Winterisation advice?

[Andrew E]

We've got a boat down in Southampton. She's outside on a dry stack at the moment. She hasn't been winterised as of yet due to being messed around by our old mechanic.

I've got a new engineer to do a winterisation in the coming week but I'm slightly worried (due to falling temperatures) about any damage that could occur in that time. The boat hasn't been run up since the end of August.

I'm I being paranoid for no good reason and would a few more days/week do any harm?

What is the recommended winterisation month for a boat in Southern England? What sort of temperatures would do damage to the engine block?

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[rafiki_]

The answer is, it depends on the weather. We have had no frosts yet this year in the south, so no frost damage as yet. Most people use tube heaters in the engine bay, with a thermostatic plug set to go off below say 5c. You should drain all the domestic water and you might need to pump out the calorifier with a dinghy pump. Many use electric dehumidifiers, to reduce moisture damage. I use dessicant instead as there have been instances of dehumidifiers causing electric fires, and that is a risk I don't want on my boat.
Some cover their boats with tarpaulin, however this can promote condensation, so most leave theirs uncovered, and do the occasional wash down.

 

[Andrew E]

Hi rafiki, thanks for the reply. Are there any tell tale signs of frost damage?

Temperatures look to set to fall next week.

 

[Momac]

The forecast I use indicates temperatures well above freezing for the next week .

 

[V88sah]

Thanks Rafiki, Andrew beat me to the question! Have the tube heaters, on eBay getting the thermostatic plugs now, didn't even know they existed!

 

[Andrew E]

Could have sworn there was a frost (albeit very minor) about a week ago, that was in Winchester. Temperature records say there wasn't a frost but I can remember deicing the car.

 

[rafiki_]

Could have sworn there was a frost (albeit very minor) about a week ago, that was in Winchester. Temperature records say there wasn't a frost but I can remember deicing the car.

You would need well below freezing for a sustained period to cause significant damage. If your domestic water system is ok, then no worries for your engine.

 

[superheat6k]

Not been that cold yet in Southampton (I'm in Hamble). The seawater does keep this area a few degrees warmer than just a few miles inland. Wouldn't be too worried until the temps here fall to below 0c overnight. If you have antifreeze in your fresh circuit I wouldn't worry too much, and any seawater left in the raw circuit won't freeze above -4, and that is rare here, even in January and February. More harm from the stagnant seawater corroding the engine and crystallising and blocking the waterways.

 

[Gentlemanracer]

If you keep her on a dry stack, chances are that you will not have an external electrical supply to the boat; that's for insurance reasons. You should consider having a bilge master switch over ride, too. Once out of the water, no risk of sinking but bilge may still otherwise self start, thus fire risk. Once you are convinced there's no nice days left (I think there will be) and freezing is high risk, then get some antifreeze into the sea-water side of the cooling system and either disconnect the batteries or if there's a service rack, put her on there occasionally and charge the batts. Drain any domestic water systems, open taps and the de-hum bags into lockers, esp electrical. Don 't forget, some of the flattest seas happen early winter. Boats like to be used, get in some hours, static durability is pretty much non existent!