Winterising

[Col-it-is]

Planning to leave my boat afloat in Inverness marina this winter. Only likely to get to check things over every couple of months.

Have always put a dehumidifier on board but someone said should also put a tube heater in place. Is this a good and safe idea? What size is required (31ft yacht)? They don't appear to have a thermostat so waste of heat and electricity? Or is there a better heater options?

A further point relates to freshwater system; is it sensible to drain and, if so, how do you make sure you've got all water out of pipes and taps?

All suggestions appreciated, thanks.

 

[PhillM]

I use a dimplex frost heater. Safer because no moving parts. I set thermostat to frost prevention and leave it near the engine. Cost so little to run I couldn't tell you how much.

I also run a dehumidifier. It takes three days to fill the internal bucket then stops. I empty it every week. Seems to be a reasonable compromise.

 

[vyv_cox]

I run a dehumidifier at home 365 days per year for about 2 hours per day and have never had a problem. However, an article in one of the mags suggested that several fires on boats had been started by them.

Pump out through the cold water tap until the tank is empty. Drain the calorifier from the drain tap at the lowest point, as it will not pump out via the hot tap. Make sure all taps, shower heads, the pump and other solid fittings are drained. Frozen hoses rarely fail by freezing. You may find it useful to remove a hose at the outlet of the pump, then blow down all taps to push water back. A dinghy pump will work OK, just hold a hand around the join between hose and tap to seal it.

 

[nimbusgb]

A couple of 100 watt light bulbs ( if you could still buy them ) would be a safer idea than those heaters I think.

 

[Digger F]

I run a dehumidifier at home 365 days per year for about 2 hours per day and have never had a problem. However, an article in one of the mags suggested that several fires on boats had been started by them.

Pump out through the cold water tap until the tank is empty. Drain the calorifier from the drain tap at the lowest point, as it will not pump out via the hot tap. Make sure all taps, shower heads, the pump and other solid fittings are drained. Frozen hoses rarely fail by freezing. You may find it useful to remove a hose at the outlet of the pump, then blow down all taps to push water back. A dinghy pump will work OK, just hold a hand around the join between hose and tap to seal it.

A couple of years ago when we last had a "cold" winter a friend of mine put two bottles of cheap Vodka in his almost empty water tank. Seemed to work ok but his lady partner enjoyed the first few cups of tea a little too much. A dehumidifier may need a direct drain overboard but I also read the article on fire hazards. A pity you are not in Caley Marina, a few long term people around to keep an eye on things plus they don't turn off the water to the loos as I heard happened in Inverness Marina.

 

[GrahamM376]

Pump out through the cold water tap until the tank is empty. Drain the calorifier from the drain tap at the lowest point, as it will not pump out via the hot tap. Make sure all taps, shower heads, the pump and other solid fittings are drained. Frozen hoses rarely fail by freezing. You may find it useful to remove a hose at the outlet of the pump, then blow down all taps to push water back. A dinghy pump will work OK, just hold a hand around the join between hose and tap to seal it.

+1

I had two plastic taps freeze and split one winter.

 

[Modulation]

+1

I had two plastic taps freeze and split one winter.

+2. Had same problem when I left just a little water in over the winter. Draining the calorifier is essential (even if access to its drain cock is really difficult) and just for belt and braces feeling i leave every tap and valve open.

 

[jwilson]

I run a dehumidifier at home 365 days per year for about 2 hours per day and have never had a problem. However, an article in one of the mags suggested that several fires on boats had been started by them.

Pump out through the cold water tap until the tank is empty. Drain the calorifier from the drain tap at the lowest point, as it will not pump out via the hot tap. Make sure all taps, shower heads, the pump and other solid fittings are drained. Frozen hoses rarely fail by freezing. You may find it useful to remove a hose at the outlet of the pump, then blow down all taps to push water back. A dinghy pump will work OK, just hold a hand around the join between hose and tap to seal it.

I run two dehumidifiers at home, typically 8 - 12 hours a day, have done so for 12 years, never a problem. Drying laundry as if you put it outside either it gets rained on by clouds or seagulls or usually both.

Tubular heaters are good on board, and I don't think there is anything safer. On the boat I run one continuously in winter plus a dehumidifier (electric dessicant type that works in low temps) set to auto humidity control. This is in Cornwall. In the NE I might run several tube heaters.

 

[BAtoo]

I run a dehumidifier at home 365 days per year for about 2 hours per day and have never had a problem. However, an article in one of the mags suggested that several fires on boats had been started by them.

Pump out through the cold water tap until the tank is empty. Drain the calorifier from the drain tap at the lowest point, as it will not pump out via the hot tap. Make sure all taps, shower heads, the pump and other solid fittings are drained. Frozen hoses rarely fail by freezing. You may find it useful to remove a hose at the outlet of the pump, then blow down all taps to push water back. A dinghy pump will work OK, just hold a hand around the join between hose and tap to seal it.

+1

When in a Marina in the winter - either afloat (which I preferred) or on the hard I used a dehumidifier on its middle-ish setting draining out through the sink tap. Boat shut up tight - vents blocked etc.. Never had a problem.

Batteries always had an "intelligent" charger left on constantly.

 

[sighmoon]

A couple of 100 watt light bulbs ( if you could still buy them ) would be a safer idea than those heaters I think.

The tube heater spreads the heat over a wider area, so isn't as hot as a 100W bulb, (though gives off more heat).

 

[YachtAllegro]

We've often wintered afloat - last year in Inverness Marina, as it happens - and have never drained anything and never had anything freeze. Having the boat resting in a water bath, which gets no colder than 5-6 degrees even in the middle of winter, seems a pretty good way of avoiding things aboard getting too chilly. Far better than leaving it propped up in a draughty yard, certainly!

And we've generally left the forehatch open a crack, underneath the upturned dinghy, which keeps enough air circulating through the boat to keep things dry without needing a dehumidifier either.

Cheers
Patrick

 

[AngusMcDoon]

A couple of 100 watt light bulbs ( if you could still buy them ) would be a safer idea than those heaters I think.

Tube heaters don't get too hot to hold your hand on, but an incandescent lightbulb would get hot enough to char anything flammable that fell on it, and perhaps even set it alight. As far as fire safety goes, I would think that the opposite is true to what you said.

I'm not a fire expert though. Just guessing.

 

[GrahamM376]

Tube heaters don't get too hot to hold your hand on, but an incandescent lightbulb would get hot enough to char anything flammable that fell on it, and perhaps even set it alight. As far as fire safety goes, I would think that the opposite is true to what you said.

I'm not a fire expert though. Just guessing.

An amusing little tale about heaters. When I was a kid, around early 1950's, we had a bed warmer which my father had bought, comprising a green 2 part pressed steel circular case with flat top & bottom, which in fact was a war surplus land mine case. It could only be used for short spells or it would singe the sheets. When it eventually packed up, we opened it up and the heating element was just a light bulb.