Over-winter afloat in UK - engine precautions

[Sticky Fingers]

Hi folks

Might be a numpty question but here goes.

New mobo owner as you may know, boat has 2x VP D4/300s on DPH legs. Planning to keep the boat afloat in R Hamble over winter. Question is what precautions if any do I need to take to ensure that the engines / cooling system do not suffer as a result of the cold(ish) weather we may experience. I have 240v available in the engine room so tubular heaters on thermostats would be easy to do.

Other ideas / suggestions / banter welcome.

Thank you.

 

[Greg2]

In reality it has to be very cold for some time before the engine bay is at risk of falling below freezing when the boat is afloat. Much more likely to happen when ashore and the hull is surrounded by cold air.

Tubular heaters okay - perhaps use on a thermostat switch but they rely on the shore power not tripping. If the boat is not going to be used then running environmentally friendly anti-freeze through the raw water side of the engines is a sensible precaution, as is draining the freshwater system. Transom shower heads often get forgotten and split when the water freezes so best to drain /isolate that whatever you do.
.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

OK that's what I thought. Engine bay has side vents so keeping the air warm in there isn't an option. Room for heaters under the sumps.

We do use the boat periodically over the winter if we get a nice high pressure day. Sometimes only for a long weekend retreat, but if poss I'd prefer not to winterize it.

Transom shower a good call, easy to remove I think.

 

[rafiki_]

Hi folks

Might be a numpty question but here goes.

New mobo owner as you may know, boat has 2x VP D4/300s on DPH legs. Planning to keep the boat afloat in R Hamble over winter. Question is what precautions if any do I need to take to ensure that the engines / cooling system do not suffer as a result of the cold(ish) weather we may experience. I have 240v available in the engine room so tubular heaters on thermostats would be easy to do.

Other ideas / suggestions / banter welcome.

Thank you.

Your domestic water system is more at threat than the engine. The Hamble is sea water hence unlikely to freeze. My boat spent 5 winters on the Hamble. only issue I had was a bust domestic two when she was on the hard one winter. I used tube heaters in the engine room, Lazerette, cabins and saloon. All on temp controlled plugs, set at 5c.

 

[Plum]

Hi folks

Might be a numpty question but here goes.

New mobo owner as you may know, boat has 2x VP D4/300s on DPH legs. Planning to keep the boat afloat in R Hamble over winter. Question is what precautions if any do I need to take to ensure that the engines / cooling system do not suffer as a result of the cold(ish) weather we may experience. I have 240v available in the engine room so tubular heaters on thermostats would be easy to do.

Other ideas / suggestions / banter welcome.

Thank you.

I keep mine in the water over winter (East coast) and assuming your coolant is of the correct type/strength you only need to worry about the domestic fresh water and calorifier. I do not use, and never have done, heaters or dehumidifiers, just ensure some ventilation. I only drain the fresh water system when the weather forcast predicts sub zero temperatures and refill it again once the temperatures recover. Overthe last 5 years my fresh water system has not been drained for more than a month each year. I also aim to use the boat at least once per month.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[russ]

Same situation. I did drain down and antifreeze the domestic side last year however I would prefer to be able to use it this time round. I thought of filling with what I need and just draining the system afterwards and leave all the taps open.
I have an oil filled rad on a separate stat in the engine bay and a moisture trap in the cabin.

 

[ashtead]

Most likely issue will be freshwater pipes for calorifier splitting or valves joint failing. Nice clean bilges of course when they fail but not ideal experience. Might be just downtown poor convectors used on sailboats though . If we remember we drain the water tank when leaving afloat in winter for a while.

 

[NoviceRod]

We keep the boat in the water in Torquay, and use occasionally if the weather is fine.

I use tube heaters in cabin, and under engine, both sets on thermostats. I also run a dehumidifier in the saloon, which boosts the temperature slightly. 6degC was lowest temperature inside last winter.

I drain down the flybridge taps and transom shower, but do not drain entire FW system, nor do I add antifreeze.

Engines have antifreeze in FW coolant.

 

[Sneds]

Oil filled radiators in bedrooms and saloon and engine room cost about £5 per week
Overkill? Probably but nice and toasty and one less thing to worry about

 

[RIN]

We keep our boat on the Hamble all winter as the boat is sitting on a heat sink of water at 6 degrees or so it would have to be unbelievably cold weather to cause a problem. Its much safer than taking the boat out of the water in which case you will need to winterize it or use heaters and hope the electricity does not drop out.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

We keep the boat in the water in Torquay, and use occasionally if the weather is fine. I use tube heaters in cabin, and under engine, both sets on thermostats. I also run a dehumidifier in the saloon, which boosts the temperature slightly. 6degC was lowest temperature inside last winter.

I drain down the flybridge taps and transom shower, but do not drain entire FW system, nor do I add antifreeze. Engines have antifreeze in FW coolant.

Oil filled radiators in bedrooms and saloon and engine room cost about £5 per week
Overkill? Probably but nice and toasty and one less thing to worry about

Thanks folks. Yes I also use oil filled rads in the saloon and cabins.

Consensus seems to be that engines wil be fine. I think I'll add a small thermostatic tube heater under each one though.

 

[Elessar]

Hi folks

Might be a numpty question but here goes.

New mobo owner as you may know, boat has 2x VP D4/300s on DPH legs. Planning to keep the boat afloat in R Hamble over winter. Question is what precautions if any do I need to take to ensure that the engines / cooling system do not suffer as a result of the cold(ish) weather we may experience. I have 240v available in the engine room so tubular heaters on thermostats would be easy to do.

Other ideas / suggestions / banter welcome.

Thank you.

Don’t worry. The river water keeps the boat warm.
I just keep a dehumidifier in the boat so I can keep the bed made.
That seems to stop the domestic water from freezing too.

 

[oldgit]

Boat1. kept a boat on the static freshwater in Bray Marina on the Thames. He rigged up a a couple of thermometers via bluetooth to keep a record of the temperatures in his boat during a fairly cold winter. The surface did freeze at one point with layer of ice.
One sensor in the bottom of the bilge and one in the cabin.
It was set up to take a recording every 30 mins or so and to kept keep a downloadable record .
The coldest temperature ever recorded in the bilge on the coldest day was about 6C.

 

[Momac]

I just have the one large tube heater for the engine bay controlled by a thermostatic controller that records the max/min temperature. In recent winters that heater rarely cuts in . I don't do anything with the engines.

I have a small heater with its own thermostat which I place near the calorifier as I expect the calorifier remains part full.
I drain off as much water as is possible from the domestic system by opening taps to run the pump util the taps are spitting air - not forgetting the shower heads need a shake to remove all water .

All bedding and clothes (well most of them) removed and leave cabin doors and most cupboard doors open.
I use a desiccant dehumidifier which creates a little warmth. It consumes more energy than the heaters but the boat always feel comfortable - never damp.

The boat can be brought into use very quickly at any time , should the opportunity arise - just need to remove the tube heater from the engine bay . Refilling the domestic water tank and flushing it together with the pipework ,may on the other hand, take a little longer.

 

[[2068]]

With D4's, it's worth draining down the salt water side of things if you won't be using the boat for months on end.
Nothing to do with freezing, quite a lot to do with intercoolers and heat exchangers that eventually clog up.