Bilge Heaters

cyc boater

cyc boater

New Member
Dec 6, 2009
72
Lake Keowee, S.C.
Boat Info
210 Sundeck 1998
Engines
5.0L Mercruiser w/ Alpha One GenII
This is my first winter in South Carolina with the boat and I'm going to leave it in the slip rather then pull it. Due to the Nuclear Power Plant just around the corner, I was told the water temperature on Lake Keowee never gets below 50F but the air temperature at night will get below freezing and some times during the day. Should I have the engine winterized and not use it until spring or install a bilge heater and does a bilge heater for a 21 Sundeck make sense?:huh: For those of you that have bilge heaters, how well do they work?
 
cyc boater said:
This is my first winter in South Carolina with the boat and I'm going to leave it in the slip rather then pull it. Due to the Nuclear Power Plant just around the corner, I was told the water temperature on Lake Keowee never gets below 50F but the air temperature at night will get below freezing and some times during the day. Should I have the engine winterized and not use it until spring or install a bilge heater and does a bilge heater for a 21 Sundeck make sense?:huh: For those of you that have bilge heaters, how well do they work?
Click to expand...

I don't think you will have an issue in SC.................
 
Bilge heaters are designed to go on at 35* and off at 45* so it could be an OK investment for peace of mind. I doubt you'd need it while in the water since it does not freeze there. I would cover the engine intakes on the hull to minimize wind and cold exposure...
 
Go Aweigh2452 said:
Bilge heaters are designed to go on at 35* and off at 45* so it could be an OK investment for peace of mind. I doubt you'd need it while in the water since it does not freeze there. I would cover the engine intakes on the hull to minimize wind and cold exposure...
Click to expand...

I agree! :thumbsup:If leaving in the water, no problem. WHere you have an issue is when it is on the trailer and the cold air getting under the hull. But, you can drain the block if you want to for added protection.
 
I'd check with the marina where it will be slipped to see what they advise, then add your tolerance for risk to their answer. IMHO the safest bilge heater is called BoatSafe. They're spendy, but they're "no spark" heaters. That's what you want in a bilge with a gas engine.

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I agree with all of the above posts. Have had a Boatsafe bilge heater since 06 and has never let me down. Comes on when supposed to and keeps everything toasty down there.
 
I had an xxtreme heater in my 240SD and with the full camper up would boat year round.
Side notes: Make to cover the vents or all the heat will escape like Doug said. Item 2 make sure to winterize the fresh water system.
 
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I'm a "boatsafe" guy too. I've owned a few of them and they have never failed me. "Extreme" makes a good heater too. Unlike boats with generators, you don't have a backup if there is a power outage. So, you might want to think about this if the power at your marina is suspect during the winter. Some of us in the South worry about ice storms much more than snow.

Don
 
I would recommend a bilge heater for peace of mind without a doubt. I have an Xtreme Heater and I know plenty of people who have Boatsafe heaters. Both are great. I think you will want the Xtreme Heater though. The only reason I would steer you that direction is the size. The Boatsafe Heater is fairly Large, probably 2.5x the size of my Xtreme. Be sure to get the quick release backplate if you go with it. That way you can store it elsewhere in the summer.

As others have said, worst case, drain the block. As you know, we can get in to the low teens at night in deep winter so a heater would be preferred.

Jason
 
Both Xtreme and BoatSafe will do the job. Xtreme is more compact. Get the dimensions and see what will fit where. Winterize if desired. Cover the air intakes. A lot of heart is lost to drafts.
 
CYC......have to agree with all the above....but an FYI for you......I am north of you by 2 states on the Elizebeth River.....30 minute drive to open water on the Chesapeake......and I have never in 6 years winterized the boat.....I use it year long......water around here has never got cold enough to freeze....little ice skim yes...but not freeze.....even when the outside temps are 15 and 20 above
 
I have a friend with a 1999 28 ft Wellcraft who just puts an electric blanket over each engine in the winter. The electric blanket stays "on" all winter. He does not winterize, because he keeps his boat in the water and uses it year-round. His boat is 11 years old and he never had a problem doing this.

