Wintering afloat

[John_N]

Thia year I am overwintering afloat on the upper reaches of the River Dart (fresh water leavened with a fair dose of salt on the flood). My Bukh engine is raw water cooled and I am rather concerned about the possibity of damage from the freezing of the residual water in the block in extreme temperatures. It is not practicable drain the engine each time I leave the boat (although it could be done) and I wonder if other readers have had a problem with leaving their boats afloat during the winter.

 

[Strathglass]

John

There can be lots of problems up here (Caledonian Canal).

Standard practice when not in use even (in fresh water).
Remove impeller, drain calorifier, close all seacocks, drain water tank, disconnect and empty electric water pump and that is just for a start. Core plugs plop, plumbing bursts and calorifiers split if this is not done.

Perhaps it's much warmer down there on the Dart. It was -12 C last week.

Iain

 

[Pelican]

My Volvo MD2B is also raw water cooled. I have two seacocks (a lower and an upper one) on the inlet pipe.
When I stop the engine I close the lower one. Let engine cool. Then open upper seacock or valve and turning engine on starter motor only pour some (about a litre) of anti freeze into engine till it starts to come out the exhaust. Then close upper valve.
On starting the engine yesterday (minus five here) open lower seacock and away she goes. Only disadvantage is a slight pollution in the lake. Have been doing this for the last twelve winters and have had no problems with freezing components.
Happy cruising!
Pelican

 

[kingfisher]

Shouldn\'t let the engine cool

When the engine cools down, the thermostat closes off some channels. So if you want the anti-freeze to go in every nook and crany, pour it in with the engine still hot.

Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[andy_wilson]

I've wintered afloat on the South Coast for the last 3 years, this year on the Dart - just above Darthaven.

Everything in full commission. It would have to be minus plenty to freeze water in a engine installed around sea level in largely salt water. Water temp. will not drop below 5deg.C except in v.extreme circumstances.

Give it a full service before the winter - I'll correct that - you should have given it a full service, including oil and filter change. If you are going to start the engine, give it a good run, up to temp. and then at least 20 mins work to evaporate condensation from within the motor. That way the batteries get a good charge too.

The Dart isn't going to freeze over this winter, but you might get a bit of snow on Dartmoor.

 

[VMALLOWS]

Fully concur. Based Chichester Hbr (South Coast). Used to drain the BUKH after every winter outing; then fitted a tap to make it easier; then decided that since the sea hadn't frozen, the engine wouldn't either. (I know, wind effect etc.....but the engine temperature still can't drop below the air temp which is very rarely less than -3C at sea level and only then for a few hours).

Certainly agree that when you do run the engine it must be for long enough (half hour under load?) to get really warm and evaporate any moisture.

 

[jimboaw]

Sailing season well under way here. Bit chilly this am 55F. Joking apart, when I was living on the S Coast I never hauled for winter. Mind you, I had a great propane powered hot air cabin heater. Sailed into Lymington and had the Town Quay all to myself on New Years Day

 

[lauradee]

i doubt that the water will freeze but do what i have done, put a "y" connector on the inlet to the raw water pump with a flexible extension pipe & valve on it. have a plastic gallon container with an antifreeze mix in it ready. at end of engine use, put tube in the container, close main raw water inlet and open "y" valve to suck up the antifreeze. it not only allays your fears about freezing, it conditions the internal surfaces of the engine and also in an emergency will act as a powerful bilge pump.
stu

 

[John_N]

Many thanks to those of you who replied to my query. The responses from South Coast sailors were reassuring with not a single horror story. Iain's tale was a bit different but he winters in still, fresh, water in the glorious Highlands where the ice is thick and stays long. Those very nice people at Bukh told me that a boat afloat near the coast would have to be subjected to very low temperatures for a considerable period before there was a risk of ice damage to the engine and even that could be avoided by the simple expedient of opening the drain cock. I'm going to take a chance.

 

[yoda]

What a good idea, the emergency bilge pump that is. I suppose you need to be a bit careful about debris but apart from that can't see too much against it.

Yoda