at temp will cause issues for non-winterized boats?

[Taradise]

I had a friend tell me that it has to get into the low to middle 20's before any freezing will damage my 350 mag on my 250 SD - he went as far as to say the 32 temps are pretty much harmless to engines...put a mason jar full of water outside...once this is frozen solid is when you will see freeze issues on your motor and that it takes a lot lower temps than 32 degrees to freeze a mason jar full of water...

Thoughts?

I have already winterized my freshwater tank and the toilet is pretty much dry, gas tanks are full with Sta-bil...just haven't winterized the motor yet as I want to wait since we still get a lot of boat use in Georgia up until about December...then I just drain the water out of the motor...then suck 5 gal of pink anti-freeze into the motor...I don't fog the motor cause I still take the boat out every 6-10 weeks and refill the motor with anti-freeze when I get back to the house.

 

[skolbe]

It really needs to be in the low 20's for quite some time. If the boat is sitting in the water. The water keeps things warmer as well.

 

[HavingFun]

Plus your boat has the 3 point quick drain system that should get most of the water out. Or you could put a heater in there during the few days it get close to those numbers.

 

[fwebster]

Time is an important variable in that question.

Cold soak a boat for several days in the mid to high 20's and youve got problems; one night in the mid 20's probably won't hurt anything.

Put one 40 watt light bulb in the engine compartment and it really changes the enviornment...in fact, I've added a 120V circuit to my engine room for 2 vapor proof light fixtures. I leave 2 40 watt bulbs on all winter. Even though we don't have a freeze problem, the light bulbs completely stopped the engine room condensation.

 

[chuck1]

Looks like you have already got some great info. Have you thought about a Xtreme heater? I added one to my 240SD. Cheap insurance/peace of mind.

 

[Taradise]

I have one of the old hanging lights (with a metal protective grade/mess thingy) that holds a 40-60 watt bulb... I laid it in the bilde last year with the boat was in the driveway and the temps were going to the high 20's since I didnt get a chance to winterize it yet...I think I paid less than $10 for it years ago to hang under the hood of my truck when I was working on it at night...

 

[Zorba]

Plus your boat has the 3 point quick drain system that should get most of the water out. Or you could put a heater in there during the few days it get close to those numbers.

Where are the 3 points located? I found the two on hte front of the engine i just can't locate the third

 

[wish2fish]

Where are the 3 points located? I found the two on hte front of the engine i just can't locate the third

I thought the 3 point drain system only had 1 on the front and 2 on the left side. are you sure you don't have multi point drain system? My manual covers all the different systems.

 

[avguy]

Mine is the multipoint & you have to be a chinese gymnist to get to one of them.

 

[comsnark]

As stated, time is a HUGE factor.

A night at 28F probably means that the water is in the upper 30's at the lowest and during the day you are seeing the 40's.

Now, if you are in the water and the WATER starts freezing (beyond a barely visible skim). . . then the time has definetly arrived.

 

[Fetch ND]

You obviously live somewhere a lot warmer than I (everyone does :smt101 ) but a couple things come to mind "Penny wise & Pound foolish" & " pay me now or pay me later"

I'm sure there are few I'm forgetting

 

[sbw1]

Our boat will go into the water on April 15, 2009. We will have some temps in the 20's at night with water temps of 38 degrees. I usually turn the reverse cycle heat on to keep the cockpit about 70 degrees or simply run the engines up to normal operating temperature before going to bed as an alternative. Both measures are probably overkill but I sleep better doing it this way.

 

[chuck1]

Taradise,
IMHO - Make sure to read the responses, some are replying like you keep you boat slipped in the water year round. With it being on a trailer outside your bilge temp is going to drop fast without some kind of heat source.
Just my 2cent worth.

 

[Woody]

Play it safe and drain it. What's it take..5 minutes? Lot easier to do that than be head first in the engine room trying to fix freeze plugs.

 

[avguy]

We trailer our boat as well. I'll add that just this week I purchased an Extreme bilge heater so as not to have to winterize but I'm still a little nervous about betting my $10,000 (?) engine against a faulty heater or power outage. You can bet I'll be watching pretty close.

Also not sure the utility light is the best way to go......how far is the boat from your house? :wow:

 

[Loneranger]

I suppose mid 20's to damage an engine also assumes the boat is in the water. If the boat is on a trailer or lift then it probably takes temps not quite as cold for not quite as long but I do not know for sure?

I suppose some people could test this out this winter by placing a mason jar of water in the bilge on certain nights and see if it freezes, obviously after the engine is winterized. This will give someone a winter project.

John