I winterize my 27 ft Sea Ray (7.4 MPI) and keep it on a trailer under a shed. For extra peace of mind I built two "heaters" out of two 300 watt light bulbs. For each "heater" I mounted a steel box and a porcelin socket on a piece of 2X8 of board. I sit the board on the bottom on the bilge so the light bulbs are facing up and not close to anything. I keep my bilge squeeky clean. One bulb is on the port side and one is on the starboard side of the engine. I bought an industrial grade adjustable (0-120 degrees) temperature switch from WW Grainger for around $40. I hang the temperature switch OUTSIDE the engine compartment to keep any potential on-off spark from being exposed to possible engine compartment vapors. I set the temperature switch to turn the 300 watt light bulbs "on" at 30 degrees. The heat from the two 300 watt light bulbs keeps the engine compartment well above freezing no matter how cold it gets outside.

I have been doing this since 2001 and had no problems. Even though I winterize, when it gets very cold this gives me an extra sense of security in case I missed something. I understand and accept the risks of not having a "marine grade" engine comparment heater, but I am willing to take the very small risk.
 
If your boat is in the water, then something like BoatSafe is all you will need. If your boat is on a lift (that is, in the slip but NOT sitting in the water), then I think you need to winterize.
 
jason78 said:
I would recommend a bilge heater for peace of mind without a doubt. I have an Xtreme Heater and I know plenty of people who have Boatsafe heaters. Both are great. I think you will want the Xtreme Heater though. The only reason I would steer you that direction is the size. The Boatsafe Heater is fairly Large, probably 2.5x the size of my Xtreme. Be sure to get the quick release backplate if you go with it. That way you can store it elsewhere in the summer.

As others have said, worst case, drain the block. As you know, we can get in to the low teens at night in deep winter so a heater would be preferred.

Jason
Click to expand...

Jason,

I have the Xtreme heater but the not the quick release backplate. Do you disconnect the electrical connection in the summer or just relocate the heater the in the bilge?

My heater is mounted on the center stringers and its in the way whenever I do anything in the bilge.

Thx
 
JimT said:
Jason,

I have the Xtreme heater but the not the quick release backplate. Do you disconnect the electrical connection in the summer or just relocate the heater the in the bilge?

My heater is mounted on the center stringers and its in the way whenever I do anything in the bilge.

Thx
Click to expand...


Jim,

Unfortunately mine is mounted in the same spot as yours. My dealer did the install when I bought the boat and I did not have sufficient time before hand to research and find the backing plate or even have a say in where it was installed. They kind of "jumped the gun" on me. I just try to make everyone I can aware of that option when they start talking about heaters.

Relocating the heater is on my to-do list and I will probably tackle it early next year. When I do, I will probably get a piece of board say maybe 8"x3' and screw it in in front of the freshwater tank where the cockpit table pocket was. Then mount the heater quick release plate on that board so I can remove the heater during the summer or for winter maintenance. I will try to find a sealed twist-lock style plug assembly for connecting the power.

By the way, I took my cockpit table storage pocket out and put it in my garage. I never used it and as you know it is darn near impossible to get to the Port strainers with that thing in place. Or anything else on the port engine for that matter. I am not sure about you but I also have closed cooling which takes more space on the front of the engine and gives me 2 additional strainers to keep clean.

Jason
 
I also have the Xtreme heater but have not permanently installed it in the engine bay. I remove it during boating season so I can use that room. If you are south of AK, I would think just placing it in the engine bay during cold spells would work well.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Based on the information I'm going to go with the small Xtreme bilge heater. Even with it's small foot print I really don't have any room in the engine compartment except next to the fuel line. I don't think I'll be putting it there! The battery is located just to the port side of the engine compartment. In front of this small compartment is another storage area that is open to the battery compartment. All three, engine, battery and storage compartments are open to one another. I know it's not ideal but I plan to place the heater in the storgae compartment as close to the battery compartment as possible and hope the heat generated will be suffient enough to keep the engine compartment warm enough to stave off any icing problems.
If anyone can think of a better idea, please let me know.
Thanks
 
cyc boater said:
Thanks for all the replies. Based on the information I'm going to go with the small Xtreme bilge heater. Even with it's small foot print I really don't have any room in the engine compartment except next to the fuel line. I don't think I'll be putting it there! The battery is located just to the port side of the engine compartment. In front of this small compartment is another storage area that is open to the battery compartment. All three, engine, battery and storage compartments are open to one another. I know it's not ideal but I plan to place the heater in the storgae compartment as close to the battery compartment as possible and hope the heat generated will be suffient enough to keep the engine compartment warm enough to stave off any icing problems.
If anyone can think of a better idea, please let me know.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Yeah you will just have to do the best you can. If it gets real cold you will also need to find a way to block or plug your blower vents.

Just dont forget to un-block them when you go out. :smt001
 
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