What should I do if to keep the boat in the water this winter

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Solent_Boating

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Plan to keep the boat in the water this winter as it will be used at least every two weekends- will put antifreeze in the domestic water tanks (non toxic version) - is there anything else that I should do with regard to the engine? (Volvo tamd41) ?

I've seen people drain the engine but if I want to use it then surely that shouldn't happen?!
 
We have left our boat in for the last 3 years and have done nothing but leave frostwatcher heaters in cabin and have drained down transom shower , no problems at all. I also have a digital min / max thermometer on board and its never gone below 4 degrees .
 
We rarely take ours out of the water. Unless the water around you freezes very unlikely anything will happen on the boat. Only had a pipe freeze on the boat once when she was on a fresh water canal and the water around her froze and even then it was only the pump due to its location. Once the boat was used and warmed up it all sprung to life. If you leave it for a long time perhaps drain the fresh water tank but I certainly wouldn't bother putting any chemicals in there. Of course it depends on what type of boat and layout of the plumbing so I can only speak from experience but I used to be unnecessarily paranoid. I would however ensure all fresh water system pumps are turned off so if anything does happen then limited leakage and you will notice when you get on board and can fix it rather than the tank empty its contents in to the boat!
 
Solent boater, if you are keeping her in the solent, you should be fine over the winter. It is most unlikely that your Marina water temp will get much below 5c or so. As others have said, drain down the transom shower, and you can take the shower head off and plug the hose. Place some tube heaters in the engine room and lazerette, and maybe a couple of heaters in and around the heads for frost protection, and she should be fine. On the inland waterways on fresh water, you need to take more frost precautions, as it can get considerably colder.
 
Ours is left in and used/stayed on over the winter. We just have the engine room heaters on and she's alway been perfectly fine.
L
:)
 
lisilou said:
Ours is left in and used/stayed on over the winter. We just have the engine room heaters on and she's alway been perfectly fine.
L
:)
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So do I have to have engine heater tubes? What's the purpose of those heaters? To avoid frost or engine pipes etc. Freeze? The boat is a merry fisher 805 in mercury yacht harbour.
 
I leave the fresh water in my tank but disconnect the pump & drain the plumbing. A large amount of water in a tank below the water line is fairly safe, but small volumes in pumps, pipes & taps are at risk as air temps fall. Engine has sea water separated from coolant & coolant contains normal anti-freeze.

There is a greater risk of frost damage out of the water than in it.

I forgot, there is also a risk of rain water sitting on top of seawater in the cockpit drains & that can freeze, popping pipes off the hull fittings.
 
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Solent_Boating said:
So do I have to have engine heater tubes? What's the purpose of those heaters? To avoid frost or engine pipes etc. Freeze? The boat is a merry fisher 805 in mercury yacht harbour.
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Greenhouse type tube heaters are the things to have. These are low wattage, 60-120w, vey safe, and will keep the chill off the engine bay. I use a thermal plug, set to come on below 5c. Doesn't happen often on the sea.
 
keep the boat on the water, no need to do anything to the engine but as others have said a tube heater is a good idea - the engine bay is rarely below 5c and even at freezing temperature there is very little risk of freezing as any liquid there is either full of antifreeze, or salt which brings down the freezing temperature point at least by 5 degrees (depending on the area you are) - and for the engine bay to reach -5c the outside temp should be around -10c for a prolonged period of time!

so - good luck and happy boating!
 
vandy said:
so what's the solution for this!?
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My berth dries at LW so that solves the problem for me. If always afloat I might consider turning the cocks off & visiting regularly to turn 'em back on again to make sure the cockpit empties. That way, if the pipes split or come off I will spot it before she sinks. A cheap electric pump with a bilge float switch & emptying above the waterline would work quite well until frozen up! But inside the cabin should be warmer than the cockpit.

EDIT: and don't forget to check your insurance covers you for 12 months in commission - AND TELL THEM!
 
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Searush said:
My berth dries at LW so that solves the problem for me. If always afloat I might consider turning the cocks off & visiting regularly to turn 'em back on again to make sure the cockpit empties. That way, if the pipes split or come off I will spot it before she sinks. A cheap electric pump with a bilge float switch & emptying above the waterline would work quite well until frozen up! But inside the cabin should be warmer than the cockpit.

EDIT: and don't forget to check your insurance covers you for 12 months in commission - AND TELL THEM!
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what boat have you got?
 
Mine has been in the water every winter for the past 10 years and never had a problem. No heaters, just some cheap dehumidifiers from a £1 shop to keep the damp at bay. I do visit regularly (perhaps weekly) and warm it up with an electric heater and check all is well.
 
Small electric radiator with thermostat set to 4 degrees in engine compartment - we have shore power
Oil and filter change
Put anti diesel bug stuff in fuel tank and fill right up
Drain the H&C water system and leave all taps open including transom shower
Put all deck cushions etc in the cabin
Put a dessicant type dehumidifier at the lowest setting in the cabin to keep things dry and the small amount of heat this gives off helps
Put some baby oil into the toilet to lubricate the seals
It's nice to go back on board and find everything just as you left it and smelling fresh.
So far so good...
 
Solent_Boating said:
Plan to keep the boat in the water this winter as it will be used at least every two weekends- will put antifreeze in the domestic water tanks (non toxic version) - is there anything else that I should do with regard to the engine? (Volvo tamd41) ?

I've seen people drain the engine but if I want to use it then surely that shouldn't happen?!
Click to expand...

I use an oil filled radiator on a stat and a dehumidifier. Winterisation ends. Tube heaters on stat in tbe engine bay a good idea but i haven't bothered on this boat yet.
You have to do far more to winterise a boat thats out of the water.
 
I keep some tube heaters with a thermostat set at 5deg in the engine compartment and under the calorifier tank, also in the main cabin. I empty the fresh water system,
Last year I ran a dehumiidifier with drain into galley sink, and it made a huge difference in keeping the upholstery etc from getting damp.
 
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