing open sea with closed shallow sea. The Gulf Stream comes across Atlantic ... divides as it hits Ireland ... then divides again with an arm actually transiting Eng Chnl across N Sea ....
This keeps Solent and Eng Chnl above freezing even when weather may run to freezing ..... but as you get away from the Gulf Stream influence - ie rivers / harbours etc. - you can have freezing conditons. Note that the salinity also affects what temp the water freezes at ..... further upriver you go - the temp at which ice occurs rises.
Its why Palm Trees can be grown in SW England.