maby
Well-known member
We'll be living on-board, so it will be plenty warm enough - my toes will be giving out long before the sea-cocks!
How much winterizing when still in the water?
- Thread starter Nostrodamus
- Start date
Dockhead
Active member
Yikes! And where was that? South Coast?
Boathook
Well-known member
+1.
My freshwater system froze last winter. Luckily no bursts, but it wrecked the general ecology filter that costs over £40 to replace.
rafiki_
Well-known member
No, on the R Severn. I know that sea water would be a little warmer, and less likely to freeze, but the ambient at minus a lot can still cause damage.
MAURICE
Active member
Dockhead
I am also in the Hamble mid river opposite universal on a pontoon. Last year it got cold and i was worried that my fresh water might freeze and damage something. But all was well I leave my water pump off and then leave my galley/heads taps open. I only start the engine when going sailing to get out the river. So far no problems
Maurice
I am also in the Hamble mid river opposite universal on a pontoon. Last year it got cold and i was worried that my fresh water might freeze and damage something. But all was well I leave my water pump off and then leave my galley/heads taps open. I only start the engine when going sailing to get out the river. So far no problems
Maurice
Dockhead
Active member
Ah, we're neighbors!
It's a tough decision, because draining down the whole fresh water system is a royal PITA for the two or three weeks until the next sail. Plus, being in the middle of the river with no water on the pontoon, it means you've got no water when you arrive on the boat . . .
It was d***d cold last winter, so if it worked for you then -- maybe it's a reasonable bet for this year . . .
And I suppose you didn't do anything to winterize your engine?
MAURICE
Active member
i changed the oil and kept the engine compartment doors open. I also changed some of the antifreeze to make sure it was up to the job. That was about it apart from the usual leaving all doors cupboards etc open to air
npf1
Active member
I'm also mid river and have kept the boat in service over three winters (but not the last three).
On those winters, I didn't drain the domestic freshwater system as it is a double PITA for me (cos two of everything including pressure pumps, calorifiers, f/w loos, showers). On one occasion, a pipe came off a sink tap in the heads but, apart from that, there were no other issues. And that issue took all of 30 seconds to fix.
Having said all of that, the past couple of winters have been IMHO abnormally cold, so this year I might chuck a couple of tubs of non toxic antifreeze in the smaller of the water tanks and pump everything through. Whilst this will be far weaker than recommended concentration, given that I've only had minor issues in the past, seems to me that I probably only need protection for a few degrees colder.
Edit: just looked at the price on non toxic antifreeze and it looks like it would be cheaper to use 3 litres of cheapo vodka!
BTW: I do antifreeze everything else, such as raw water side of engine, other machinery etc. Plus, I've rigged valve/tube etc to be able to do this very quickly/easily, rather than 'pull off a hose and put it in a bucket'.
On those winters, I didn't drain the domestic freshwater system as it is a double PITA for me (cos two of everything including pressure pumps, calorifiers, f/w loos, showers). On one occasion, a pipe came off a sink tap in the heads but, apart from that, there were no other issues. And that issue took all of 30 seconds to fix.
Having said all of that, the past couple of winters have been IMHO abnormally cold, so this year I might chuck a couple of tubs of non toxic antifreeze in the smaller of the water tanks and pump everything through. Whilst this will be far weaker than recommended concentration, given that I've only had minor issues in the past, seems to me that I probably only need protection for a few degrees colder.
Edit: just looked at the price on non toxic antifreeze and it looks like it would be cheaper to use 3 litres of cheapo vodka!
BTW: I do antifreeze everything else, such as raw water side of engine, other machinery etc. Plus, I've rigged valve/tube etc to be able to do this very quickly/easily, rather than 'pull off a hose and put it in a bucket'.
aquaplane
Active member
We drain all the water out of the tank even when leaving the boat afloat. It's easy enough to use a couple or 4 washed out 4 or 6 pint milk bottles for hot drinks and stuff.
Draining the water off the engine has worked for my father for years with the boat out of the water, but it didn't last year and he now has a new engine, that's on the Clyde. The feed to the sink in the head has split in the past and that was after draining down the water system.
Last year I got my engine warm and then disconnected the water inlet from the seacock and sucked in a gallon of 50:50 antifreeze in November. It was OK untill April the next time the engine ran. Half a gallon of antifreeze isn't going to kill everything in sight, or out of sight, or even mildly inconvenience anything.
Draining the water off the engine has worked for my father for years with the boat out of the water, but it didn't last year and he now has a new engine, that's on the Clyde. The feed to the sink in the head has split in the past and that was after draining down the water system.
Last year I got my engine warm and then disconnected the water inlet from the seacock and sucked in a gallon of 50:50 antifreeze in November. It was OK untill April the next time the engine ran. Half a gallon of antifreeze isn't going to kill everything in sight, or out of sight, or even mildly inconvenience anything.