Potential issues with the cold temperature?

[nooks87]

Took the boat out of the water in September and I planned to get her winterised, but due to ill health I wasn't able to get that done. Now we've had a few nights on the South Coast where the night time temperature has been well below freezing and the day time temperature hasn't been much higher. I understand these are the perfect conditions to cause a block to freeze and crack?
When I hopefully (health permitting) get back to the boat, will a cracked block be immediately obvious, ie seized engine? I won't be using her again this year, so if it cracks then so be it, health is far more important than an engine!! Anyway just thought I would ask. Thanks. :encouragement:

 

[lpdsn]

Do you have electricity there? Anyone you can send down with a small heater that would fit under the engine? A week's electricity bill for say a 400W heater is a lot less than a new engine.

 

[lw395]

If the block is freshwater cooled, it should have antifreeze in it.
Otherwise it will have some salt water in it, some of which will have drained out.
Probably freezing point a few degrees below?
Looking at the forecast, I suspect if hasn't frozen by tomorrow morning, it isn't going to?
Getting a heater last week might have been wise, but I think you will be unlucky to freeze the block. Pipework perhaps more likely?

 

[nooks87]

Hasn't been above -2 in Southampton, not sure what the temperature was like yesterday. Yard has electricity and probably willing to help, but obviously they're away home now with gates shut. Trying to understand what cracks on the engine first. I'm assuming something like the exhaust elbow or the sea water pump? It's a Volvo md7a which was on its last legs anyway, so if it goes it's not the end of the world. Just might struggle to sell her with a dead engine?

 

[nooks87]

Always remember a mechanic telling me that people get their knickers in a twist when it comes to winterisation, when infact temperatures on the south coast rarely get low enough to cause blocks to crack. Any truth in that?

 

[dunedin]

Always remember a mechanic telling me that people get their knickers in a twist when it comes to winterisation, when infact temperatures on the south coast rarely get low enough to cause blocks to crack. Any truth in that?

Probably true enough when afloat in sea water, as water temperature changes relatively slowly - but ashore is the worst thing for frost damage. Can chill very quickly in a strong wind. And whilst many winters are mild, others like this year and 2010 are much colder. And we should not see these as "unprecedented" - remember the Thames has been frozen over in recent history. The mechanic was talking dangerous generalisations - perhaps he will offer to fix anything for free?

Hopefully will be OK - and as others have said, if somebody can put a greenhouse heater on board that would be worthwhile. Otherwise just cross fingers and reflect on bigger priorities

 

[solent clown]

where is the boat?

 

[DownWest]

We had probs when it was down to -12°C for a couple of weeks. Burst pipes etc.. But the -5°C we currently have are not going to burst anything, as it gets up to plus temps during the day.
Boats are in sea water, so unless that get frozen, do you have a prob? I would have thought that it would be well negative before the block was at risk.

 

[NickRobinson]

A frozen engine may stall/damage pump impellers or belts but could still start with enough welly in the battery.
No circulation, no cooling.
An engine damaged by freezing would (in addition to pipework previously mentioned) is likely to push out core plugs (cheap) or crack the external block around the cylinders. In this scenario, the thawed engine would run fine, briefly, but have no cooling.
It could be possible to tap back into place the pushed out casting and stick weld with cast iron rods. Fine for my old Triumph Vitesse but dodgy on a safety critical item...

 

[fisherman]

In january 1987 we had our ford sabre 4 cyl heat exchanger froze and split, on a mooring at Helford, so it can get cold enough, we got it welded. I only ever top up with anti freeze for anti corrosion purposes, so hopefully am alright in the -2 or so today.

 

[Joshua020]

I have read an article about those issues, if I find the link I'll send it to you because I had the same
Here is the article: detail analysis of nutrisystem