Lake Norman - When is it safe to "spalsh" the boat?

LKN

Member
Mar 6, 2016
65
Lake Norman, NC
Boat Info
2002 240 Sundeck
Engines
5.7L EFI Mercruiser with Bravo III Outdrive
Hi all,

I am coming up on my first full year of boat ownership and this is the first year I've had a boat winterized. I was actually thinking about dropping in last weekend (looking at the forecast it looks like we probably won't get much more cold weather), but I've decided to detail the boat first (which apparently is an insanely complicated topic with zillions of product options from what I've read on this board :))

For those of you who winterize (if you are out there) when do you usually feel it's "safe" to drop in each year?
 
Which last weekend?

Weather permitting, we launch April 1st in Lake Erie.
 
Last weekend - like 2/11/2017 :)

I bought the boat in mid-March last year and dropped it in the first day I owned it.
 
You are in dry storage? I wait until March 1st or 15th depending on weather. But the way this winter has been you could probably go now.
 
If you are in dry storage or on a lift I would wait a few more weeks. If you keep the boat in the water you should be fine putting it in now. Water temp is 57.
 
I'm in dry storage.... sounds like I'll wait a few more weeks. That's ok, I've got a new sound system to install and a full detail job to do :)
 
We will still get freezing weather in Charlotte thru mid-march so don't drop it in unless you can be sure the boat won't get exposed to those conditions.
 
While you're at it, install a bilge heater and never ask the question again!!!
 
I'm dry stacked in a fully enclosed building so it would have to get pretty cold for quite some time to freeze the water in the block (like no go above freezing for a few days). That being said, I appreciate the advice and will keep an eye on the extended forecast in early March before I drop in... better safe than sorry :)
 
Round here, mid march before I stop worrying about freezing. You can also learn to drain the drive train yourself. We boat year round and can do it right on the ramp in about 15 minutes.
 
Yeah I should probably find the plugs and figure out how to pull them (I actually bought my boat from a guy who kept it at the dry stack place next to T Bones on Lake Wylie).

Not that I want to take too many chances - but it would have to get pretty abnormally cold for several days straight to crack a block in March in the Charlotte area. (Especially for someone who dry stacks in a fully enclosed building like I do)

Round here, mid march before I stop worrying about freezing. You can also learn to drain the drive train yourself. We boat year round and can do it right on the ramp in about 15 minutes.
 
I'm dry stacked in a fully enclosed building so it would have to get pretty cold for quite some time to freeze the water in the block (like no go above freezing for a few days). That being said, I appreciate the advice and will keep an eye on the extended forecast in early March before I drop in... better safe than sorry :)

When I dry stored my boats at Lake Wylie Marina, I usually splashed in early March as well.
 
Yeah I should probably find the plugs and figure out how to pull them (I actually bought my boat from a guy who kept it at the dry stack place next to T Bones on Lake Wylie).

Not that I want to take too many chances - but it would have to get pretty abnormally cold for several days straight to crack a block in March in the Charlotte area. (Especially for someone who dry stacks in a fully enclosed building like I do)

if you were to splash now and a really cold night came up just leave the boat in the water that night....the lake water temp will keep the engine room temp above freezing.......that is why cruisers in our area that stay in the water full time don't have to winterize.......

cliff
 
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A hard freeze in March is possible, I've never had a problem after March 1st, but have pulled the plugs and drained things after an early spring weekend - remember some of our biggest snows have been in March. As far as the dry storage, in the past I was outside but covered and definitely had to winterize. Now I am inside fully enclosed but not heated - according to the thermometer I leave in the boat, 38deg is the coldest it has gotten in the building this winter. I still winterize it, but probably not necessary, but there are other benefits since I really am not using the boat late Nov-Mar. Granted a pretty mild winter. A good rule of thumb is it takes 3 cycles of a low below 25deg and a high not above 45deg before things freeze and start breaking -- not necessarily something I want to test. As nice has it is going to be this weekend, I am going to fight the urge and wait until at least the first weekend in March.

LKN, where are you?

Plus, my wife still remembers all the things I said I would do around the house "this winter".
 
That's not a bad idea - we have 4-5 slips dry stack boaters can use at the marina (first come/first served) and they are always empty this time of year.

if you were to splash now and a really cold night came up just leave the boat in the water that night....the lake water temp will keep the engine room temp above freezing.......that is why cruisers in our area that stay in the water full time don't have to winterize.......

cliff
 
LOL - I have to finish my last winter project (a closet remodel) this afternoon and my I'm just about done with that winter project list :).

I dry stack at Skippers up in Troutman (I live in Mooresville like 5 minutes south of there right off Perth rd). They have 2 dry stack structures and I'm in the one that's an actual building (the other has some kind of fabric looking roof in the middle between the racks.

A hard freeze in March is possible, I've never had a problem after March 1st, but have pulled the plugs and drained things after an early spring weekend - remember some of our biggest snows have been in March. As far as the dry storage, in the past I was outside but covered and definitely had to winterize. Now I am inside fully enclosed but not heated - according to the thermometer I leave in the boat, 38deg is the coldest it has gotten in the building this winter. I still winterize it, but probably not necessary, but there are other benefits since I really am not using the boat late Nov-Mar. Granted a pretty mild winter. A good rule of thumb is it takes 3 cycles of a low below 25deg and a high not above 45deg before things freeze and start breaking -- not necessarily something I want to test. As nice has it is going to be this weekend, I am going to fight the urge and wait until at least the first weekend in March.

LKN, where are you?

Plus, my wife still remembers all the things I said I would do around the house "this winter".
 
I think I'm splashing tomorrow (I may pull the plugs when I come back to finish up spring detailing on Saturday as some of you suggested)... this weather is just too nice. Time for our first of many trips to the blue parrot :)
 
not sure of the winter schedule for those 3 restaurants at the 150 bridge.....are they open during the winter?

cliff
 
The Blue Parrot opened last weekend (they usually open March 1st, but they opened early this year since the weather is so nice)
 
I owned the 2002 240 SD on LKN for 10 years a aweso,e boat for LKN! You are good to dewinterize come this next weekend. I plan too. As you see with this pas weekend weather late Feb and early March can still get sub freezing temps but with daytime highs you should be good.
 

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