Winter afloat. Will the block crack?

[Tomahawk]

Why not see if you can move her to a all tide mooring for the winter .... most of them will be vacant as other people move their boats ashore..

That way you get more time to go sailing as well

 

[maby]

Not sure I understand the logic of this. Surely you will have to get the antifreeze out of the water tank come spring, which will involve draining it. Why not drain it now? Or is the antifreeze drinkable?

It will not kill you, but it does make a lousey cup of tea - I didn't know it was still in the tank when our boat was delivered!

 

[mcframe]

My view, which I have posted several times, is that filling a raw-water cooled engine with antifreeze is hit or miss at best and a considerable hassle, especially as he would have to do it every time he uses the boat, which he intends from time to time. Far better to drain it. OK, there may be an increased corrosion penalty but these engines are heavily cast with a big corrosion allowance. Flushing with fresh water before draining would help a little.

Interesting.

I sometimes flush fresh water through the engine (1GM10, with the known exhaust elbow) to reduce corrosion if I know I'll not be back out for another couple of weeks. That might not make much difference, but when I see boats on the hard with sails, sail covers and sprayhoods† up...

I used to fill with antifreeze when we were out for the winter, but this year we're again afloat, so I'm uncertain about the unfrezability of salt water versus the increased corrosion risk - I've never considered trying to drain it before now.

† Alas, our winter mooring keeps the bow in the same direction as our summer mooring, so the starboard side of our canvaswork tends to go green first.